The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-17

rnent but this man roughly declared that
he knew nothing about them, but tnat
they were not the coins paid away py
him. which were not only good gold but
! much older and more worn than the
three produced The solicitor was greatly
| enragcd and had ne been anything but
| a lawyer would Doubtless have made
! Law case of H. How the business was
/ settled | know not; hut some time after,
| in paying some court fees for client, Mr.
Bcllamy was again checked passing bad
| sovereign. This time he was we'll laughed
at, and chaffed so sorely that he was glad
/, 20 Sxe back the coin and say little about
~, though he professed 10 be thoroughly
! mystined as 60 how II could have come
into his possession. He was almost GER
| tain. he said, that he had got the coin
| among others at the bank. in getting gold
| for flve-pound note; but as he could not
| prove IL, was forced To bear the loss still
! another case occurred. 10y client pre-
senting two OF the bad s~svreigns at the
| same bank, which he said had been paid
\ him by Mr.. Bellamy; and this time tho
1 bank authorities, becoming suspicious,
/ not only retained the coins, but consult
ed me. Mr.. Bellamy. from constantly APP
| pearing for the defence OF criminals, had
not the best reputation in the eyes of
these gentlemen What was 10 hinder him.
| when he had all the sources at his com
| mHnd. doing little crime on his own ac-
| count? That was how they put the case
10 me, and I'm spite of many an old grudge.
/ should have laughed at the insinuation
| against the solicitors character had IL
not been for one apparently trifing cir
cumstance. The coin rendered by the fe-
male ''smasher" Was sHll I'm our posses
| sion: and remembering my own suspi-
cions OF the retaining fee OF Mr.. Bellamy,
i turned 10 this, and found that in date.
! make, and appearance. the detected coins
exactly resembled this original counter
| felt
The coins. I may here say, were OBJ
viously not the work OF a novice--they
were so carefully got up and finished.
| that they could not have been sold wohle-
| sale at less than five shillings each. 1t
! was quite clear. indeed, that they were
| the work, not OF one man with "A few
tools. but of an expert gang, command
ing every appliance for their evil trade.
After a good deal OF consultation.
| thought / would go down and see Mr..
! Bellamy ut his Office.
The moment the solicitor saw me, he
| said
II could swear know what has brought
you"
"Out with IL then"
| bad sovereigns."
Yes: what do you know about them?"
4 IL know absolutely nothing but that
| they are being palmed upon me I'm some
mysterious fashion which beats me TO
| fathom." he said with great earnestness.
| II have just found one I'm my purse, and
have three In my desk which were
checked the other day"
! but IL is not these | come about i
| quietly observed How did you know
~ came about that?"
I'll don't know just read Il In your
face. | think" he careiessly answered..
What is IL? Some more I've been pay
ing away?"
1T Ia" and then told him OF the coins
being stopped at the bank. and how had
been called in.
That's because H., the head OF that
branch, has a pique at me- he angrily
remarked. when l had finished. But
never mind--I can afford to laugh at him.
But / think you have theory OF your
own. out with IL. plump and plain. and
I'll be as candid with YOU"
/ His manner was SO unlike that OF a
guilty man that ! ventured 20 comply,
and bringing out the coin of the female
smasher and those checked at the bank. !
pointed out that they were identical In
make and finish. As soon as had done
so. he took one from his purse and three
from his desk. and compared them close
ly. and said
You're right-they're all from one die
| and one manufactory; but how on earth
have they got into my possession
| That's just what | want to find out"
| gravely answered. Have you never
heard from those two ymashers since
| yon?'
II have. once They were rather CRATE
| full. suppose. TO me for the neat way l
| tugged them out OF your clutches. and
| they sent me another Zee MS an extra. =
'oh, indeed2 Was II paid In gold?'
at came 10 me in the form OF post
Office order | thought that was your
! line OF search; but I've been too careful
to get swindled IN that manner. Besides.
| it is not two. but perhaps 20 sovereigns
which may have been palmed on me-
How could II be done2 1 tell YOU IT'S a
mystery TO me"
Are you quite sure OF the people you
got the money from
| "Oh, quite. There's no doubt whatever
about them: besides, TO lei you into n
secret, the bad money has been brought
| in not from one person, but from several"
"By your"
"oh. no. don't bother with that. My
oldest clerk. John Lyle. does that"
Then he must be the criminal"
THAT Is absolutely impossible" said
Mr.. Belamy, with slow emphasis
| "Why2'
Because I'm the FIRST place, ne is an
old and tried man, Of staunch integrity:
and, In the second place, there ~ no pos
sibility OF him knowing anything of the
1 makers Of these coins, When the man
was here, Lyle was nt home ~
You are sure yon never mentioned
these queer clients of yours TO him, or
| got him 10 write letter 10 them
quite; and the address H. not even
| written down. carry all these deli
/ cate matters I'm my head
How is u that such a shrewd and
| trusted fellow has been twice taken In
/ with bad money!"
| ~ don't know-neither does he-though
he is greatly distressed about a. It's a
mystery TO Is both, and n YOU clear 81 up
| IN promise never 10 laugh ~ YOU again. I"
| That's very kind OF YOU" 7 said with
a bit OF sneer. Perhaps the laughing
will be all on my side. What would you
| say II 7 took you away with me on a
charge ~ utterng base money"
1T would be great iokc, he answered
"Not 10 you.' I returned. with more Sc
robustness than he had shown Really
mind You, J don't know hut h may come
% that. I'm bound 10 grab a. somehody
aud can't be blamed for taking the one
| nearest my hand