The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-01-17

guaranteed him entitled to unlimited
credit.
One afternoon he rushed hurriedly
into the bank. lie just had a letter
from one of his best and wealthiest
friends in Boston. He was 10 have met
a Denver lawyer in st. Louis that very
day to pay a Dalance of $750,o0O on
contract for mining lands in Colorado.
business involving an enormous sum
kept this Boston man at home, and, de-
spite his wealth, he did not have the
ready money to meet the enga cement.
Would his oldifriend, known in St. Louis
as Lawrence Boehart. draw on his own
funds and look after the matter? There
was an assured profit of million, and
they would share it.
rs it all right?r asked the presi-
dent, whogvas dazzied with Bochart and
his apparently fabulous riches.
Il would like to help my friend, for
it is my disposition. But let me insist
that you first telegraph my bank il
New York to see whether it viii honor
a draft for TIE amount required. Fer
your kindness in the matter want you
to accept half the gain which my friend
would make through the deal
81 cannot think of it," replied the
president
Then, sir, let me make it a wedding
present to your daughter. I have not
asked her hand, but, with your permits
SIGN, 1 viii DO so.'
81 sent the telegram at once" said
70 ~r.a1r
"Inside Of half an hour 1 had an an
swer. signed by both the president and
cashier. informing me that Mr..
Boehart's account was far more than
equal 10 the demand made upon it. I
may have been blinded somewhat by
the impression the young man had made
upon me and the prospect Of having
him for son-in-,aw, but took the
usual precautions, though the large
ness Of the amount at stake might have
demanded more.
We went to the hotel and paid the
Denver lawyer in currency. as exacted
by the terms CT the contract. He said
that he would have preferred a certi-
fled check, but he .sould be around
before the close Of banking hours TO
deposit the sum with US. Ihadlno soon
er returned TO the bank than | received
a telegram from the New York bank
saying that Lawrence Bochart had no
account there and never had. Then it
came upon me with the force of q ter
rible blow that the wire must have
been tapped. that we were swindied and
that the bank was crippled beyond hope
of recovery. For myself. was ruined.
"Of course" continued the president,
1.-The rascal who cut such a 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'd gladly give 100000 to recover the
amount of the robbery"
The two oder gentlemen took lool,
at the picture and then passed it 10
ne. An exclamation of surprise had
a.most passed my lips. but 1 was for
tune-seeker myself and here was an TN
expected opening. The picture was that
Of Fred MoreH. Why should not win
the reward offered for the recovery OF
this stolen money? had seen the wire
( Taper and / knew the. man who had
so successfully played his part in. the
/ aristocratic set of St. Louis.
Two days later l was on my way Il
/ join in The Christmas festivities 10
which young Moreh had invited me.
/ had no idea that he would be there to
receive me. but then he was not the
4 chief attraction. ] had said nothing to
/ the two old gentlemen OF what l knew
or what I had in mind. but had de-
cit1ed TO pay the novel part Of de-
tective ana lay the foundation for some
such fortune as had always expected
/ to inherit.
Fred EIorell met me at the G'5or of his
ihcme and Il welcome could not have
been more hearty. His mother was one
I OF the most gracious of the old-schCol
ladies, and her daughter was even more
fascinating in, her wondrous beauty
than when she hadiwon my love beyond
the ocean. could not enjoy such hes
pitality and then bring a sorrow worse
than death upon those who offered it.
I asked 4 private talk with Fred. and
frankly Tod him what | had learned
ard how I had started out 10 recover
the stolen money. There was mingled
anger and contempt in his face as he
answered me.
You have taken me for scoundre
4 arain," he said but | must admit the
4 force Of the evidence. Cousin Bob has
I broken .oose cnce more. Seen apart we
/ have Always been taken one for the
other. He is wonderful man and his
talents, properly directed, would wiz
him almost any position. But his in
/ c.ination is to go wrong and he does
/ not restrain it. Your mission is to
bring him to book. II you like. l wi,
20 this far with you. lie is rich through
inheritance and fraud. Together we
will run him down and secure a return
O. The money lost by the bank. We
VIII make him Leave the country foi
i good, but without such an arrangement
l viii lend you no assistance. He i;
the first to bring disgrace on the fam
! lily name and l care more for it than
for his punishment"
In New York we found the man whom