Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-02-05

was made to-day, and it panned out
just as | predicted. The account is
in the name of the firm. | am going
to break into HestOr's desk tonight
and see if | can learn anything. If
his check books are there they may
prove something. 1t is hardly likely
that they are. What | was about to
say is this: 'You fiud out if any lum-
Der went aboard the Shark In the
meantime have your men interview
every contractor, builder and archi-
tect in New York, and see if any
work has been lone for Hestor in the
last two years"
THAT is a great scheme!" said
Stevens.
"Send men to Boston and Philadel-
phia on like mission. | will wire
Seymour at New Orleans and have
him do the same thing there. Send
four or five men to New Orleans and
| Galveston tonight. Instruct them
to interview every man who may have
had anything to do with building
resideEce of any kind for Walter b.
Hestor. Swear them to absolute Sc
crecy. l am going to have an in
| terview with Miss Olive Hammond
tonight, at the Carmody residence"
"Where does Sidney Hammond
| come in in this case?" asked Ste
vens. ''He is supposed to have sailed
with Hestor."
Il do not know. l am going to try
and find out" said Chalmers. "It
looks as if he was mixed up in it,
too. l hope not. Sidney is too good
a fellow"
Later in the evening Mr.. Chalmers
was at the Carmody mansion. Dur
ing the day he had arranged with
Miss Carmody to invite Miss Olive
Hammond to spend the evening at
her house.
Miss Carmody," said Chalmers,
after the formal greetings were
made, 81 know you will excuse my
| apparent freedom, but / have some
news of great Importance, which l
am going to tell you and Miss Ham
mond. We should have a room where
we cannot be interrupted or over
heard"
Miss Carmody rang for Smith.
unlock Mr.. Carmody's private Of
fice," she said. Put it in order and
bring Mr.. Chalmers some cigars.
know he smokes"
Mr.. Chalmers bowed his thanks.
They were soon seated in Mr.. Car
mody's library and private office.
Nothing which taste could dictate or
money furnish was lacking in this
room. Chalmers took the big easy
office chair, while the young ladies
formed a charming picture on a
near by divan.
Miss Hammond, the news 1 have
obtained indirectly concerns your
brother Sidney" said Chalmers
Miss Olive Hammond grew pale, and
uttered a half-eXclamation. you
need not be in the least alarmed.
| have no reason to believe he is in
any degree to blame in this affair.
l am going to relate the whole
story, as far as | know it, and you
may be able to throw new light on
the mystery"
For half an hour Chalmers ex-
planned the circumstances which had
led him to suspect Hestor. AS he
talked the two girls clasped hands.
Tears glistened in Miss Hammonds
eyes when Chalmers told of the in
structions Hestor had left that no.
tice should be inserted in the Record,
stating that Sidney Hammond would
accompany him on trip to the Med
iterranean.
AS he said this Miss Carmody re-
leased Olive Hammond's hand and
instinctively drew away from her
Olive burst into tears.
Sidney never could do such
thing! Oh, there is a cruel mistake
somewhere!" she sobbed. "Sidney is
the soul of honor. Oh, my brother,
my noble, honest brother; why are
you not here to defend yourself?"
Miss Helen threw her arms around
the weeping girl. Chalmers did not
know what to say. His story had
| been cut off at it's sensational point.
He stammered an apology.
''He is not guilty. l am sure he
is not guilty." exclaimed Miss Car
mody. Her eyes flashed as she
| looked at Chalmers.
Il have said that I did not believe
him guilty" said that gentleman,
recovering himself. "You young la
dies jump at conclusion too quick
| ly 1t is probable that Mr.. Hammond
was the victim of a plot like the 9TH
ers."
"Why, Sidney did not know he was
going until a few hours before the
yacht sailed for Europe" said Miss
Olive. She had regained her self
possession. Gle sent me telegram
| just before he went away, saying
that he was obliged to take a sud
den trip to Europe with Mr.. Hestor.
When he left home in the morning
| he did not know thing about it.
We had planned to go to the theater
on the following evening, and he had
secured the tickets. So how could
he have known anything about it?
! Sidney tells me everything"