Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-01-26
Willingly helped to ruin others, was a
swindle, will spare you, said Stan

come, your
terms or go to prisonf'
Just then Pratt heard q peculiar
"clicking" sound, andFurning to Paxton
he saw the detective mapping the catch
of pair of handc9fs which he had
taken from his pocket.
The sight of those manacles was very
suggestive and Pratt realized his situa-
ton more keenly than heretofore.
He uttered terrible oath, and then
exclaimed bitterly
"The game is up. i cave. You've
got the upper hand this time, and III do
what you require.
Stanmore's eyes sparkled, for this
was a supreme moment of his life. The
time of his vindicationhad come at last.
"You are wise to SO decide. he said.
"yery wise" remarked Paxton, soto
voce. And he returned the handouts to
his pocket.
Pratt was conquered.
Now tell us how you came by the
marked money!" demanded Stanmore.
That money was not stolen from
John Oakburn. 1t was not taken from
Garrison's safe, as everybody supposed.
On the contrary, it was paid to us by
John Oakburn on the evening of the day
he drew it from the bank, said Pratt.
what! Do you mean to say John
Oakburn embezzled the money! he
was an honest man; you shall not ira
duce his reputation" cried Stanmore,
Indignantly.
Il have told you nothing but the
truth.
But John Oakburn did not owe you
this money!"
Pratt hesitated.
Evidently it was hard for the scoun-
drel to acknowledge his villainy.
Paxton now anticipated the most sur
prising denoument, but at that moment
there came knock at the office door,
and opening it the detective admitted
one of his most expert agents.
From the beginning OF the investiga-
ton of John Oakburn's murder, this
man had devoted himself, under his
principals direction. exclusively to the
task of seeking the man who had ex-
changed overcoats with Stuart Harland
on the railway train.
The detective auxiliary whispered to
his employer for moment, and then
Paxton cried:
1--WE great news. The suspected m1n
called 'GarlIar, who exchanged coats
with Stuart Harland, has been captured.
This agent of mine secured him at
Mother Kits house."
"Garnar caught" cried Pratt.
"Ah, you know The supposed assassin
said Stanmoro, significantly.
Io1 N n
few words how we came by the marked
money. The man called Garnar, which
is merely an assumed cognomen, Is
really named Reid Oakburn, and he is
John Oakburn's son by a first wife.
Marion is the child of second marriage,
and his half-sister. Reid is really much
older than he looks. Years ago | knew
him well In Kansas City, where he re-
sided for long time. There he forged
a note, and for the job he served term
of imprisonment. He came out OF pris-
OIL q desperate, reckless man, but he
had resolved to live an honest life and
bury the past, so he has told me. He
then changed his name, assuming the
alias William Hempsted, and he went
to Denver. There he succeeded In work.
ing himself into situation in bank,
and finally he became cashier"
Pratt paused for moment.
Paxton had started when he men
toned the name William Hempsted, for
he knew that was the name Of an abb
scopding Denver bank cashier, for whose
capture there was standing reward OF
S10, 900. From Denver detective agency
Paxton had received a description OF
"Hempsted, but 1t did not correspond
with that of the suspected man.
when Reid Oakburn, OF Hempsted,
or Garnar-the latter his latest alias,
became cashier of the bank, and he had
the handling of the funds, he fled with
large sum which he squandered in gam
bling. When he left Denver he assumed
O clever disguise. and as he soon after
received severe cut across the eye
brow which left a severe scar, his dis
guise was perfect.
Fate directed Reid Oakburn to come
to this city under the name of 'Garnar.
l met him on the street on the afternoon
preceding the night Of John Oakburn's
death, and 1 recognized him, or fancied
I did. l called him by name, and the
result proved that was not mistaken.
"A reward of $1,000 had been offered
for his capture, and l meant to have the
money. Pretending friendship, l de-
coyed Reid Oakburn to my office, where
I made him prisoner In the private
apartment, intending to turn him over
to the officers of the law.
But while Weeks and myself were
considering the matter there was an ar
Al q w M
was acting as spy for us at Garrison
office, came in and reported that Oak
burn was going to cash check at the
bank for $4,000, and that the money
was to be paid to us in the morning.
Then great idea occurred to me. l
wanted to get Garrison in my power.
That money would save him. ] knew
that old Oakburn loved his hayward
first born son better than his own life,
and determined that the old cashier
should ransom Reid, and that the $751;
900 intended to save Garrison from ruin
should be the price of the fugitive cash
ier's liberation by us.
after office hours, Kredge carried TO
John Oakburn q note which Reid had
written, in which he told his father how
he was situated, and implored him to
save him. SO it happened that when
Kredge delivered Reid's note to him,
John Oakburn had not placed the money
which he had just drawn from the bank
in his safe.
rThe money was still in his pocket,
and in the excitement, when eread his
sons letter, he forgot all about it, and
when he fastened to our Office, as he
Immediately did, he quite unintentional-
ly brought the money with him.
There was terrible scene between
the aged parent and his scapegrace son.
Reid fell upon his knees at his fathers
feet, and begged him to save him, to pay