The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-02-21

Denulng over the envelope ana smrling.
There is a strange thing about my
penmanship,' said he at last. ct is al
ways legible, but usually not in the
right way. Yes; that's AIR. Mousoud
sure enough, but when wrote it I sup
posed that it was two thousand >"
The breath went out Of Billy in a
gasp. He took the envelope out Of
Winser's hand and stared at the writ
ing.
1.-Two thousand? Not two thousand
dollarsw
es,". responded Winser. II put the
money into an envelope and wrote the
amount on the outside because had an
othsr--two others. In fact. with different
sums"
IT found $1,000 on this DESK" said Billy.
''ard I've lost It."
"Lost it?''
I'm weekly magazine-Truth. Proba-
bly, you haven't seen a copy. It's fall
ure."
"You surprise me. It certainly looks
prosperous Did you invest my money
there?"
Upon this, Billy told the whole story,
and 1t sounded to him like a lie, but Win
ser gave no sign Of disbelief.
"Of course I should not have used the
money without knowing where it came
FROM" said he in conclusion, but per-
suaded myself that somebody had been
my good angel. There are two or three
men in this city who were close friends
of mine in college and are now very
| rich. Miss Vincent had often heard me
speak of them, and though she knew that
the acquaintance had been entirely broken
off because Of the difference Of our cir
cumstances she might have found means
to communicate my need to one Of them.
The theory was wild, but so extraordinary
an event seemed to excuse little dream
ing. OF course I never connected this
money with the Mousoud letter, which I
had practically forgotten
'The money" said W1nser, must have
been left on your desk that afternoon
when you found It. Had any one been
here?''
IT questioned the servant as soon as
she was we'll. She said that man had
called for me twice, but she described a
poor devil Of an artist-a friend of mine
who had been here before. He wasn't
the man, however,"
winser took some seconds for ref1ec-
ton and then said:
IT am good questioner. May T see
this servant?"
Certainly" said Billy, and he rang
the bell. .... ..-.-s..
The meager servitor answered the sum-
mons promptly. &c.,.
MADAM said Winser, 1--WE know that
you opened this envelope and took out
the money and put a part of it under that
paperweight. What did you do with the
rest Of it?"
She stood rigid for an instant, facing
han f,,~v 10 to-
| blaze Of wrath. ~ e. 49,.
"You lie!'' she screamed. ''You got it
all Of it. I never got nothin', and you
know it. You came in here that day, and
never was out of the room till you
| came. That's the truth, and don't care
| what you say. The money was in my
| hand, and I put it on the desk, and you
took it, and r.
"That is all that we require" said
Winser, and with Billy's help he succeed
ed in persuading the woman that she was
charged with no crime.
"And now, Mr.. Allenwood," he resumed
when they were alone, 1--WE have cleared
up this simple mystery, and the matter
stands between us two alone. It seems
that I am in sense a partner in Truth,
a very excellent magazine to read, but
not to own, as judge from what you
have said. May venture to intrude a
| little further into its affairs?'
Billy gave clear statement Of the con-
! dition of the magazine, and this was the
| first Of several conferences between them.
| The final result was that Winser agreed
| to loan a certain sum Of money, with the
proviso that he Should name a new bust
| ness manager. What share Of the ulti-
| mate success Of Truth should be credited
to Winser's appointee and what share to
| his financial backing I would not wish to
decide, but the magazine is a. great prop
| erty today, as everybody knows. The
| shares held by Allenwood and Miss Vim
| cent are worth good deal of money, and
| there are salaries as we'll as profits.
| These interests we're recently consolidated
I by the marriage Of the parties, and one
| Of the most priced and most valuable
Of the wedding presents was from Julian
| Wfnser, who assumed for that occasion
the name Of ssHr MoYsO11d"