Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-03-02
have you heard ?"

have you heardT
HE cannot be found, that's ALL" an
nounced Ripley. with deadly intent
ness. ~ 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.
81 can take 1t better standing" de-
clared Brewster, shutting his jaws
tightly.
Zones was last seen in Butte on the
Sd of this month";" said Ripley. 1--WE
sent several kilograms 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 telegraphed
again and got no answer. 1t dawned
upon us that this was something I'M
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, Mr.. Brewster"
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked
Brewster.
There can be no doubt that Jones
has fed, accompanied by his secretary.
The belief in Butte is that the secretary
has murdered him."
Ripley moistened his lips and went
on.
I'VE have dispatches here from the
police, the banks, the trust companies
and from half dozen mine managers
You may read them If you like, but l
can tell you what they say. About the
list Of this month Jones began to turn
various securities into money. 1t 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. 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 out
every dollar of the Sedgwick money,
and the police say that he realized ire
mendous sums on the convertible Sc
curties The strange part of it is that
he sold your mines and your real es-
tate the purchaser being man named
Golden. Brewster, tit looks very
much as If he had disappeared with
everything"
Brewster did not take his eyes from
Ripley's face throughout the terrible
speech He did not move a fraction Of
an inch from the rigid position as
sumed at the beginning.
as anything being done?" he asked
mechanically.
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 az 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
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. 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. 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
wouldn't consider me worthy to receive
the fortune. 1t never occurred to me
that he might prove to be the-the I'M
worthy one"
II will take you little farther into
our 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 off 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 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. A beggar can't be a
chooser, you know" said Brewster bit
terly His color was gradually coming
back What do they know about the
secretary" he asked suddenly, intent
and alive.