Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-11-05
A HEROIC PART


fine manners and smooth tongue,
crossed her path Jessie was infatuated
with him and broke with me for him
Before they were engaged Read con
fessed that some time before he had
got into trouble with the business house
where he was employed and had been
discharged He told a very pathetic
story of the wrong that had been done
him, intimating that he had taken
blame upon himself to shield fellow
clerk Jessie sympathized with him in
the matter and admired the spirit that
led him to tell her Of this before she
engaged herself to him.
For my part. l have never met any
one who was ready TO suffer for me.
though | have found many who were
inclined TO let me suffer for them. l
didn't believe in the magnanimity of
Maynard Read, especially as there was
nothing about him to back his story.
But It must be remembered that be had
taken my girl away from me. At any
rate I wanted to prove him dishonest.
! didn't dare investigate the offense he
had spoken of for fear Jessie would
hear of II and be my enemy for life.
turned my attention TO putting in
Reads way so inviting an opportunity
TO be dishonest that If there were dis
honesty in him he would avail himself
of It. l didn't make an amateur de-
tective of myself to blunder through
what ! didn't understand, but hired
the real thing"
I introduced my friend, Leslie Mer-
rill, to Jessie, and he was so well liked
IN the family that he soon became
frequent visitor AZ the house. Mrs.
Lewis, Jessie's mother, owned q hand
some pair Of diamond earrings which
she never wore. Merrill succeeded in
persuading her TO let him have them
for considerably more than their value.
When the price, which he took care
should be in marked bills. was ready
for payment he took them to the
Lewis house, carelesSly left them on
the mantel in room where Read was
waiting for his fiancee and went out of
the room. Returning later. the bills
were gone-and so was Read.
L
the matter TO me, assuring me that
there was no doubt Of our tracing the
marked bills TO Read. He would
watch the thief, notice where he spent
money and take up any bill he might
give out, which undoubtedly would
bear the private mark. Then he would
have Read arrested. | went home 10
4 500 nl1
college chum Bradwell Jones, whom l
had not seen for several years, had
called and insisted upon going to my
room, but the mans description did not
correspond with that of my chum. l
was dressing for dinner when there
came a knock on my door and man
stepped In with a search warrant. l
was much surprised, but as | was not
aware Of having anything ! should not
have IN my possession | told him to
go ahead with his search. | was still
more surprised, indeed thunderstruck,
when from one of my bureau drawers
he took out $3.50 in bills.
"I'll take these" said the constable.
They're exactly the amount Of money
that was 10 have been paid for Mrs.
Lewis earrings"
1t didn't take very long for me to
discover that my detective had got me
into a snarl Read had doubtless seen
him put the bills on the mantel and
suspected his object Read must have
feared my influence with Jessie and
seen in this incident an opportunity to
break II up. He doubtless induced a
pal TO visit my room and place the
bills I'm NY drawer, then sent the con
stable to make the search.
Well, here was "a pretty kettle Of
fish" l was arrested and taken to the
police court. l sent for Merrill who,
when he saw the turn matters had
taken, Notwithstanding the slur IL In
volved on his detective skill. couldn't
help laughing. Whereupon gave him
a piece Of my mind that made him
angry. This was very foolish Of me.
My enemy could not have carried the
matter further for Merrill was the
owner Of the bills at the time they were
stolen, and II l were prosecuted must
lodge a complaint. Whether he was
really angry or feared his mistake
would injure his business, he not only
lodged complaint, but identified the
bills by his private mark. l was In
dicted. but gave bail and was set at
liberty TO await my trial.
The evening before that trial came
off received Il note from Jessie invtt-
Ing me TO come to see her. | went, and
there, with her, was Merrill. Jessie
came up to me, took my hand affection
Rtely and half crying, half laughing,
said TO me-
It's all been explained. l thank you
for your noble effort IN my behalf"
What noble effortT
Mr. Merrill mean Mr.. Bigly-will
explain"
"Our detective Office" he said, was
shadowing Maynard Read for a big
offense when you engaged my services.
Your engaging me gave me a great
advantage in introducing me here, be
sides enabling me to win Reads con-
fldence by giving you away and en-
abling him to get the better Of you.
With these aids l have secured evi-
dence to prove that he has stolen $780,
900 In bonds which | have recovered"
The most singular part of the matter
was that Notwithstanding the ridicu-
lous light In which l stood. Jessie per-
sisted in regarding my conduct very
noble When | asked her why II was
noble she said that had saved her
from marrying a villain. Since Bigly
admits that he would not have sue
ceeded except for me, | have at last
concluded that after all my part was
quite heroic At any rate 1t restored
my girl to me.
JOHN TURNER WYETH.