The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1908-08-08

Perhaps unconsciously he injected a
sarcastic emphasis into his enuncia-
ton Of the word duplicate" Jack felt
he was ruined man.
Certainly, Mr.. Pope" he answered,
without hesitation, drawing his own
coin from his pocket and placing it be-
fore the skeptical official.
The latter took monocle from his
drawer and examined the piece close
ly on both sides for several minutes
Jack waiting with the patience of u
man who expects his quiyering nerves
to be cauterized at any moment by ar
electric current.
At length Mr.. Pope laid aside his
glass and fixed his eyes on the puta
tive culprit.
did you." he queried. discover any
points between our noble and your
,'duplicateT"
'None whatever except slight de
smaller diameter in my specimen at
certain points. Otherwise, for all that
I could see, they were substantially
Identical"
The librarian was deeply moved
After pacing the floor once or twice he
abruptly turned upon his heel and
faced his prisoner with the peremp-
tory request, LET me see your knife"
Jack produced it.
"As l thought 1t contains q file
blade Of finely tempered steel. Scar
borough" he went on, II have known
you for several years. am old enough
to be your father, and l want to treat
you as I should wish another man to
treat my son under like circumstances.
All enthusiastic collectors are, in q
sense, monomaniacs. l can see re-
morse-no. mean regret-written
upon your face now. Admit that an
overmastering influence momentarily
overcame your reason and for single
instant clouded your conscience. Own
that your alleged duplicate Of so rare
u piece Is the coin which you pretended
to have lost and which you have per-
haps fled, with a view to destroying
Its identity, and l give you my word
that what has TRANSFERRED between us
just now shall never pass my lips.
will dismiss the officer. l will even
undertake that the coin shall be luck
lily found and restored to its place.
And, more than that, you shall not
lose my friendship. l myself can un-
derstand the strength Of temptation,
for, though it has never happened to
assail me just as it has you today, l
have sinned in ways that have been
perhaps less excusable."
The voice Of the old man was tremu-
lous. His eyes were moist, and as he
ceased speaking he laid his hand gen.
thy upon the shoulder Of the man whom
he believed to have been detected in
grave crime.
Jack appreciated the nobility of char
acter which underlay his words and at
the same time perceived that there was
way to escape the impending thun-
derbolt, whose fall seemed inevitable.
That the gold noble that he had drop
ped would be ultimately recovered he
had no doubt In that event Mr.. Pope
would discover that his suspicious had
been i'll founded, and his own reputa-
ton would be cleared. But should he.
Jack Scarborough. whose life had hith-
erto been blameless except in SO far
as few of the minor escapadeS OF
ebullent youth might have cast light
shadow across it, confess himself a
thief? Never! Rather-yes. thou
sand times-arrest and arraignment.
the handouts and the grated door.
The librarian had left him to himself,
seemingly trusting to the voice Of the
culprits conscience. He stood gazing
out of the window, through which arose
the confused clamor Of the street be
low, where wealth and perjury, virtue
and crime, hope and despair jostled
each other In an Ill assorted crush Of
humanity.
At the sound Of Scarboruughs voice
he turned around.
mfr. Pope" said Jack, do not think
mat underestimate your kindness. I
tan never forget it, and ( thank yo5