Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-01-18

anu ffOln "a nalr uOLen NINE managers
You may read them If you like, but
can tell you what they say. About tn
1st of this month Jones began to turn
various securities into money. Ii il
now known that they were once tn.
property Of James 4. Sedgwlck, helt
in trust for you. The safety deposit
vaults were afterward visited, and liz
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. 1t is this fact that con.
vinces the authorities that the secreta-
ry has made away with the old man
and has fed with the property. The
bank people say that Jones drew ont
every dollar OF the Sedgwick money,
and the police say that he realized ire
mendous sums on the convertible Sc
curitieS. The strange part of il is that
he sold your mines and your real es-
tate. the purchaser being IA man named
Golden. Brewster, it-it looks very
much as If he had disappeared with
everything"
Brewster lid not take his eyes from
Ripley's face throughout the terrible
speech. He did not move a fraction OF
NJ 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 one
knows. The earth seems to have swal-
lowed them. The authorities are
searching the mountains and are max
ing every effort to find Jones or his
at first rot much Importance was at
tached TO his actions. That Is all we
can tell you at present. There may be
developments tomorrow. 1t looks bad
terribly bad. We've had the utmost
confidence in Jones. | wish / could
help you, my boy"
Il don't blame you, gentlemen said
Brewster bravely. IT'S just my luck,
that's all. Something told me all along
that-that 1t wouldn't turn out right. l
wasn't looking for this kind of end,
though. My only fear was that-Jones
wouldn't consider m worthy to receive
the fortune. 1t never occurred to me
that he might prove to be the-the un-
worthy one."
Il will take you a little farther into
a confidence, Brewster" said Grant,
slowly. Mr.. 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-
time 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 a |
word of criticism. He seemed thor |
oughly satisfied with your methods. In
fact, he once said he'd give a million of |
his wi money If 1t would purchase
your ability to spend one-fourth of it."
well, he a have my experience
of charge. A beggar can't be a
chooser. you know said Brewster bit
His color was gradually coming
back. What do they know about the
secretary he asked suddenly, intent
and alive.
He was a new one, | understand,
who came to Jones less than a year
ago. Jones is said to have had implicit
faith in him. said Ripley.
And he disappeared at the same
They were last seen together.
Then he has put an end to Jones!'
cried Monty excitedly. 1T is as plain
MS day TO me. Don't you see that he
exerted some sort of influence over the
old man, inducing him to get all this
money together ON some pretext or |
other solely for the purpose of robbing
him OF the whole amount? Was ever
anything more diabolical?' He began
the floor like an animal. nerv-
clasping and unclasping his
hands. I'VE must catch that secretary,
| don't believe Jones was dishonest.
$500 1ApNu W ~ SitNtT ScOuQ-
The strangest circumstance OF all.
Brewster, is that no such person as
Golden, the purchaser OF your proper
les, can be found. He Is supposed TO
reside In Omaha. and 1t is known that
paid nearly 100000 for the prop
'rty that now stands In his name. He
'aid 1t to Mr.. Jones In cash, too, and
paid every cent that the property is
"Bus he nus be In existence some
cried Brewster In perplexity.
How could he pay the money II he
loesn't exist?'
II oaly know that no trace OF the
nan can be found. They know nothing
him In Omaha said Grant helpless
=. +
80 II has finally ~happened,s said
srewster, but bib excitement had
lropped. "WeIl." be added, throwlnr
'lmself Into . deep chair. ut was Al
rays much too strange to be true.
NJ the hnUfnn{uw a. $1,000 1u IL