Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-03-25

his terms, with tile proyiso that more
than half the money should be recover
ed and the crime fully exposed.
well, sir, said he. % think I'm pre-
pared TO Go it, but 1 warn you that it
will be considerable of II shock to YOU"
''It will he Il good deal more of a
shock to the thief" said 1. Il guess
that | can stnnd it if he can"
With the crude caution appropriate
to his trade, Gillespie dragged his chair
closer TO mine, and With an eye upon
the door and his lips close 10 my ear
he whispered:
Its Your man Donaldson who turn
ed this trick"
no, Sir" said l. that went go.''
'.Wait Il bit" sud lie, laying n hand
upon my arm.
Il won't listen 10 this charge except
in Mr.. Donaidson's presence" said /.
You don't inspire me with very much
confidence, TO be frank with you. But
If YOU have the Stamina TO make this
charge to Mr.. Donaldson's face that
win give you a sort Of standing"
VERY WELL" said he spreading out
his hands.
l touched "A button that rings bell
in the outer office, and when Il boy en-
tered in response 10 it / said:
ASK Mr.. Donaldson to step this
way"
1t happened that Donald had entered
the outer Office within few minutes,
and the boy thought thar it was the
/, son and not the father whom L wished
to see. 10 my surprise, therefore, the
door presently opened, and Donald en-
tered
He closed the door slowly and stood
with his back against it.
How do you do, Mr.. Gillespie?" he
| said.
The detective was taken by surprise
but he masked it fairly well.
you have just made serious charge
| against my father" said Donald. "Havt
you any proof Of it,
"Ill produce my proofs ut the proper
time answered Gillespie.
'1This is the proper time" said l
produce the evidence now or forever
hold your peace
81 say that he took the money!" pro
tested Gillespie. lie changed the pack
ages on your desk That l knew at til,
start, but ii took me Il long while Il
work down TO what he'd done with TIN
money
well" said Donald, "have you worl;
ed down TO it,"
81 have" responded Gillespie, wit
precision. "He played the same tricl
twice. He put the money into anothe
package and dropped it in his box a
the bank"
Can YOU describe that package?" dc
manded Donald.
"yell enough" answered Gillespie
And he gave details. adding, Il SAY
him take that package TO the bank Mt
certain day<and hour
And he named the day and the houl
-whereby knew for certain that it wa
the Strobel correspondence 10 which Ii
, referred,
! "Your case fails, Mr.. Gillespie sal
|. MIR. Donaldson gave me that pacl
, age of papers. 1t is now in this safe
Gillespie was staggered. He darte
n keen glance at me and read clearly
| my face that the facts We're as stated.
s'He gave them TO you?" said h
How did he happen to do it?'
+ Il asked him for them,' replied.
"Wcll, if you asked him for them
Z had to give them to you, didn't he
said Gillespie. HE couldn't refus
!. He had TO give them to you and tai
his chances of getting the money afte
v ward Let's see the package
was already busy unlocking Il
n safe. Gillespie had hard work to +
a strain himself during this process, al
n when the safe was open | expected
7 see him dive into 1t, but he manage
n to stick to his chair | took the pac
e age out and opened 1t upon the leaf
& my desk The various documents 70
a ed apart. There was no money wha
l. ever in the package.
If "Who had the combination of til
safe| demanded Gillespie.
= Myself alonc,' said l. 81 chang
. 1T on the day when | put the packa
!, in there. 1t is an unquestionable CO
=. tainty that nobody has opened the sn
:. since then"
=, p Gillespie began to walk the fo'
: gnawlng his lips.
= = well, SIR said /. 'if you a
- ready to make your charge. will C
Mr.. Donaldson
'I-don't- think-I'm quite read!
ia said Mr.. Gillespie slowly.
n "Can you produce the money!"