Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-30
LOVES VICTORY
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

"Exactly one thousand pounds, y he replied.
III cannot understand il. You saw me re-
place the notes in the box?"
III did; | watched you. You placed them
In one corner. / could put my finger on the
place." said Miss Hastings.
Il locked the box and carried il with my
own hands TO my study. 1 placed it In the
drawer of my wri' ing-table, and locked that.
l never parted with my keys to any one; as
is my invariable rule, 1 placed them under
my pillow. | slept soundly all night, and
when l woke ! found them there. AS tell
you l have been to the box, and the notes are
gone. l cannot understand it, for l do not
see any indication Of q theft, and yet | have
been robbed.
Miss Hastings looked very thoughtful.
You have certainly been robbed" ehe
said. Are you sure the keys have never
left your pOssession?'
Never for one single moment" he replied.
HAS any one In the house duplicate
keys" she asked.
mo, | bought the box years ago in
Venice; 1t has a peculiar lock-there is not
one in England like it,"
1T is very strange" said Miss Hastings.
"A thousand pounds is no trlne to lose"
Pauline Darrell. her face turned TO the
lowers, uttered no word.
You might show some little interest, Pau
line" said her uncle, sharply; 'you might
have the grace TO affect it, even if you do not
feel it,"
IL am very sorry indeed" she returned,
coldly. Il nm grieved that you have had
such a loss"
Sir Oswald looked pacilied.
1T is not so much the actual loss OF the
money that has grieved me-" he said: II
shall not feel it. But | am distressed to think
That there should be a thief among the peo-
pie l have loved and trusted"
"What Il solemn council!' interrupted the
CHEEKY voice of Aubrey Langton. what
gloomy conSpirators.'
Sir Oswald looked up with an air of great
relief.
II am so glad you are come, Aubrey; you
can advise me what to do"
The baron told the story of his loss.
Captain Langton was shocked, amazed; he
asked a hundred questions, and then sug.
gested that they should drive over to Aud.
leigh Royal and place the affair in the hands
OF the chief inspector Of police.
You said you had not taken the numbers
OF the notes; | fear it will be difficult to trace
them he said, regretfully. What a strange,
mysterious robbery. Is there any one you
suspect, Sir OswaldT'
No; in all the wide world there was not
one that the loyal old man suspected of rob-
bing him.
My servants have always been 10 me like
faithful old friends" he said, sadly; there
Is not one among them who would hold out
his hand to steal from me-
Captain LangtOn suggested that, before
going TO Audleigh Royal, they should search
the library.
You may have made some mistake, sir"
he said. You were tired last night, and il
Is Just possible that you may have put the
money somewhere else, and do not remem
Der it,"
I'VE will go at once" decided Sir Oswald.
Miss Hastings wished them success; but
the proud face directed toward the flowers
was never turned to them. The pale lips
were never Enclosed TO utter one word.
After the gentlemen had left them, when
Miss Hastings began TO speak eagerly of the
loss, Pauline raised her hand with a proud
gesture.
Il have heard enough" she said. II do
not wish 10 hear one word more"
The robbery created q great sensation; in.
spectors came from Audleigh Royal, and q
detective from Scotland Yard, but no one
could throw the least light upon the subject.
The notes could not be traced; they had
been paid in from different sources, and no
one had kept a list of the numbers.
Even the detective seemed puzzled. Sir
Oswald had locked up the notes in the box at
night, he had kept the keys In his own pos
session, and he had found in the morning
that the box was still locked and the notes
were gone. 1t was a nine days wonder.
Captain LangtOn gave all the help he could,
but as all search seemed useless and hope.
less, it was abandoned after a time, and al
the end of the week Captain Langton was
summoned to London, and all hope of solv.
Ing the mystery was ~relinquished