Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-10-26

ing that she thought q good deal OF
you; she was so anxious to get you
cleared, and kept imploring me all the
time to hurry up and find the real rob-
bers."
Bless my dear loves kind and true
heart! And now to have her sweet
young life plunged into such grief and
sorrow! 1t seemed cruel, oh, most
cruell
I again grasped SINNERS hand and
pressed it. 'NIy God, how can I tell
her!" I exclaimed, the tears starting to
my eyes.
'Nelson! Nelson!"
1t was Mr.. Perry who called, and who
came up to me with his face aglow.
"As far as hasty examination goes, I
have reason to believe the greater part
OF the bonds are here, minus the inter-
est coupons for the past year. The
rascal must have converted those into
cash; anyhow, they are gone"
$50 1t did pay you for responding so
quickly to my telegram" remarked.
"Your telegram" he repeated, in
surprise. II received none."
Then 1 explained to him, and when I
had finished he said: why, you see,
the reason 1 did not receive it was that
I was already at Twineburgh. Will
son telegraphed me this morning, and
l came up on the noon train"
Mr.. Perry came into the office half
an hour after you left" replied Mr..
Wilson. II sent the dispatch after
left here"
How did you know Jackson would
come to the cellar tonight" I asked,
curiously.
Mr.. Wilson glanced around before an
swering. Then he sunk his voice down
low, as though afraid he might be
heard by the others:
Have you forgotten the voices in
your bedroom and up in the attic?
The conversation was the most for
tunate chance that ever befell me in my
whole professional career
"Oh, then, you think Jackson was
one of the parties holding the CONVEX
sation" I asked.
"Assuredly. Has not the result
proved that?" he replied.
"But then, who-who could have
been the other"' 1 asked, with great
fear and dread.
Wilson dropped his head and seemed
to be considering his reply.
Impossible to answer that ques-
tion," he finally said, reluctantly.
"And I don't know as there is any
cause for either you or me ever to re-
| fer to that conversation. You see,
detective feels sensitive at not being
able to discover everything concerning
an important case. And, although we
have been wonderfully successful, who
Horace Jackson's assistant or master
| (for he undoubtedly had one) was, will
probably remain forever a mystery.
AT least l shall not attempt anything
more in the case. My duty is COM
pleted."
My heart gave bound. Mr.. Morley g
connection with the robbery was not
suspected, even by one of the most
astute detectives in America. My
promise, then, might be fulfilled, and
Florence, at least, spared the knowl-
edge that her father was q great Grim
inal
noticed Wilson'S sharp eyes were
on my face, and I strove to cloak my
satisfaction. Then the detective held
out his hand and gave mine a hearty
grip.
"a, 1.-THE bodies had better be removed
upstairs" Wilson then said, resuming
his matter-of-fact manner.
| In due time the two bodies were ly-
ing, side by side, on the floor of my
bedroom.
had been blameless and honorable, a
synonym for business virtue and in
tegrity, but who was in reality the
| greatest rogue imaginable-who, from
his capacity for engineering large en-
deavors, knew must have been the
prime factor in the robbery-lay there
beside his tool, who had become as ac-
complished rogue as his master.
Hypocrisy and pretense have always
inspired the greatest repugnance in
me. But. as l gazed down on the face
of him whose daughter was my prom
Used wife, and remembered the bright
spot in all the blackness of his real
character, the love and affection for his
offspring, my heart was heavy with
sorrow for him.
That love, SO deep. so fond, that he
gave up his life rather than yield to a
thought which might cause her unhap-
piness-surely such love was atone
ment enough for the evil he had
wrought.
Mr.. Perry was standing beside me as
these thoughts flew through my mind.
II cannot understand how or why
Sylvester Morley should become mixed
up in this affair and SO meet his DEATH"
the president said, in grave tones.
"Surely-but then that is too wild a
thought to utter. But there is some
thing cannot understand about It,"
ooh, Mr.. Perry" exclaimed, "it is
my fault. should have explained be-
fore, but the affair has sent my wits
wool-gathering." ] handed him the
bond had picked up, giving brief ao.
count of the finding, Then went on:
"After found the bond, Immediately
informed Mr.. Morley, us he was an in
terested party, being one of the trus-
tees of the bank, and l wished some
older heads advice. Iexplained every.
thing to him in answer to the numer-
GUS questions he asked me-"
| Mr.. Perry was listening intently. as
were also Wilson and Skinner, and the
perspiration broke from my forehead
as / went on with the gigantic lie.
ut seems he could not resist attempt