The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-01-17

money. But l can assure you that he
will want to settle there and then with
you-and, if l have any voice in the
matter, your head office shall know all
about it,
You win not leave, sir, until we are
satisfied" Mr.. Fox stiffiy replied.
What shall we do? How did you got
that letter." he inquired, in a whisper.
wire to the hotel at Barton. Mr.
Morgan is almost sure to have gone to
the best"
The manager drew a Bradshaw to-
ward him.
Here it is, Clifford-the Esplanade.
We must try it, am almost at my wits
end. The directors will never forgive
medf we lose Morgans custom through
this"
Nor if we lose the four thousand"
ventured to assert.
But shortly after the managers
doubts were set at rest. The reply
came:
"Have drawn no cheque for amount
Am coming up by express"
L llC ltdllg NlUICtu III LIS lC-
lief. He patted me on the shoulder most
affectionately Meanwhile Carruthers
made a bolt for the door.
stop that man!' shouted Fox, and
he was quickly in our grasp.
mo, know nothing about him. the
prisoner maintained, when he was ques-
toned. 81 fancy he's the same man
that managed those other bank frauds
but l don't know for certain. He put
me on to this job by getting me appoint
ed secretary to old Morgan. | waited
until the old man went to Barton, then
l wrote to Mansfield-that's the name
he goes by-and he came round and fill
ed in a blank check and forged the sig
nature. We had plenty of copies, and
it was well done-I thought we were
quite safe. How that beggar there got
hold of my letter don't know, but he's
spoilt as brilliant a spec as ever went
in for.
mo" he said, with a doleful shake of
his head. I'D do what l could to save
my own skin, but he was much too cute
to put himself in my power. l had to
write to him at little shop where they
take in letters. The butler at Morgans
was also in the know-that'll explain
the wire saying that the check was cor
rect I've no doubt Mansfield was
watching for me in the street, and [
expect he's levanted safe enough by
now. It's just my luck, that's allr
Its Mansfield we want" sighed the
detective, who had been sent down
from the Yard. He's been undOubted-
ly at the bottom of all these bank
frauds. How did you come by that
note, Mr.. Clifford?"
A struggle had been going on in my
mind. l was we'll aware who the arch
criminal must be, and l shrank from
bringing Eva's uncle to the dock. But
l was forced to answer the detectives
question.
He bounded in the air with joy when
l had given my explanation. Taking a
couple of men he accompanied me to
Mr.. Halls palatial residence.
Il thought l had forbidden you the
house" he said sternly, when the SER
want showed me into the study.
Il came, sir, to return this note"
The scOundreps face paled as he rec
ognized the paper.
us this the reason why" he was
beginning, then stopped abruptly. II
know nothing about this paper! l can't
conceive why you should think that it
belongs to me-"
But at this moment the detectives
came in and arrested him.
For several days l did not venture to
go near the house, fearing lest Eva
should resent the way in which l had
brought disgrace upon her kin.
Then came welcome letter from her:
Come to me, dearest Cecil. l can
guess your reasons for staying away.
but you only performed your duty when
you gave up my uncle to the pOlice-but
think, dearest. that wicked man is no
uncle of mine! He has spent the in
come that my father left me, but he
has confessed he is no relation to me.
You fairly checkmated him."
Yes, and l was also mated by a check.