The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-03-11

A>~e'y NihSu W IL L pcTCelNGu ln0I carl
had not been himself Of late, and was
weakly anxious to make the best pos.
sible plea for him. He was my dead
sisters son and had been dear to me.
l thought 1T might be well to have a
long talk with him, and one day when
L came into my Office after luncheon
and found him there alone l was upon
the point Of burdening him with much
useless advice, but he turned my mind
into another channel
WHO do you think has been here?"
said he. "The last man you'd expect to
see, upon my word"
"Not Kelvin" l queried, for call
from him at that juncture would in.
deed have been unexpected.
Severn" answered Carl, 'the first
one-the pretender."
was amazed at the impudence of
this visit.
"He wouldn't tell me what he want.
ed" said Carl. "He inquired for you
and promised to come back"
Ellis reception will be more lively
than cordial" I responded.
1t was about half an hour later when
the man appeared. His looks had
greatly changed, but whether he was in
disguise then or had been so before I
could not have decided. He had an
official and solemn air as he entered the
Office, and he laid card upon the leaf
Of my desk without having spoken n
word in the meantime. The card con-
veyed to my mind the information that
Mr.. Frank Gillespie was a special oper-
ator for the Dorm Detective agency of
New York.
you lost some money awhile ago."
said Mr.. Gillespie. "Well, sir, our
agency keeps it's eyes on little matters
Of that kind, and when they're partic-
| ularly interesting we sometimes inves.
tgatc on our own account without Of
fering our services in the regular way"
was that why you came here be-
fore?" l demanded.
Mr.. Gillespie gravely inclined his
head. l asked him why he hadn't said
so like an honest man, and received
In return the information that the de-
tective business sometimes involved an
element of deception.
"Now, Mr.. Harrington" said he,
"what is there in it If find that mon
ey?"
1 was strongly indisposed to deal
with this man, yet 1 would have been
glad of the money, and could not sup
pose that he had come to see me a sec.
ond time without having some very
promising clew. So asked him what
he would think right .,
"Ten per cent of what / find" said
he promptly and added, "I'm suspicious
that the amount may be a trife short
was more than suspicious that it
might be so, supposing that Mr. Giles
pie should find it when no one was
watching him. However, 1 agreed to
his terms, with the proviso that more
than half the money should be recover
ed and the crime fully exposed.
"Well, sir" said he, "I think I'm pre-
pared to do it, but 1 warn you that it
will be considerable Of shock to you"
u ut will be good deal more OF a
sifock to the thief" said I. "I guess
that can stand 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 to my ear
he whispered:
ITS your man Donaldson who turn
ed this trick"
"No. sir" said l; chat won't CO."
wait Bit" said he, laying a hand
upon my arm.
II won't listen to this charge except
In Mr. Donaldson'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.. Donaldsons face, that
will give you sort Of standing"
"Very WELL" said he, spreading out
his hands.
touched button that rings q bell
In the outer office. and when q boy en-
tered in response to it said:
ASK Mr.. Donaldson to step this
way"
1t happened that Donald had entered
the outer office within a few minutes,
and the boy thought that it was the
son and not the father whom wished
to see. To 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 20, Mr.. Gillespie?" he
said,
The detective was taken by surprise,
but he masked 1t fairly well.
you have just made serious charge
against my father" said Donald. "Have
you any proof Of itY'
"Ill produce my proofs at the proper
time," answered Gillespie.
"This is the proper time," said /.
"Produce the evidence now OF forever
hold your peace"
u say that he took the money" pro.
tested Gillespie. "He changed the pack.
ages on your desk. That knew at the