The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-09-06

CHAPTER I-Scene OF story IS IN New
York city. Time. early evening, last day
of wear C: BILE train collides with cab,
throwing to ground cabman ana passen-
ger also seated outside. Latter disappears;
dead is discovered. Stursis, reporter, ex-
amines cab and surroundings.
CHAPTER II-Later that evening, at
stag dinner party, Sturgis, in impromptu
discussion, maintains reliability OF cir
cumstantial evidence. DIR. Murdoch "a
nous chemist, wagers in reply 5000 TO SlO0
that from any daily paper he can select an
unsolvable riddle. Sturgis takes bet
CHAPTER III-Case selected is of two
mysterious shots fired that afternoon in
or near knickerbocker bank Man had
been seen running from bank with valisc,
and arrested. Man, said he stole yaIise
from bank steps and was shot at. Nalise
contained nothing Of interest.
CHAPTER IV-Sturgis secures appoint
ment with Dunlap, president of bank: to
visit scene of shooting early next morning,
then induces his friend DR.. Thurston TO
come to his rooms while he arranScs DATA
of the two strange cases.
CHAPTER V-From observations made
thus far and inductiVe reasoning thereon
reporter has concluded: % dead man in
cab was bookkeeper about 80 years old re-
ceiving good salary; (2) wound caused by
bullet fired at close quarters; % might
have shot himself; az shooting had not
occurred in cab; (5) right arm broken by
heavy instrument; and 90 Cabman was
drugged, and young man who escaped IN
volved in some way in crime CAB myS-
terry also noted as possible sequel to bank
mystery.
CHAPTER VI-Sturgis calls for Sprague,
artist friend, to get his company during in
vestigation at bank, but artist has appoint
ment with some fair sitter whose portrait
he is making.
CHAPTER VII - Agnes Murdoch Gin
charge of her fathers household since her
mothers death finds her father in his
study. She, in reply to a question concern
attentions THOMAS Ch1tnan,
shows her dislike of the persistent sutton.
Her father intimates she shall not be fur
Their bothered.
CHAPTER VIII-Miss Murdock's final
sitting for portrait induces artist to ask
privilege of calling at her home, which she
readily grants. Bellboy, brings note for
Agnes. This is read with evident annoy
ance. and she drops it. 1t remains forgot
ten when she leaves studio.
CHAPTER IX-Promptly a time agreed
Dunlap meets Sturgis. Reporter begins
long and careful examination in bank Re
volver in bookkeeper's desk shows two
empty cartridges
CHAPTER Inflammation completed,
Sturgis questions banker regarding relia-
biity of Arbogast, head bookkeeper, then
announces Arbogast to be defaulter with
Chatham, accountant who has frequently
examined condition of books as accom-
plce. Message Arbogast sent Chatham
deciphercd from marks on blotter.
CHAPTER XI-Reporter has now COM
peted diagram showing movements OF
Arbogast and Chatham and one other
whose identity is as yet completely yelled.
ArbogaSt at last moment had found note
which caused him to suspect his accom-
plce. He fred wounding him in hand and
was about to fire again when unknown con-
spirator rushed in and struck his arm.
This action resulted In turning weapon and
making Arbogast shoot himself. Dunlap
Is incredulous. but verities story in part by
later identifying body of Arbogast at
morgue.
CHA pTFP XIT-Plnknr calls rInOr Mrs
Arbogast. While with her she receives let
ter written by her husband telling OF de-
falcatiou and expected hieht He has by
mistake allowed depositor to overdraw
account Chatham has discovered mis-
take, and for fear of losing position Arbo-
CAST allows himself to be used by Chatham
and a Mr. Seymour By false entries Sey-
mour has drawn $250000 Change in method
of book keeping was about to expose the
matter Arbogast tells his wife to give
Dunlap confession as soon as he has es-
capped.
MY safety depends upon your keeping
the contents of this letter secret for at
least three days. After that time, please
send to Mr.. Dunlap, president of the Knick-
erbocker bank, the inClosed papers which
will reveal to him the full extent of my de-
falcations.
Il do not hesitate to betray Chatham and
Seymour; they did not scruple to ruin me.
l have sent for Chatham, and | shall give
him warning of my intended flight, Ii he
sees fit, he can take such steps as he may
choose to escape his own richly deserved
punishment"
While Sturgis was reading Arbogast's
letter, Dunlap, restessy pacing the
room, had observed him furtively.
"Well?' he now inquired, stopping
before the reporter, what do you think
of that?"
Poor woman!" exclaimed Sturgis,
feelingly; 1T is terrible to think Of
the suffering brought upon her by her
husbands guilt ! ought to be hard
ened TO a situation like this; for it
is the inevitable sequel of almost every
crime that is ever committed. But
am moved every time by the pathetic
,Xpiation of the innocent for the
guilty"
"Ys, yes; I know" said Dunlap. in
differently; that it not what meant.
Did YOU uote the amount which this
scoundrel ccnfesses he and his accom-
plices have stolen from the bank?"
Yes; it is Il large sum"
1.-TWO hundred and fifty thousand
dollars! Why, man. if that is true. it
is enough to cripple the bank-No, no;
| don't mean that, Of course; the bank
is rich and could stand the loss of
four times that amount. But quar-
ter of a million is round sum- TO- all
of that. 1t does not seem possibl" that.
in spite of all our care, trey can have
succeeded in making away with SO
much money. But they did. There can
lie no doubt about that; for in the pa
pers hich Arbogast inclosed for me in
his letter to his wife he explains just
how the thing was done. 1t is simple
enough when you know the trick; but
it took fiendish cunning to devise it.
l never would have thought that ras-
cally boolkeeper intelligent enough 10
concoct such a scheme
IF the scheme is work of genius
said Sturgis, you may rest assured
that 'N'-who may very well be Henry
seymour was the author Of it,"
We'll. at any rate, observed Dunlap,
there Is one thing that must be done
at once; and that is to find both Chat
ham and Seymour. 1t is not possible
that in two years these men have spent