St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-12-30
No. l46
GOriginal.1

have to come back here again"
As the warden spoke the prisoner
stared at him as though his mind were
upon other matters, then, without re.
ply, fastened out into the world.
Several years before this Henry
Tracy was a young business man Of
such marked ability that when Man.
ming Brightman, an intimate friend,
though fifteen years his senior, died it
was found that Tracy had been named
sole executor of his estate and guard
ian of the only heir, Edith Bright
man, seventeen years old. One day
Abel Barnicourt, who had once been
Brightmans attorney produced papers
transferring the whole estate to Sarah
Parton, who claimed to be the second
wife of the deceased These papers
disappeared, and there was such strong
evidence that Tracy had stolen them
that his Incarceration followed. While
he was in prison the estate remained in
litigation, and Edith Brightman, being
deprived of her income, was forced to
earn her own living.
On the evening of his discharge he
stood on a street corner waiting for
the clocks to strike TO- At the first
stroke man crossed the street and
Joined him.
"The shovels?" asked Tracy.
"On the place"
Gall right. You go ahead, and I'll fol-
low. We don't want to be seen to-
gether."
Tracy followed the man out Of town
to deserted house standing beside the
road. and the two entered the grounds.
A pick and a shovel were found under
a porch, and Tracy, leading the way to
a large tree in corner of the lot, be-
gan to dig. Coming to small sheet
iron box, they removed it and returned
with it to the city.
well go to your room, Brown" said
Tracy. you've got the documents
there believe"
Eyes"
A few minutes later Brown scratched
a match in his room, lit the gas, locked
| the door, pulled down the shades, and
the two opened the iron box, taking
out bundle of papers. Brown mean
while unlocked desk and brought
forth an envelope containing docu-
ments. Tracy seized them eagerly and
scanned them one after another till he
came to one at which he uttered cry
of joy.
"This is the key to the situation" he
exclaimed. "Without this the Others
are worthless. I'll take care of this
myself. You look out for the others.
Meet me in the morning at the court
house, and we will swear out the war
rant"
1t was IL o'clock at night when
Tracy left the detective and walked
rapidly to house where there was but
one light burning. He rang the bell
and when a servant came asked for
Miss Brightman.
"Gone to bed"
'Never mind that. I must see her
tonight"
"Who shall 1 tell her wishes to see
her?'
'Never mind that either She'll ap-
prove of your calling her up
When Edith Brightman entered the
room and saw her guardian, the ex-
convict, she caught at the door knob
His Imprisonment and the mystery at
tending it, together with the loss of her
property, had not only been a puzzle
but a horror to her. When it occurred
she was still half a child. Now she
was woman
Edith said Tracy. 'your estate is
saved to you"
She stared at him wonderingly as
he proceeded:
when your father asked me to be
his executor he told me of the woman
who claimed to be his wife, and that
he also suspected Barnicourt. When
die, he said, there III be some rascal
ity practiced on my little girl Promise
me you will see that she is not robbed.
"T promise on my honor and my
life | replied
when the blow fell | knew the pa
pers were fraudulent. but could moi
prove it. The court was about to turr
over the estate to this woman, who
would at once turn it into cash anc
leave the country. l deliberately stole
their papers and buried them in my
yard. While serving my term | EN-
ployed a detective, who has only re
Gently unraveled the case. Here is {
contract between Abel Barnicourt an(
Sarah Parton. wherein she agrees tt
divide the estate with him in case ht
secures it for her, and below her con
fession that she was never married tt
your father, and the documents are al
forged, the signatures being COPIED
from letters of your father which hat
fallen into her possession. This con
fession Barnicourt was to hold Owe
her in case she refused to divide will
him after the estate was acquired"
While Tracy was giving his ware
this brief summary of case which
could only be written in volumes he,
face wore the expression not of one de
lighted at hearing how she had re
gained her property, but an engrossin'
pity mingled with wonder, admiration
gratitude for one who had suffered dis
grace and Imprisonment that it nigh
pass to it's legitimate owner.
4 49, ~ p,,IG