Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-10

they wOuldnt dare to open the package OF bonds in
your fathers absence,-then l sailed for France
came. you know to find your father His tone
hardened suddenly. " believe that day in the cafe
if had not seen that he had been ILL., and you had
not been with him. should have killed him. want
you to understand, ma am what all this meant to
me-
Killed himl" the girl repeated. And yet, when
he was in danger of discovery and arrest you per-
mitted the officer to take you. Why?"
THAT requires explaining Bear in
mind, please, that the fact that those bonds are
missing is not known to any person connected with
the bank, except your father and myself. If could
to Paris find your father, compel him to return
the bonds and replace them in the vault, one con-
nected with the bank need ever have known.
When the detective came and arrested me as
Clarke, allowed him to do it for the reason that
knew should find your father the second time. If
had pointed out real Clarke to the detective then,
your father "ave assumed that the loss of the
bonds had been discovered, and brought about a
snarl that these funny little policemen Paris would
never have solved. 1t would have meant his arrest
and mine ultimately charge of embezzlement,
where, if | could keep them away from him. it meant
nothing particularly unless of course the theft-er-
the bonds had been missed AS matter of fact, that
arrest eased my mind lot, because learned from
the police that there was no charge against your
father, which means that the bonds have not been
missed, and there no charge against me. Some
in the United States has asked private detec-
tive agency to locate your father, and the police,
thinking was Mr. Clarke, pinched me to bring the
matter to a climax.
That search was instituted, 1 imagine at the d-
rection of my uncle in New York, the girl explained.
We knew father had to Paris, and then
had been unable to hear from him for weeks. 1t
because he i'll with typhoid and unconscious, of
course"
but it isn't The theft don't quite mean that,
ma'am-the disappearance of the bonds has not been
discovered. That is all, ma am, think"
FOR long time the girl stood, her hands gripping
his, staring, staring into the rugged face. Il
think | am beginning to understand, she said slowly
+I,o ,<Jc - @l,o
my father is not thief? 1t means that this mat
ter would never become public? 1t means
1T means the saving of your fathers business
reputation, and the saving of mine, Mr.. Smith in
terrupted FRANKLY, the saving of his reputation
not the first thing in my mind when came to
Paris; it was the saving of my own. l am leaving
another bank. 1t is promotion, mann If this
matter out, not only is your father ruined but
/ am ruined. l am ambitious. ma am he apollo
gized.
II understand. Mr.. Smith" said the girl softly
Suppose-suppose those missing bonds should be
placed in your hands! Is it too late to save my
father, to save yOurSelf!'
1T isn't too late. unless they have found out at
the bank that the bonds are gone" Mr. Smith re-
piled IF they were placed in my hands l should
do the thing intended to do-take them back,
place them in the vault, and-thats all"
"a million and half dollars!' the girl unused.
Suppose | should tell you. Mr.. Smith, that my
father hasn't the bonds now?'
Il know it, ma am
She seemed startled. How did YOU know ?"
He didn't answer. Perhaps you know where they
are?"
Yes ma am.
"Where?'
You have them.
THE girl turned away suddenly with a meaningless
gesture of her slender hands and dropped into
chair at the table. At last she looked up resouely
defantly. Yes, | stole them, Mr.. Smith-stoe
them from my father!" she said He kept them in
little leather bag in his bed. heard strange
versation between my father and Marquis Aubigny
and afterward-"
Il have met him." interposed Mr.. Smith grim1y.
md aft ard I found thek e1, to he hau