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

BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
"Exacily one thousand pounds, he replied.
III cannot understand it. You saw me re-
place the notes in the bOxp'
IL did; | watched you. You placed them
In one corner. ] could put my finger on the
place" said Miss Hastings.
II locked the box and carried il with my
own hands To my study. 1 placed 1t In the
drawer of my wri' ing.table, and locked that.
! never parted with my keys to any one; as
is my lnvariable rule, / placed them under
my pillow. | slept Soundly all night. and
when l woke | found them there. As tell
you | have been TO the box, and the notes are
gone. cannot understand it, for / do not
see any indication Of a theft, and yet | have
been robbed.
Miss Hastings looked very thoughtful.
You have certainly been robbed" che
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: ii has a peculiar l0ck-there is not
one In England like it,"
1T Is very strange said Miss Hastings.
"A thousand pounds is no triAe to lose"
Pauline Darrell. her face turned 10 the
lowers, uttered no word.
You might show some little interest. Pau
line, said her uncle, sharply; "you might
have the grace to affect IL, even If you do not
feel it,"
IL am very sorry indeed" she returned,
cOldly. II ain grieved that you have had
such q loss"
Sir Oswald looked paciGed.
1T Is not 50 much the actual loss OF the
money that has grieyed me- be said: Il
Ihall not feel 1t. But | am distressed 10 think
That there should be a thief among the peo-
PIE L have loved and trusted"
"lYhat 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 10 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 ana 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. ia there any one you
suspect, Sir Oswald2'
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 to me like
faitAf0l 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 10 Audlcigh Royal, they should search
the library.
You may have made Ome 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 reInem.
Der it,
1--WE will go at once, - decided Sir Oswald.
Miss Hastings wished them success; bu,
the proud face directed toward the flower.
was never turned to them. The pale lip:
were never Enclosed TO utter one word.
After the gentlemen lad left them, When
Miss Hastings began to speak eagerly Of th,
loss, Pauline raised her hand with a proud
gesture.
Il have heard enough she said. IL d,
not wish 20 hear one word more"
The robbery created q great sensation; in
spectors came from Audleigh Royal, and
! detective from Scotland Yard, but no ON,
could throw the least light upon the subject
The notes could not be traced; they haC
been paid in from different sources, and n,
one had kept a list OF the numbers.
Even the detective seemed puzzled. ST
Oswald had locked up the notes in the box q
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 note.
were gone. II was a nine days wonder
Captain LangtOn gave all the help he could
but as all search seemed useless and hope
less, il was abandoned after a time, and Al
the end Of the week Captain Langton wa,
summoned 10 London. and all hope OF solv
Ing the mystery was ~relinquiShed
CHAPTER XXI.