Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-26

III suuueHly Cailcu Out VI loWH. Pul
when come back well organize the
staff and get down to business"
And with that he rose, clapped OH his
hat and was about to depart when a
thought seemed to strike him.
"By the way" said he, there may be
some payments made while I'm gone
Put the money into the safe. Miss
Lawrence will show you the combina-
ton"
She did so after Graham had gone
There was nothing in the safe except
some new books of account, absolutely
blank, and q large sealed envelope
bearing the name of Lingard & Co. in
the corner and that Of Miss Hilda Law
renee In the usual place Of address.
1t fell from a pigeonhole while Har-
wood was rummaging in the safe, and
he picked 1t up and replaced 1t.
"That is my fortune" said Miss Law
renee, with a laugh.
"IndeedT" said he. II trust that 1t Is
large"
ITS large enough" she responded,
"only 1t isn't worth anything"
How does that happenT'
She smiled at him sadly.
did you ever hear Of the Capital
Cities railroad?" she asked.
HARDWOOD was aghast. So this adorab
creature really was In the plot and by SO
childish a trick expected to lure him to
disclosures!
EYES," said he; 1--WE heard the name"
my father lost his money in It." said
she. "There are S100, coo of the bonds In
that envelope, and they are waste paper.
Yet he believed to the last day of his life
that they would have value, and he
made me promise to take care OF them
and not to sell unless they were again
upon the market with regularly quoted
price,"
"How does 1t happen that you have
them here?"
II kept them in the safe at Lingard &
Co.'s" she answered. Naturally
brought them here.
HARDWOOD rose and took turn across
the room and back. OF course there was
nothing but waste PAPER in that envelope.
He could break the seal-with proper
caution-when Miss Lawrence was out Of
the ONCE for luncheon and SO satisfy
himself that she was truly q consp!rator;
not because the act would be dishonora-
BILE, but for another reason altogether.
the thought nauseated him. He looked at
Hilda Lawrence, and 1t seemed to him
dreadful stroke Of destiny that she should
have come into his life to play O role SO
mean. Then suddenly something within
him refused to credit this, fought against
It, overthrow suspicion and trampled on 1t.
Miss Lawrence" said he, 'there is q
chance that your bonds will soon be
worth their face value or even more. II
you will let me see them will tell you
the story"
.Certainly,' she said. surprised. and
she broke the seal. The next instant she
uttered cry, and the envelope fell from
her hands, while many slips Of blank pa
per futtered down to the floor.
''Be CALM said HARDWOOD. Answer me
one question. Did the bookkeeper at Lin
gard & Co.'S know that you had these
bonds in their safer"
eyes," said she. "I-I happened to tell
him"
HE and Graham have put up this Job
to get Them" said he. II thought they
were plotting against me. but it's clear
as day now that they took me for genu-
ine-for an innocent stranger who could
be lured here to bear the blame OF this
theft when you should discover it. I
have been an Incompatible donkey. But
waltz
He went to tho telephone and called
number.
'Hellol want to speak to Mr.. Stan
ton. Hello! Is that you. Joe? Well. I've
got down to Grahams game. He has
stolen 100000 Of G. c. bonds. Get all our
sleuths out after him. What? What's
that? He's there with the bonds Offering
them to you? We'll, this is luck! Get a
policeman and-what? Don't ask any
more questions, Joe. Nab himF'
''Miss Lawrence" said he turning to
the girl, who stood amazed. "if you will
join forces with my friend ana me in tho
matter Of the Capital Cities railroad I
can assure you that your bonds will in
deed be fortune to you. And mean
while they're safe, thank heaven! Shall
we shake hands upon our luck?'
"Yes-yes. indeed" said she.