Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-09-23
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER % 1910

tfoupin. through his own fault. am
giving hln my heart
Glrard Roberts has just come In lie
says thar Donald has given bail FOR his
appearances when his trial comes Oh
and Ii cow free. Girard says that, not
wlthataNdln appearances are against
Donaid The dotsnt believe him guilty
.af'hah.Atc aotd II dan't hellere Alm
guilty either" hut the next minute ]
reproved myself for being influenced
by this easy going man. Did he not
say when | asked him his opinion of
Donald before this matter occurred.
Hes good fellow tooT What's the
use of considering the Views of one
who talks like that? ] told Glrard to
tell Donald'to come and see me, but be
said he did not think Donald would un-
I'll his Innocence has been proved !
really believe there has been some mis-
take, but 1t is very hard to feel sure
about 1t. 1t all happened so naturally
-Donald's coming In just when the
money was where he would see it-at
least, who else could have come in?-
and the bills being found in his burea u
drawer Oh. dear! | must stop think
Ing of the horrid thing or ! shall go
crazy.
One thing more | will say; After all.
there In something just too lovely for
anything In Girard Roberts saying thut
he doesn't believe Donald guilty. II
any one should take anything of mine
and 1t were found In his bureau draw
err | couldn't be so generous us TO at
tribute the theft TO an error.
Donald has been to see me. He did
not act or talk like guilty man.
What's more, he didn't seem to realize
he was more sensitive. Though charg-
cd with stealing money that was in.
tended for aunty, with whom he has
been on friendly terms for years, to
say nothing OF his devotion to me, he
seemed very unconcerned When |
learned he was downstairs l nerved
myself for very painful interview.
For fear l should say the wrong thing
| thought over what l should say.
When entered the room dreaded to
look at him. Indeed, kept my eyes
on the floor.
Donald" ] said, "you know how In.
terested we all are that you should
clear yourself of this horrible charge.
We will all do anything in the world
to help you-Aunty, l, oscar''-
4 vI.N
prise to see an amused look on Don
AIDS face. Indeed, he was smiling.
Then he advanced, took my hand and
gave 1t n gentle pressure.
Don't be troubled, little girl" he
said. "There are always wheels with
In wheels. There IL also such thing
as being too smart. have some
thing to say to you. Had not
would not have come TO see you rest.
ing under the kmputation of being a
thief. Listen. From the first sus-
pected something wrong in your friend
Oscar Richmond. From what heard
l believed him to be thief | intro.
duced into this household Glrard Rob.
erts. detective"-
"A detectlVeP'
THAT'S what he Is. He laid a trap
for Richmond and caught not Rich
mond. but me. He bought your aunt's
diamond for the purpose OF laying this
trap. He put the bills to pay for It on
the mantel as decoy for Richmond.
They were oil marked. that he might
prove them his property. Richmond
took them, but, being smart rogue
and suspecting that we were on his
track, sent n man with them 10 my
room. This man represented himself as
an old chum Of mine, and my landlady
permitted him TO go TO the room TO
walt for me. Once there, he put the
money in my bureau drawer and went
away. The next day Richmond ar
ranged that a constable should go to
my room to search for something he
claimed he had lost You know the re-
suit"
But" said. oscar Richmond did
nothing criminal. You were trying TO
catch him, and he turned the tables on
you"
"WaIt BIT. Richmond was an ac-
countant for a firm In San Francisco.
from whom he skipped with $4,000.
Roberts was employed by them to
track him. My employing Roberts was
a coincidence. Rlchmond's real name
Is Machinery. He was arrested this
morning and Is now awaiting extradi-
ton papers to take him TO san Fran
cisco for trial"
And now am alone In my room, try
Ing 10 get settled down 10 the fact TINT
am myself. Oscar Richmond IL not
Oscar Richmond at all, but somebody
else and q criminal. Donald Chase Is
not going to the penltentiary. but IL to
be my husband instead. Girard Rob
erts, who came 10 us with his appar.
emily light character and trivial words
"A skin deep man whom nobody either
loves or disllkes- out to be one Of
those cunning detectives one reads
about in stories. But now | know that
he Is renl detective he seems very
different 10 me. Just as soon as II was
all out, instead OF calling me Alice be
called me Miss Avery. / was so mad I
could have choked him. Besides, l
thought he was quite n gentleman. He
Is very plain. Indeed. Donald says he
served term as policeman.
Well. well; ! shall never again think
| can tell the difference between
rogue and nm honest man or between a
0auflafnan al n