St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-08-03

US. when he noticed the bills. He must
have taken them and gone out without
making himself known.
| am broken hearted by this discovery
that Donald Chase is "a common thief
Singular. isn't it. that a girl doesn't
know she loves man till he turns out
to be thief: That's the way with us
women; we are always acting by con-
traries. Not long ago l was uncertain
about Oscar and thought Donald
splendid man. But | was fascinated
with Oscar, and Donald seemed devoid
of romance. Now that Donald is in
trouble, through his own fault, | am
giving him my heart.
Girard Roberts has just come in. He
says that Donald has given bail for his
appearance when his trial comes off
and is now free. Girard says that. not
withstanding appearances are against
Donald. he doesn't believe him guilty.
''Then," l said, 81 don't believe him
guilty either" But 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,
He's good fellow too?" What's the
use of considering the views of one
who talks like that? l told Girard to
tell Donald to come and see me, but he
said he did not think Donald would un-
til his innocence has been proved. l
really believe there has been some mis-
take, but it is very hard to feel sure
about it. 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 bureau
drawer. Oh. dear! l must stop think
ing of the horrid thing or l shall go
crazy.
One thing more l will say: After all.
there is something just too lovely for
anything in Girard Roberts saying that
he doesn't believe Donald guilty. If
any one should take anything of mine
and it were found in his bureau draw
er L couldn't be so generous as 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
his awful position. l supposed that
he was more sensitive. Though charg-
ed 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 l
learned he was downstairs l nerved
myself for a very painful interview.
For fear l should say the wrong thing
l thought over what l should say.
When l entered the room l dreaded to
look at him. Indeed. l kept my eyes
on the floor
Donald" l 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
l looked up, and what was my sur |
prise to see an amused look on Don |
AIDS face. Indeed, he was smiling
Then he advanced, took my hand and |
gave it a gentle pressure
Don't be troubled. little girl" he |
said. There are always wheels with
in wheels. There is also such a thing
as being too smart. l have some
thing to say to you. Had I not l
would not have come to see you rest
ing under the imputation of being a
thief. Listen. From the first l sus-
pected something wrong in your friend
Oscar Richmond. From what 1 heard
1 believed him to be a thief | intro
duced into this household Girard Rob
erts. detective'-
"a detectivep'
That's what he is. He laid a trap
for Richmond and caught not Rich
mond. but me. He bought your aunts
diamond for the purpose of laying this
trap. He put the bills to pay for it on
the mantel as a decoy for Richmond. |
They were all marked. that he might
prove them his property. Richmond
took them, but, being a smart rogue
and suspecting that we were on his
track, sent man with them to my
Dom. This man represented himself as
IN old chum of mine, and my Iandlady
permitted him to go to the room to
wait for me. Once there, he put the
money in my bureau drawer and went
away. The next day Richmond ar
'anged that a constable should go to
ny room to search for something he
claimed he had lost You know the re-
suit
But" 1 said, oscar Richmond did
lothing criminal. You were trying to
.atch him, and he turned the tables on
,ou.''
wait a bit, Richmond was an ac-
for a firm in San Francisco.
rom whom he skipped with $4,000.
Roberts was employed by them to
rack him My employing Roberts was
coincidence. Richmonds real name
S Machinery. He was arrested this
morning and is now awaiting extradi-
ion papers to take him to San Fran
isco for trial"
A Nd nov. I m, nlor,o L. - -e.... -.