The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-03-11
not ordinary. II was furtivc, tenso and

hail, aud hc Rnt down In II and got np
again in un unnnturnl way. IN If his
notion had been part Of mild night
mare saw his right hand lowering
nrouud The breast pocket Of his coat,
aud | knew that That pocket held IN
ununi contents. FinnIly he glanced 10
ward the door Of The reception room.
caught glimpse, | suppose, of my oh
serving eyes IN the mirror aud Immc
dlntnly his distress increased,
by all mcnng." said ! Ia response to
u renewed suRRcrtlon by my hostess, =
should b" very much pleased to meet
MIR kronoid"
Ip0n this We crossed 10 the drawing
room. the butler holding the curtain fol
our convenience aud entering after "
IN response 10 n sign from his mistress
who doubtless required some small
service Of him. though what II was sltc
could not remember, for the excitement
of The next few minutes 0blItcrnted the
matter from her mind.
Mr.. kronold seemed oblIyIouS Of on
coming His back waH toward US. liit
eyes were intent upon the Acorc for II
appeared that he wns playing son"
thing new to his rcpert0ry, II purchase
Of tia, afternoon This circumstance
may account for the fact that he was
giving his third rendition of II when
tllt. + p
heard those chords while The butler was
admitting me to the house nnd again
while Mrs Culver md ! were taking
in the reception room.
think that Mrs. Culver was about
10 make gesture 10 me-, Indicating.
that we should wnit IN silence for the
conclusion " the piece. but sudden
shock OF surprise arrested her. Fol
lowing the direction OF her glance. !
saw plain table which stood In the
center OF the room. seemingly nn al
dition 10 tho ordinary furniture. aud
now Uttered with n great number Of
unframed cngravings. upon the midst
Of which there lay lady's hand bag.
The mouth OF the bag was open and
gaped NJ us pathetically Ike n dying
hsh,
Where Is my money" said Mrs.
Culver In II strained and whispering
tone, and | could have fancIed that she
addressed the question TO the empty
bag and that the inanimatc crcaturc's
open mouth replied In the popular
Phrase Of the day. "You can search
me"
The gifted Kronold wheeled about
upon the piano stool and sprang to his
feet
why. Mrs culver" he cried; sure
~ It's not possible
interrupted him by suddenly ad
dressing Derby. the butler who was
about to withdraw from the scene,
Don't go," said |, and then 10 Mrs
Culver; Pardon me. ! think II Is lin
portant that Derby should remain.
saw him enter this room ANA leave II
and since then he has not been ont OF
my sight. So II anything is missing hC
has perfect opportunity Ia prove
his innocence Immediately In iuStic,
to him could hot see him lose this
chance by ub~cutIng himself Mt thi'
jmrturc.'
lIcrbys distress was cNtrcm" and
udicruusly Obvious In my mind there
was no doubt at all that the missing
money was in the mans breast pocket
what was the sum-" asked Mrs
Culver. And IN what form was III"
"Not quite $4,000" She replied
There were nine 81 900 bills and sh,
gave me the whimsical wonanly rca
sons which had led her TO close he
account with certain bank and TAXI
the sum In cash.
"And you carried so much money II
that bag?" said l. ut was risk"
"Ah, but this Is not an ordinary bag,
said she, and, taking it from the table
she closed II and gave 1t 10 me lie
me see you open IT,"
was unable to do so, for there was
secret spring most ingenIously devised
This Is the way" said she, taking |
from me, and In moment she had re
placed II upon the table open,
Are you sure the money was ther
when you left this roomf" asked.
Positive" she answered. And, be
sides, the bag was closed. Somebod.
must have opened It"
"Yes," said Kronold 81 distinctly re
member that 1t lay upon the table
closed, when sat down TO the piano
few moments ago"
II don't remember where | put IT.,
said Mrs. Culver. "but," she added
with decision, ~ know that 1t wa
shut"
ut lay like this" said Kronold, an,
he put the bag upon corner OF til
table, not In the middle, as ii had lai
when my attention was first drawn t
It. And now" he continued, 'ther
have been only two persons In thl
room, myself and this servant. In thl
matter | will claim no advantage owe
him. His honor may be as precious t
him as mine Is to me. So this Is wha
must be done And he proceeded I
empty his pockets.
"But you were at the piano all tn
time" protested Mrs. Culver. "ASid