Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-03-01
nIS5ING NOTE
BY LESTER DILLON.
Copyright. 1902 by American Press Al
CiluOnI

copyright. 1892 by American Press Asse.
ciauon.l
There was period i'm England when
tie crime Of stealing or forging
banknOte was punishable with death.
At this tine there lived in Devonshire
Sir Bryan Trcvclyu His estate was
large. ana on It were many tenants.
lie had but one child. daughter
Gladys, who would inherit his prop
crty. and between her and Edgar Cor.
uiSh. the son Of a clergyman, had
sprung up an ardent love Sir Bryan
opposed the match. having higher In
teutious FOR his daughter but she was
girl OF firm disposition and gave him
reason 10 suppose that II he aid nor
give bis consent to the match she
would make . trip with her lover 10
Gretna Green. Fearing this. he con
sentcd and that his future son-in.law
might learn 10 manage the estate
Gladys would Inherit he made him his
secretary AID accountant.
One rent day Sir Bryan and his soc
rotary were receiving the rents. When
the last tenant had gone the former
leaving Il nifty pound banknote on his
desk, left the room for paper he need
ed On his return the note was gone
He looked for II everywhere, assisted
by bis secretary, but It was not to be
found
\ Sir Bryan went TO bed that night
convinced that the man who was 10
bc hiS son-in-law had stolen the note
Opposed to him before. ne now became
determined that thief should not
marry his DAUGHTER and inherit his
property. However. the next morning
he had thorough search made Of the
room in which the note had disappear.
I'D. 1t was not found. and Sh Bryan,
despite the peadings OF his wife and
daughter gave young Cornish over TO
the authorities prcfcrrinS against him
a charge OF theft
The courts In those days were NOT
the complicated affairs they are COW
The accuses stood high in the county.
and his word was n power. He told
the magistrate his story. Tie and Cor.
niSh were IN the room alone together.
Sir RryOH went ont for few minutes.
leaving the note on his desk. No one
entered during his absence. On his
return the note was missing Since IN
animate articles cannot remove them.
selves II must have been appropriated
10y tho only living person present Il
was not found ON Corri shS person
but he was not searched till he was
arrested. Hc bed had ample time 70
dispose OF II. There WIS 20 defensr
made. for there was nothing on whicA
1.-rz
committed In midsummer, and since
The courts wore not given in those
days to spending much time over the
cases that came Before them the trial
was concluded and sentence passed be-
fore September Cornish was son
fenced 70 be hanged on the FIRST Friday
in October
Naturally every one connected will
the condemned was wrapped in gloom
The lovers who had authorizations az
happy union now had before them
separation by death. Lady Trevelyn
shut herself up with her daughter anu
would have no communication with
ter husband. bIa ming him for the nor.
ror he had brought upon his family
it was now too late to recall what IN
had done. The law must take its course
Preparations were being made for the
execution ana the people. as was the
custom in those days, were hocking iu
for the spectacle
few days before the expected
tragedy a cold rain and fog the first
OF autumn. swept over England. The
baron, who sought 10 distract his
thoughts by occupying himself with
his accounts. sent for a sweep to take
the SCOT out OF the chimney of his
Office preparatory 10 building a fire
on the hearth. While the sweep was
1T work Sir Bryan entered the room.
sat down at his desk AID busted him.
self with his papers. So preoccupicd
was be. rather with his sombcr
thoughts than his work. that be did
not bear any sound within or without
Suddenly lie was recalled 10 his sur
roundings by q cough directly IN front
J OF BIN. Looking up, there stood Il.
ure black as Erebus il was the chin.
ney sweep, whose extended hand held
o. small piece of paper so smudgeG
with SCOT that ITS character could no;
le readily rocOgn zcd The baron
mechanically took it and examined it,
sudden light came into his eve.
colon into his check 1t was the miss.
ilS note Tie sweep had found 10 Iu
the chimney. where. carried by draft
a. air When Sir Bryan bad opened TIN,
door, it bad remained ever since.
Like cyclone Of Joy the baron
swept thOJ2l the house and stood
~ load q .T..