The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-06-19

two, did not return to work after
luncheon yesterday, but Trent, who
lodged with him. finished his day as
usual.
THE robbery was discovered before
business hours this morning by Mr..
Willis, who went early to the Office to
have some letters typed. Somehow
Trent must have got vino Of this. for
when the police went to arrest him at
however, the audacity TO address a
letter to the firm, declaring that he
vas Innocent
That was all, but 1t was enough: I
had helped a criminal to escape. l had
seen his disguise as he entered the
police on his track. Stay!-Marion's
brother-his words came back to me.
Don't tell any one about this ride.
for Marion's sake"
What was l to do? I hurried to my
lodgings and threw myself into a chair.
Marion had released me because she
believed him guilty. Was it only a
dodge on his part to work on my feel
ings-that mention of Marion's name?
How had he known me?
l confess l never felt so perplexed
in my life. Ogden would swallow him
up and hide him, as it had many before
if l only held my tongue.
At length L resolved to do nothing.
Marion, of course, was the chief factor
in this decision, but somehow the man
struck me as honest, and then there
was his letter-perhaps there was more
in it than the newspaper reporter sup
nosed.
L arose next morning and set about
my business With a heavy heart. l had
never for an instant wavered in my
feelings toward my %fiancee, and, now
that l knew all, l was determined to
go out to Woodview as soon as possible
and set things straight between us.
1t was with a sigh of relief that. at
4 o'clock, turned the key in my desk
and set out on my mission.
Again l %traversed that long white
hill, but in a very different mood from
that of the day before. Then all was
we'll: now a cloud of trouble hung over
the house of my beloved.
There she was in the garden: 1 al
most fancied that she was waiting for
me.
1 need not go into our conversation
during the next half hour: it suficies to
say that as we sat there together in
the evening sunlight something again
sparkled on The third finger of her left
hand.
The gate swung open.
"A telegram boy cried Marion:
what can it be?'
Miss Duncan, 10 cents to pay for de-
livery" said the stolid youth.
Marion seized the envelope and tore
it open with trembling fingers, then,
With n glad cry, she handed me the
Slip of paper.
'Have caught the thief-Dick."
Here, boy, keep the change" I cried
joyfully. tossing half n dollar to the
youngster. who pocketed it with a grin.
Father, father, come here; it's all
right.'
Mr.. Duncan appeared at the door.
It's all. right, father. Dick is inno-
cent and he has caught the thief. See.
here is his telegram
Thanh heaven said Mr.. Duncan
fervently; II am glad for your sake,
my dear girl, as for him and you, my
dear fellow" he said turning to me,
you did not desert us in our trouble"
For answer Marion shyly held out
father, smiling. We'll, Jack is no fair
weather friend-now, 1 suppose neither
of you wants me particularly Just
now.' .
The short account of his adventures
told by Dick Trent himself, is the best
way in which l can tell his story.
'Iou know l lodged with Thomas -
he began. "A quiet, decent sort of
Fellow. On the day he bolted I went
out before him. but, having forgotten
my gloves, l ran back. / found him
closing a small, strong leather bag. He
seemed greatly put out at my reap
p~earance. but I thought nothing of it
at the time.
When I returned from the Office, as
you know, he was not there. Although
l had not the slightest idea of the
truth, o a look through his papers
2 to see if he had left any message.
y found nothing but a scrap OF
crumpled paper with an Ogden address
on IT, and a timetable. l went to bee
!, late that night. l could only think thai
he had been intrusted by the firm witt
some sudden and important business
! Just as 4 was starting for work mex
morning a boy brought me a note:
$4,000 missing at office. r.. And yor
suspected.-R. S."
Who is r. So" asked.
X, :. is the young lady typewriter
t said Dick with a blush, blu that is an.
other story.
Il did not know what to do: if CAV,
myself up, thought that the possibl,
t delay might let Thomas slip Off, be.
sides-1 uppos 1 was a fool
wanted to do a bit of good on my own,
out beautifully against me, now.
I Well, to make a long story short,
ran and walked to Ellingham. l knew
s that the stations were watched.
There, at the address l had found
Thomas only slip-I ran my gentle
S mar to earth in a quiet lodging, witt
all his cash."
=; How did you know 1 was Marion
fiance?" l asked.
by that little locket on your chain.
replied Trent smiling. II ought /
n know 1T. for Marion commissioned m,
to buy It,"
That is the whole story. Dick Tren
8 is now in Thomas' position, with ex
u cellent prospects. AS for r. S., vel
o there is to be a double wedding som
d time about Christmas.
7 Real Fish.
From Life.
@ The talk around the table shifted t