The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-05-05

Ing q visitor WAS announced VINO gave th
name Of Mr.. yan Ambnreh.
The stranger was nne, strnpplng youuI
fellow, REMARKABLY good looking. with
frank, brisk, bas,nesslIke air and keen, In
telllgent syes. He sat down opposise M
and pulled newspaper from his pocket
You advertised In the Cape Times for
kr. Joseph Bolder he said, coming strsigh
to the point.
Yes, replied. DO you happen to know
any thing Of him.
Perhaps | do. But a,s,, would yo'
mind telling me II you have see him lately
Not for week or two.
IL that the mang he asked, producing |
photograph and handing !. across TO me,
Yes, returned, that Is what he looket
like when be first called on me, But hs
was much altered the last time saw him
Ny visitor arose and begun to button ~
bis cea,.
Mr.. Cawthorne, he fald, l am Cape de-
tective, and have been following that man
for the best part Of twelve months. be-
lieve know where to lay my hands upon
him, but, so that there should be no mis-.
take, want you to come with me.
After some little hesitation consented,
ard we drove n in cab toward the Mile
End Road. There my companion got out,
dismissed the cab, and we turned down q
quiet street. As we did so two men aI-
preached from opposite directions and ac-
costed US. II was easy to see they were
Scotland Yard detectives.
He has not come out. said one Of them
to Van Amburgh. We had better get the
business through at orce.
Together we proceeded toward certain
house halfway down the street.
Do you mind waiting here said the Cape
detective, as we stopped at the door. |
will call you In presently.
They entered the house, and was left
alone In the street. In obout ten minutes
Van Amburgh cana out. | saw at once
by bis face that something serious had hap.
pened.
He has slipped through our 4 ,gers, he
said. The moment we entered the room
he put pistol to his head and shot him
self. Now let us 20 back to your office; !
think you will fad friend waiting for
you there.
He said no more, but had sort Of
vague preaen,iment that there was sur
prise in store for me. When we reached
the office found man seated in my room
whose white face bore traces OF long and
acute suffering. Though so worn and thin
| recognize I'd him at once.
Halstead! TIN Halstead! cried. hur-
rying to bis side.
The poor feilo tried to rise, but drop
ped back helplessly In his seat. He could
only fqueezi my hand in silence, while he
glanced toward Van Ambursh as ifappeal-
Ing to him to explain matters.
Mr.. Halstead's story. sir, said the detec-
tive is easily explained. When gold began
to be found In the Transvaal he ltfs the
diamond fl lids, sold his claim and started
up-country on prospecting tour. He took
bis diamonds and m oney with him, intend |
Ing to return very shortly II he we're not
1t appears that this man Boil
ier--or Weston, a. believe his real name
waf-!eft the diggings at about the same
time. He came up with Mr.. Halstead who
had known him for some time, and pro-
posed to join him, One night, however,
he rascal made murderous assault upon
,is friend, robbed him Of all he possessed
ind left him for dead.
Mr.. Halstead was found lying In the
,ush by an Eng'ishman, who carried him to
lis hut and nursed him for months. When
10 recovered a little he made his way back
o the Cape by slow stages. His friends
here sent him back to England at once,
IS Bolder was supposed to have returned
o this country, while Mr.. Hslstead re-
NAMED behind to PICK up his strength. It
vas long time before Isucceeded In track
ng the man dowr, ard now the question IL,
What has he done with the plunderS
think can answer that, | said, going
0 my safe and producing the brown paper
'arcel and envelope. He deposited these
vth me six or eigbr months sgo.
Halstead SELF d the parcel and tore It
pen with trembling fingers. II contained
be missing diamonds.
10 the envelope was found several hun
red pounds In bank notee--about half the
mount as It turned out OF which my friend
ad been robbed. Bolder must have got ,
hrcugh the remainder. l.