Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-21

nothing save that when opened the boxes under Mr.
Harmons directions found them full Of icaden bars
The boxes still in the safe and upon examination
1 found them filled with bars similar to the one Mr.
Harmon carried with him. Here mystery worthy
OF the name. No ciew and trace Of the gold
begged to be excused and went back to my rooms to
ponder admitting to myself that here was case
which l at loss to know how to begin work
upon.
on the day following Swallowed Augustus Har-
mon carefully Nothing developed The next day
went after johnson with the results Apparently
these two connected with the robbery In any
way. But who contested with ~ decided that
It must be Of these two who would explain the
mystery But as the days went by and my WORK
yielded nothing but disappoin ments began TO doubt
the reliability my conviction II seemed that was
doomed to fail hopelessly N this case. again con-
suited Mr.. Harmon and went over the ground with
him hut nothing new developed except the fact that
his brother times had mania for gambling for
high stakes This might account for temptation TO
steal the gold II did not account for any opporu
nifty for him TO bafhed. lost completely
/ again took up the task Of shadowng the two men
whom / suspected. Now discovered that Johnson
also addicted to gambling and speculation but
nothing more.
solution than 1t had when went to work upon
It, was working without any definite aim
knowing that II did stumble upon its solution II
would be the merest piece of good fortune
went my favorlte restaurant one night re-
solved forget my worry over the case In sound
meal served with good music friend seeing me
seated. ca me and shook hands. Did you ever
see anything like this? he asked and he held forth
a coin II was old fashioned 20 cent silver piece
gilded and passed Tor a nNe dollar Boiu
passing it back to my friend he excused himself
and left. Then suddenly struck with an idea
tt more than an idea, 1t was an Inspiration IL
was improbable but resolved to test It,
Next morning I called at the ONCE. Mr. Har-
rnon I said when we were alone I wish you would
unlock your and leave alone with the lead In
II for Ave minutes
without a he opened the massive steel doors
and stepped out. The moment the outer door had
closed upon him I drew a rough file from my pocket
and attacked bar At first nothing showed
under the rasps the steel the dun lead Then
suddenly the hlings tinged with yellow and the
newt moment I saw what had hoped to see-the bars
were gold Quickly placed the filed bars back ana
called Mr.. Harmon. I have made discovery OF Inn
portance" said. but am unable to reveal now
However / know that will solve the robbery
n YOU will wait with me tonight think we will
ind the criminals"
That night we secreted ourselves in closet and
waited At twelve a key turned in the door and Two
men stepped the dark Without striking match
thew groped their the safe and opened It,
Al that moment touched button and turned on the
lights The men in the room were Johnson and
Augustus Harmon
Afterwards It was all explained easily johnson
and Mr. Harmons brother, driven into hole by their
NEGOTIATIONS had determined to steal the gold with he
aid of the superintendent of the mine That worthy
was skilled chemist and II he who had invented
and applied coating to the bars which turned TO
lead and the gold from sight wnile the snip
ment was its way home Being preparation ~hich
required weeks take effect there was no ehanse In
the anpearance of the bars at Nome. But when San
Francisco was and the boxes opened the bars
annarently were nothing but rough lead And here
the gold intact in Harmons safe winnie ne was
growing white haired over his supposed robbery.
For some he never exposed MS prother OF
his two accomplices discharged Johnson and the
engineer and allowed his brother to retire He re-
stored confidence the stock Of his mine and now Is
extremely wealthy did not forget TO add sub
I showed that the lead in his safe was pure
gold.