Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-10-23

ru,pTER XII.-(Continued.)
oeass o zee Q Q Q . 0

CHAPTER Kill Continued
aRoror." exclaimed Alison, passionate
g.. This must be Fergusson's doings he
- have tempered with your letter and
a,+ ont the entry in the ledger, and of
curse the check is in his possession
wait a moment, Allie" returned Rog-
- looking very stern and pale. The
a .bock was cashed the next morning by a
q clark Of ours who was turned away for
dishonesty: but the bank did not know
n chat and thought him still in our employ,
q N the money is lost to us. My father is
q drnadfuIIy angry and puzzled about the
& r5oIp affair but he does not suspect Fer
& c,sson He flew in a perfect rage when l
4 limited about his gambling debts. He
8 barps me for carelesSness; he says [
orcht not to have left the office without
4 lacking I'D both the check and the ledger
IN +hp iron safe Ferguson has told my
N father that he saw Ibbotson the clerk we
dismissed, hanging about the yard talking
! to the men. He declares that while we
i vpra in the yard Ibbotson must have got
into the office turned over the letters and
4 distracted my receipt; he must have read
the entry in the open ledger, and he knew
\ oil the keys, and would easily find the
check He has gulled my father complete
", he has actually made him believe that,
IN ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour at
+bp most, Ibbotson could cut the page in
thp ledger, track the check to the private
drawer, hunt out my receipt and make his
oscape-and all this without any precon-
cpived plan. Why, the whole thing is mon
srous and utterly improbable. [ am posi-
tive that the only thing Ibbotson has done
is to cash the check"
Roger, oh, how dreadful it all is! Of
course, there can be no doubt in your
own mind who did it all?"
There is not a shadow of doubt in my
own mind Allie; but how am | to bring
nv father to believe it? Ibbotson has left
the place, or he was actually going to set
the detectives on him. Ferguson has COM
pletely hoodwinked him. Circumstantial
evidence is strong against FERGUSON, to
my thinking. Judge for yourself, Allie /;
he was with me in the office when l open
ed the check; he saw me make the entry
in the ledger, as we'll as write the receipt !;
he also must have seen me thrust the
check hastily into the private drawer be-
fore | ran out into the yard. No doubt
he returned to the Office as soon as my at
tention was engrossed with poor Mitchell
few minutes was all that was needed to
accomplish the Job, Allie. l have found
out to-day that he is terribly involved, and
that his creditors are threatening him.
told you things are coming to a crash.
am afraid we shall lose more than the sum
We received from Simmonds Brothers"
oh, Roger, how blind your father is !
What are you to do to open his eyes?"
Il am going to watch FERGUSON" re-
turned Roger, with a frown of anxiety
Allie, | never meant to have told you
this. | have been about the town CLEAN
ing facts to-day, but l mean to keep them
to myself for the next four-andtwenty
hours. Ferguson has arrived at some
sort of crisis in his affairs. I am afraid
he will do something desperate. A sum
Of money has come into our hands to-day
after banking hours, in notes and gold.
wanted my father to bring it up to the
house, but he secuted the idea as ridicul-
ous as though any thief could open an
iron safe; but, Allie, am not comfortable
IN my mind. Supposing Ferguson has
duplicate key? My father is so hopeless
" duped that it is no use saying any more
TO him. l have made up my mind to
watch the office tonight"
But not alone, dear?"
Yes, Of course. Timothy will be there
If l need help; but l don't mean to take
MN into confidence. There is a barge
mat passes at ten tonight. The barge
IS an acquaintance of mine. l told him
to look out for me by the bridge. 1 will
get him to land me at the lower end Of
the yard Timothy will be in his shed by
mat time, thinking about his supper.
don't want him to see me, or he will en-
tighten Ferguson. There is a handy
Wood-pile just outside the office where
can lie snug"
'Rogert' exclaimed Alison, in a quick,
determined voice, you shall not go alone :;
snail watch with you" And as he was
about to interrupt her she went on quiet
". You know Missile and Miss Leigh will
De out until half past ten. Papa is always
IN his study. They will think I am in bed
can lock my door and put the key in my
pocket, and you have the latch-key. I will
De no trouble to you. l will be as quiet
as mouse, and not hinder you. 1 could
not rest could not sleep, knowing you
were with that bad man. l will be useful
Us a witness. You must take me, Roger"
Are you sure that you mean it-that
Il VIII not hurt your" he asked, slowly.
What should hurt me on summers
night? And the barge will be suca fun"
:. Very we'll, you shall come if you like.
lou are plucky girl, Allie"
CHAPTER XIII.
1t was still early in the evening when
me young conspirators returned to the
mouse ard Tho hI,..,.s SSI,d