The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-12-04
WALTER B. WINES.
Copyright. 1907. by Charles N. Lurie

+ Il = Il = + It
money, "and as 1 happen TO nave ABOUT
twenty minutes to spare will tell you
all about 1t. To begin with, was al
ready on the track of the thief when
you first hOnored me by asking my as
slstance."
But" | interrupted, scarcely know
ing whether l was awake or dream
ing, "who could have taken sufficient
interest to anticipate me, his dearest
friendr
The inspector coughed behind his
hand and looked wise.
"Mr. Graham" said he, II am pretty
well along In years. l have been mar
ried twice and am the father Of eleven
children, eight Of whom, l am proud to
say, happened to be girls. Consequent
ly have had uncommonly good oppor-
tunities for studying the feminine char
acter from a domestic as well as pro-
fessional standpoint. And let me give
you a pointer in fatherly way. Don't
you ever believe that one man Is the
dearest friend to any other man. It's
unreasonable and impossible. Now,
here is an illustration in this very
case. Within a week after your dear
est friends conviction a lady invok-
ed my aid to restore to her lover his
freedom and his good name"
1 could see a twinkle in the eye and
a twitching about the corners Of the
81 Inan1u tho
old officer was enjoying his own joke
and my confusion, but l was too hap
py to feel angry.
saw 1t all. Agnes, the single heart
ed, had determined to leave no stone
unturned, and without consulting me
had set on foot a quiet investigation
on her own account Had she distrust-
ed me? All, the agony of that thought!
Well. she had reason to doubt my ca
pability. but not. God knew, my tidel-
ity.
Go on. Mr.. MahOney," l said; do
not keep me i'm suspense"
Certainly not" he said, land the
story can be very soon told. Golson's
boarding house was well patrOnized by
my men. only one of whom stayed
long at time. although all worked in
concert. His habits were learned, his
servants were in our confidence" (bere
the inspector solemnly winkedl land
at the time Of your first call l had
already learned that he had entered
upon negotiations with the British
museum for the sale of the stolen
coin for $50. The folks at Scotland
Yard did me Il good turn in the case,
Just as we have done for them hun
dreds of times. The museum authori-
ties offered good. round figure, but
insisted on seeing what they were go
ing To get before they paid for it and
fatty refused TO deal with middlemen.
What was the result? GolsOn took
steerage passage to Liverpool and
Travelled third class from there To Lon
don. He offered his 'swag at the mu
scum. and Of course the officers COB
bled him then and there"
It was. all plain. My friend was
cleared. The finding of that Internal
noble" would establish the truth Of
his story. and of course the state, aft
er having unjustly condemned him,
would render him the only Teparatlon
in It's power-a free pardon for a
crime which he had never committed.
And this is the perfection of modern
justice.
l need not dwell upon what follow
ed. / need not tell OF the return, con-
faooion ond oOnviotion Of GOlaOn tho
release of Scarborough, the remorse OF
the librarian, the repentance Of Agnes
aunt and the happy marriage Of the
two over the course of whose love had
come so dark a cloud.
was Jacks best man at the we'd
ding. and / thank God that on that
day as l touched Agnes cheek with
my lips In my heart there was no
pang.