The Delta independent., 1898-01-14

AeT 70 that couSefsatiOn. I00 see, a
detective feels sensitive At not being
able to discover everything eoaeerning
an important case. And. although we
have been wonderfully successful. who
Horace Jaekson's assistant or master
(for he undoubtedly had one) was. will
probably remain forever . mystery.
At least l shall not attempt anything
more in the case. Ny duty - COM
pleted."
My heart gave a bound. Mr.. Norley's
connection with the robbery was not
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 strove to cloak my
satisfaction. Then the detective held
out his hand and gave mine . hearty
grip.
"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.
The man whose life before the world
had been blameless and honorable, a
synonym for business virtue and in
tegrity, but who was in reality the
greatest rogue imaginable-who.f from
his capacity for engineering large en-
deavors, 1 knew must have been the
prime factor in the robbery-lay there
\
compIished 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
ised 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. no fond. that he
gave up his life rather than yield to
thought which might cause her unhap-
piness-surely such n love was ntone-
ment enough for the evil he had
wrought.
Mr.. Perry wns standing beside me as
these thoughts flew through my mind.
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 I cannot understand about 1t"
"Oh, Mr.. Perry" I exclaimed. cit is
my fault. I should have explained be-
fore, but the affair has sent my wits
ool-gathering." ! handed him the
bond had picked ZIP. giving n brief nc
count Of the finding. Then went on:
after found the bond, Immediately
informed Mr.. Morley. rs he was ON in
terested party, being one Of the trus-
tees OF the bank, und I wished some
older heads advice. I explained every
thing to him in answer to the numer-
Gus questions he asked me-"
Mr.. Perry WAS listening intenfy. ~
were also Wilson and Skinner. aud the
perspiration broke from my forehead
rs went on with the gigantic lie.
"1t seems he could not resist aticmpt-
ing an investigation himself. and-and
SO came here. / was in the cellar when
he came down, but 1t was as dark m
pitch, and thought il was one Of the
robbers and that was trapped. Ibid
not discover the truth until too late"
"Ah, that explains 1t ALL Mr.. Perry
said, when I had finished. THAT was
Morley, truly. He was always that
kind of n man, and would never de-
pend upon another to accomplish
things when he could do IL himself"
could not help glancing furtively
Mt the two detectives, and received
from each nod of approval.
In one room-oncc the dining room
of the old house, q bright young fel-
low is working. planning, thinking. ex-
pcrimenting all day long, and at times
al night long, too, on the problem Of
voice-transmission without the aid Of
receiver or transmitter. He has made
some progress, and, as he is n patient
young man of brilliant parts, ] make
bold to prophesy that the world will
soon be startled by n lightning stroke
of genius which will blazon the little
hamlet of Jacksonville in characters OF
fire on the present generation.
My wife and are spending the sum.
mer at her residence on Sunset hill,
and we drive over to the old .house
every day to talk and to encourage
the young genius.
year has passed since Mr.. Morley's
death; six months after that tragic
event Florence became my wife.
The first evening of our arrival at
Sunset hill I was sitting on the porch,
watching the violet tints down in the
valley. My wife was slowly pacing up
and down the walk.
She had been very quiet and sober all
that day, and / attributed her mood to
the sorrowful recollections which the
place would naturally call up.
Presently she came and knelt down
beside me. Resting her head nm ,uv