Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-15

nounced Ripley, with deadly intent ness. "I don't know what 1t means. There is no explanation. The whole thing is inconceivable. Sit down, and I will tell you everything as quickly as possible"
 There isn't much to tell" said Grant mechanically.
 q can take it better standing de- clared Brewster. shutting his jaws tightly.
 Jones was last seen in Butte on the 3d of this month" said Ripley. "We sent several telegrams to him after that day, asking when he expected to leave for New York. They never were claimed, and the telegraph company reported that he could not be found We thought he might have gone off to look after some of his property and were not uneasy. Finally we began to wonder why he had not wired us on leaving for the east 1 telegraphed again and got no answer. It dawned upon us that this was something un- usual. We wired his secretary and re- ceived a response from the chief Of police He asked in turn if we could tell him anything about the where abouts of Jones. This naturally alarm ed us, and yesterday we kept the wires hot. The result of our inquiries is ter rible, Mir. Brewster
 Why didn't you tell me-" asked Brewster.
 There can be no doubt that Jones has lied, accompanied by his secretary. The belief in Butte is that the secretary has murdered him.
 Ripley moistened his lips and went on.
 We have dispatches here from the police. the banks. the trust companies and from a half dozen mine managers. You may read them if you like, but l can tell you what they say. About the 1st of this month Jones began to turn various securities into money. It is now known that they were once the property of James T. Sedgwick, held in trust for you. The safety deposit vaults were afterward visited, and in- spection shows that he removed every scrap of stock. every bond. everything of value that he could lay his hands upon. His own papers and effects were not disturbed. Yours alone have disappeared. It is this fact that con- vinces the authorities that the secreta- " has made away with the old man and has fled with the property. The bank people say that Jones drew out every dollar of the Sedgwick money, and the police say that he realized tre- mendpus sums on the convertible se- curities. The strange part of it Is that he sold your mines and your real es- tate. the purchaser being man named Golden. Brewster. it-it looks very much as if he had disappeared with everything"
 Brewster did not take his eyes from Rpley's face throughout the terrible speech. He did not move a. fraction of an inch from the rigid position as- sumed at the beginning,
 "Is anything being done?" he asked mechanically.
 "The police are investigating. He is known to have started off into the mountains with this secretary on the Sd of September. Neither has been. seen since that day so far as any ons knows. The earth seems to have swal- lowed them. The authorities are searching the mountains and are mak- Ing every effort to find Jones or his body. He is known to be eccentric, and at first not much importance was at tached to his actions. That is all we can tell you at present. There may be developments tomorrow. It looks bad terribly bad. We've had the utmost confidence in Jones. I wish I could help you. my boy"
 q don't blame you, gentlemen" said Brewster bravely. Its just my luck, that's all. Something told me all along that-that it wouldn't turn out right. wasn't looking for this kind of end. though My only fear was that-Jones
 
 the fortune It never occurred to me that he might prove to be the-the un- worthy one"
 q will take you q little farther into our confidence. Brewster" said Grant slowly. Mir. Jones notified us in the beginning that he would be governed largely In his decision by our opinion of your. conduct. That Is why we felt no hesitation in advising you to con- tinne as you were going. While you were of at sea We had many letters from him. all in that sarcastic vein of his. but in none Of them did he offer word of criticism. He seemed thor oughly satisfied with your methods. In fact. he once said he'd give million of his own money if it would purchase your ability to spend one-fourth of it."
 Well. he can have my experience free of charge \ began can't be a ch1oser. vou know said Brewster bit terly. His color was gradually coming back. What do they know about the secretsry:' he asked suddenly. intent and alive
 He was q new one. understand. who came 70 Jones less than a year ago. Jones Is said to have had implicit faith in him" said Ripley.
 And he disappeared at the same tme:"
 They were last seen together
 Then he has put an end to Jones' cried N10-- evrireilv. Tt is as plain