The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-08-27


| He found no trouble in securing his
heritage, amounting to something over
$4,000, deposited in a bank in Charles
I ton, S. c., which he brought with MIN
; in a large package of bank bills, that
| he had carefully sewed into the Inside
| pocket OF his coat. He arrived in the
afternoon, too late to deposit his
wealth in the bank; and, after an
hours rest went down TO the store and
placed the package carefully in The
safe and afterwards had a talk with
Ed Brown in the counting room,
briefly narrating the incidents of his
trip, and informing him of the amount
of money be had brought back with
him.
Tired out as he was by his Soutl
Carolina trip, John Stiles sat up late
that night, in conference with his wife,
! running over his assets and liabilities
There would be little left Of mis- aun*s
| money when the balance sheet was
struck, but he would be clear OF debt,
would not have to give up his house
O~NN
relief of the long-harassing load off
their minds.
After the best sleep he had enjoy ed
for many months and hearty break
fast, the merchant went down to busi-
ness, giving a CHEEKY greeting to Ed
Brown, who was arranging some goods
for display in front of the store. En-
tering the counting room, his eyes
naturally sought the safe containing
his mOney-his salvation. To his
astOnishment, the door, though closed
to, was not shut, evidently unlocked.
IN breathless haste he pulled it wide
open and looked in. The package OF
money was gone! Edward" he call
ed in a loud voice, going down on his
knees, and ransacking the safe, to 40
purpose. The clerk hastened into the
counting room, to find his employer on
his feet, his face pallid, pointing to tie
open safe.
''In the name of God, what does this
mean? The money which I brought
home yesterday is gone!' "Gone:"
re-echoed the clerk holding up mis-
hands in amaZement and dismay
Yes, gone. But of course, you put
it in some other place, and can relieve
my anxiety" This he said in almost
pleading tones, not willing to give up
hope.
But the clerk shook his head. ''MI.
Stiles" he said looking the merchant
full in the face, Il have not seen or
touched that package since you placed
it inside the safe in my presence"
but how came the safe open when
l arrived? Who could have opened it
but you?"
God only knows. Are you sure,
sir, that you did not open it?''
THAT III swear l did not
1t is needless to dwell on this dis
tressing part of he story. The heart
broken merchant appealed in vain to
his clerk to confess the theft and re
store the money, promising that 1t
should be kept a secret The yolng
man, with tears in his eyes, declared
| his sympathy for the terrible loss, but
protested his innocence. At last Stiles
| in despair had Ed Brown arrested for
| embezzlement, and under warrant
| his person and his room over tie
| store were thoroughly searched and
| ransacked but every cent of the $4,6CO
| had utterly disappeared. In r"lal
| before a magistrate there was absOl-
| utely no evidence available to convict
~. .,11 ~ fINo
| discharged but in the estimation OF
| the community it was only the Scotch
| verdict, mot proven, and Ed Brown
was under the ban of suspicion.
[ John Stiles went to the wall. Ills
| store was closed by the sheriff, his
house was sold over his head, and he
| died about the beginning Of the civil
| war in great poverty.
! Young Brown was now a changed
man-norose and soured; changed IN
| habits for he became dissipated
| changed in nature, for he was mOu ny
and boisterous when he had been q1le'
| and well-behaved He hung about
the place living somehow from hand tc
mouth. until his old employer died. or
which occasion he got terribly drunk
and in his frenzy. *'said things that
CARED folks flesh grue that heard
| them" as Wandering Willie says III
SCOTS "Redgaunlet" He declared that
'the damned old merchant had stoier
his own money and had attempted tc
put him in prison for the crime ruin
! ing his character and him. The town
folks pointed to the fact that BrGw1
had never given any account of his
| antecedents. that he was always close
mouthed, and even his taciturnity was
brought up against him. The CIR
whom he loved, and to whom he Wa:
supposed to be engaged, turned away
her head when she passed him on the
street.