The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-09-24

table, and I carried II home with me
That evening took It up and opened
II. Between the cover and the title
page was a library card on which
were entries Of several books taken ont
within few weeks The book be had
borrowed from me was Australian
Sketches" | wondered what kind Of
literature be had been taking from the
library. Curiosity. mingled with a
feeling that might gather some clew
with reference TO his acts. led me the
next day to take the card TO the library
and have look at the books be had
been reading What was my astonlsh.
ment to find that one was upon Cen.
trial America. three upon Honduras
and fifth on the rubber industry of
that state
After some thought these were my
deductions: Tom had AT first thought
OF going TO Australia. but had changed
TO Central America lie had selected
Honduras and when he got there
would invest the money he had taken
in either the rubber trade or n rubber
forest More likely the latter, since II
would give him better chance TO hide
from the world
The day after I reached these con.
illusions started for Florida and from
there sailed for Honduras Landing
at Puerto Cabello. went into the in.
terror. made inquiries for an Amer
lean who bad come TO Honduras to
negotiate for a rubber tract The
state is not large one. and any ono
going there with money would not re-
main unnoticed by its people OF
course it would be useless to inquire
for one by the name OF Martin. for the
skulker was doubtless using an as.
sumed name.
1t was just two weeks to day when
learned of man answering Mar
tins description who was dicliering for
rubber tract some ten miles away
from me. went to where be was and
on a porch In small town came upon
the man / was hunting When he saw
me he collapsed | told him that all !
wanted WAS Mrs. Coale's money or as
much of it as he had left. If he would
give me this he might stay where he
was for all me as long as he liked |
If not he would so back to stand trial |
He turned over eighteen $1,000 Unit |
ed States bonds, which was what re-
manned of Mrs. CoaIe's little fortune.
I receipted for 1t and started home
found that Alice had taken a posi- |
tion and gone to work. The evening |
of my return ! called on her and her
mother. This was the first time |
had seen them since their misfortune
Mrs Coale chided me for having kept |
away in the hours Of their trouble, |
while Alice maintained a cold reserve. /
didn't know whether to attribute IL 7
to the cause her mother mentioned or I
some other. In truth she seemed T
stunned. I'm not naturally facile in
opening subjects and sat for some
time, speaking only when / did speak
on commonplace topics. trying to frame
what / should say concerning the OBJ.
ject of my call knew | would make
the mother glad. but was all in the
dark about Alice. Finally, despairing
Of finding proper words. / took the
bonds from my pocket and tossed them
On the table.
They're yours" / said II tracked
him and got them. There's only a
small loss"
I'm very poor at descriptions, among
other things, and it wouldn't do for
me to try to give the scene that fol-
owed Mrs. Coale was so beside her
Self with joy that for time she forgot
sven to thank me. Alice broke into
'obs and. elutching my hand. her head
sank down on it. When | came to
myself ! found my eyes wet and my
lrm around her waist. But mean
while I'd had 1t there for some time
her discovering it either, so I
lidn't hurry TO take IL away.
Well. / was promoted from best
riand to-the other thing
c. MASON BRADSTREET.