The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1911-10-27


l could not move her. and beyond be-
ing allowed to call myself her friend
l was permitted to come no nearer to
her. learned that the family were
very proud and sensitive and that
whenever they met any one to reveal
their identity they left the place where
they were Immediately.
Miss Chamberlin and 1 parted as
friends. but we were really lovers
One summer | was yachting off the
New Jersey coast when Joe Shedd, one
of the crew. came to me with bottle
he had taken out of the water
Il don't want it, said. This coast
is covered with bottles that young
people have thrown out with fake ac-
counts of shipwreck In them
,, The man went away, but presently
returned with a paper, which he said
might mean something real. 1t read:
Whoever finds this take up floor N. E.
| corner Of sawmill one mile west Of d..
Conn.
Its one of these children'S mes
sages," said to the man. Ito fool per-
/ SOuS. 1ucu DslCh W
During the next autumn Shedd came
into my office. He said that he couldn't
get it out of his head that the mes
| sage he had picked up at sea was
bona fide one He would like to go
to d. and look into the matter. but he
had no money for the purpose. l tried
| to persuade him to dismiss the sub
ject from his mind. but when l was
satisfied that he wouldn't do so till he
had proved the truth of my position
1 advanced him the price Of a ticket
| to D. with something to spare.
Whatever l find" he said. I'll bring
to you"
you'll not find anything to bring.
But don't worry about repaying the
amount 1 have advanced. It's not a
loan; it's a gift"
He made no reply to this. but left
me- and that's the last / thought of
the matter for a week. when he paid
me another visit. 1 saw In a moment
by his expression that he had found
something.
WELL" 1 said jocularly. did you
get a big diamondY'
We were alone. and he closed the
door before replying. Then he said:
mo, but 1 got a hundred $1,000
bonds"
1 wondered ii the man had gone
daft.
II consider the find yours. sir" he
continued. so l didn't disturb any
thing 1 found. putting back the floor
ing. Nobody knew about 10y being
there"
lot of bonds placed where that paper
you picked up indicatedT
II DO"
what elseT" asked after drawing
several long breaths.
This"
He handed NE a paper, on which
was scrawled in lead pencil:
Cashier didn't do this. The man as did
is where he can't be reached.
Notwithstanding that this paper had
a genuine look. some time was re-
Quired for Shedd to convince me that
it would be worth while to go with
him and have a look at his find
You see. sir" he said. 1.-The bonds
must have been stolen property. and
| I'm afraid to touch 'em for fear If
getting myself into trouble"
Every WELL l said at last. III go
with you. and if you've found some
missing securities and there is a re-
ward offered for their recovery I'll see
that you get it."
| We reached d. in the afternocR, 9rd.
Shedd having provided himself with
tools and a lantern. after supper We
walked out to deserted sawmill. 1t
was some distance from the road and
stood alone. Going TO corner Of the
mill, Shedd removed some rubbish and
took up a plank of flooring. Between
two joists lay a bundle. the wrapper
being a newspaper. Shedd handed it
to me. and. Enrolling it. there sure
enough were a hundred $1,000 bonds
of a railway company. l saw at a
glance that they were not pegotia BILE
by the thieves. The date on the news
paper indicated that it had been print
| uluc JtdIS DClOIC IAN
en- the only thing besides the bonds
the scrap of paper-that had been left
in the place of cOncealment.
Having replaced the flooring. we re-
turned by an early train the next morn
ing. and, going to police headquarters.
| reported the find.
was informed that nine years be
fore a certain bank had missed the
bonds. and the cashier whose accounts
were short had been convicted Of max
ing way with them. And here came
the surprise of my life and an explana-
ton of a mystery that had kept me
from the woman l loved.
The name of the cashier was Vincent
Chamberlin.
There had been just enough shortage
in his accounts and circumstantial evi
dence against him to convict him of
having taken the bonds. doubtless for
the purpose of speculation. Their find
ing with the note accompanying them.
was a vindication for the cashier, and
he was released from prison.
The happiest day In my life was
when. having gone to my Henrietta
with her brothers vindication In my
hands. ! saw the look Of mingled won
der and delight in her eyes as she read
the words that were to take away the
great stain and make him free man
She stood for awhile looking at moth
ing. as If wrapped in a happy dream.
refrained from interrGnting this joyous
sense of relief as long as I could con-
tain myself. then took her in my arms.