Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-08-26

~e 'S 's. Suu tuo
porter.
We three went 20 the office. where
my explanation ives listened to with
evident distrust. But the young lady.
having secured her ring. was NOT mind
ed to press the matter and il was
dropped. but not for long In half
an hour. while ] was sitting near the
hotel entrance. policeman entered.
the clerk pointed to me. aud was
taken into custody.
was led to the police station to an
swer to chnrgc Of robbery and. fortu.
nately having evidences Of property
with me. was enabled to give Bail for
my appearance the next day Return
ing TO the hotel. ! asked the Clerk why
the matter was To be pushed He re-
piled that tho lady had missed some.
thihg else--she would not say what
and It had made her very angry. 1
tried TO think OF something had mis-
appropriated besides the RUG. bur
rouid remember nothing. Later. upon
putting my hand in my poke, for my
handkerchief. took out the little pack
Yge ] had found on the mantel. 1
went 10 my room-my own room this
time-uncovered the package ond. dis
played a bundle OF letters.
Having convinced myself from the
address on one OF them that they were
not mine. ! wrapped them up again
and put them back In my pocket.
1 made up my mind that there was n
story In these letters which was run
ming counter 90 the story of my hav-
Ing inadvertently come into possession
of them. | was 10 be tried for steal
ing the ring and perhaps would not
be able TO prove my innocenSe In
deed. appearances We're much against
me. Might not these letters be used
TO induce the Indy To withdraw her
charge? had no sooner thought Of
this than took them to the Office Of
an acquaintance and put them in his
safe. I did not wish them TO be re-
covered by search.
AS soon as / hadSd done this wrote
my accuser note telling her that
had inadvertently appropriated some
letters belonging to her and that she
might have them by withdra wing her
charge against me. She had become
so sure that was Il professional THIEF
that she wrote back stating that she
would withdraw the charge and give
me $500 for the letters. wrote heI
that did not ask money for the let
tiers and that she was welcome 10 then
IL she would withdraw her charg,
against me. To this she acceded. unt
instead OF sending some one TO me witt
| an order for them she appointed
| meeting with me In Que Of the hote
parlors. l did not propose Ia be out
done by woman. so left the letter.
where had put them.
We met us ngreed. The lady wa,
not over twenty-four years old nnt
was quite comely. She was rviden,l,
OF the upper class and lind wounded
my amour propre by NOT rccognizln.
me for a social equal instead az mis-
taking me for thief She opened tn,
negotiations.
Are you a tool Of George Norton 2
she asked abruptly.
II haven't the pleasure of the gen
teman's acquaintance"
You must have seen his name or
the letters. They We're addressed tc
him."
II looked at one address. which con
vinced me that the letters did not be
long TO me-"
DO you mean to tell mo that you
haven't read them?,
IL do" f''" "''
Then how did you know would
value them so far as TO offer so much
for themf"
II didn't until you made your offer"
"Will you please tell me how you
restrained yourself from reading the
lettersT"
"Other peoples letters don't interest
me-"
81 should have read thea had been
you"
Then your standard of honor Is diff
ferent from mine"
Il have made mistake"