The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-02-23

was crippled beyond hope Of recovery.
For myself was ruined.
"Of COURSE" continued the president,
"the rascal who cut such wide swath
in society did not distribute his photo
graphs, but my daughter is something
of an artist, and she sketched the fell
low from memory. Here he is, and we
would gladly give 100000 to recover
the amount of the robbery"
The two older gentlemen took look
at the picture and then passed it to me.
Az exclamation of surprise had almost
passed my lips, but / was fortune.
seeker myself and here was an unex-
of Fred Morell. Why should l not win
the reward offered for the recovery of
this stolen money? / had seen the
wiretapper and knew the man who
had so successfully played his part in
the aristocratic set Of st. Louis.
Two days later was on my way to
join in the Christmas festivities to
which young Morell had invited me. l
had no idea that he would be there to
receive me, but then he was not the
chief attraction. had said nothing to
the two old gentlemen of what knew
or what had in my mind, but l had de-
cided to play the novel part of detec-
tive and lay the foundation for some
such fortune as had always expected
to inherit.
Fred Morell met me at the door of
his home and a welcome could not
have been more hearty. His mother
was one Of the most gracious of the old
school ladies, and her daughter was
even more fascinating in her wondrous
beauty than when she had won my love
beyond the ocean. l could not enjoy
such hospitality and then bring sor-
row worse than death upon those who
offered it. I asked for private talk
with Fred and frankly told him what
had learned and how had started out
to recover the stolen money. There
was mingled anger and contempt in his
face as he answered ms.
"You have taken me for scoundrel
again." he said, "but must admit the
force of the evidence. Cousin Bob has
broken loose once more. Seen apart
we have always been taken one for
the other. He is wonderful man,
and his talents, properly directed,
would win him almost any position.
But bis inclination is to go wrong and
he does not restrain it, Your mission
is to bring him to book. If you like,
will go this far with you. He is rich
through inheritance and fraud. To-
gether we will run him down and Sc
cure return of the money lost by the
bank. We will make him leave the
country for good, but without such an
arrangement will lend you no assis-
io tho Grot n brine
on the family name and l care more
for it than for his punishment"
A load was lifted from my heart and
Christmas spent than in that old home
stead. There L was convinced that
Margie's band was mine when | should
claim it, and time justifies the blissful
confidence.
In New York we found the man
whom 1 had surprised in hunting.
Through fear he was induced to die
cover the whereabouts of "Cousin
Bob" With the suavity of diplomat
and running fire of wit, he accepted
our terms. He assured us with I'M
blushing raillery that the presidents
daughter had pierced his heart, that he
had voluntarily decided upon resi-
dence abroad, and that it afforded him
indispensable pleasure to comply with
our wishes.
put the bank on its feet again,
made the old president the happiest
man in the country, tickled Uncle
Bruff 80 that he named me his sole
heir, and made Margie Morell my
wife. I'll say nothing of myself, but
Mrs. Tom Curran's receptions are the
most popular and most sought after in
one of the greatest cities of the country.
-Ex.