The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-06-10
Aunt Diana
The Sunshine
of the Family
CHAPTER XIl.-(Continued.)
. . o . . . . . . . . o 90 Q

Roger, exclaimed Alison. passionate
~. this must be Fergusson's doings he
must have tempered with your letter and
cut out the entry in the ledger. and OF
course the check is in his possession,
Wait a moment, Allie. returned Rog-
er, looking very stern and pale. The
check was eashed the next morning by a
clerk OF ours who was turned away for
dishonesty but the bank did not know
thar, and thought him stiil in our employ,
80 the money is lost to US. Nv father Is
dreadfully angry and puzzled about the
whole affair, but he does NOT suspect Fer
gusson- lie flew in perfect rage when
limited about his gambling debts. He
blames me for carelesSness: he says
ought. not to have left the Office without
locking up both the check and the ledger
In the iron safe. Ferguson has told my
father that he saw IbbOtSon the clerk we
dismissed. hanging about the yard talking
70 the men. lie declares that while we
were in the yard Ibbotson must have got
into the office, turned over the letters and
abstracted my receipt; be must have read
She entry in the open ledger, and he knew
all the keys. and would easily find the
check lie has gulIed my father complete
"; be has actually made him believe that,
In ten minutes. or a quarter Of an hour at
fhe most. Ibbotson could cut the page in
the ledger. track the check to the private
drawer, hunt out my receipt and make his
escape and all this without any precon-
ceived plan. Why. the whole thing is mon
strous and utterly improbable. am posi-
tive thar 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
my 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 / open
ed the check: he saw me make the entry
IN the ledger. as well as write the receipt.
he also must have seen me thrusb 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
fention was engrossed with poor Mitchell !
A few minutes was all that was needed to |
accomplish the job. Allie / have found /
out to-day that he is terribly involved. and l
that his creditors are threatening him / 4
told you things are coming to a crash / /
am afraid We shall lose more than the sum 1
we received from Simmonds Brothers,.
Oh, Roger, how blind your father is
What are you 10 do to open his eyesF''
Il am going to watch FERGUSON, re
turned Roger. with a frown Of anxiety. 1
allie. / never meant to have told you 1
this- have been about the town CLEAN
ing facts to-day. but I mean to keep them
to myself for the next four-and-twenty
hours. Ferguson has arrived at some
sort Of crisis in his affairs. / am afraid
he viii do something desperate. A sum
Of money has come into our hands to-day
after banking hours. in notes and gold
wanted my ather to bring it up to the
nouse. but he secuted the idea as ridicuI-
BUS, as though any thief could open an
ron safe; but. Allie. am not comfortable
q my mind. Surprising Ferguson has
i duplicate key7 My father is so hopeless
y duDed thar it is no use saying any more
0 him. / have made up my mind to
watch the Office tonight
But not alone. dearz"
-Yes. Of course. Timothy will be there.
I need help; but | don't mean TO take
i'm into confidence. There is a barge
hat passes at ten tonight. The barge
; an acquaintance OF mine. | told him ,
0 look out for me BY the bridge. / viii
st him TO land me at the lower end Of .
be yard Timothy viii be in his shed By
hat time. thinking about his supper.
ont want him to see me. or he will en-
ghten Ferguson. There is a handy !
Food-pile just outside the Office where I !:
an lie snug" 4
Roger r exclaimed Alison, IN a quick,
etermined voice. @you shall not 90 alone:
shall watch with you" And as he was !
bout to interrupt her she went on quiet !
!. You know Missile and Miss Leigh will 1
E out until half past ten. Papa is always :
! bis study. They will think am in bed. :
can lock my door and put the key In my =
1cket, and you have the latch-key. I will :
J no roublS to you. viii be as quiet !.
] a mousA md not hinder you. could
y rest could not sleep, knowing you :
ere with that bad man. I will be useful !,
a witness. You must take me, Roger" 4
Are you sure that you mean it--that =
viii not hurt youy" he asked, slowly. .
What should hurt me on n summers 4
ght? And the barge will be suca tusl." 1.
very well, you shall come If you ike. :,
ou are q plucky girl, Allie" =