Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-04-06

HllSnt not Snatcn lne paper, reaQ what
was written, ending with the word
"Nemo." Vechi heard his doom in the
words and turned CHASTITY white. Hunt
waited for him to speak, keeping his
eyes riveted on him the while.
"How much do you ask for it?" final
ly Vechi asked.
"My friend here" replied the detec-
tive, pointing to me, "is it's owner. He
intends to give the proceeds of it's sale
to the family of the mar to whom this
note was addressed and who was''-
Vechi staggered. Hunt continued:
1.-THE price is certain stocks and
bonds that passed to this man Memo.
If they are all returned the note will be
returned to the writer to do what he
likes with it and no steps will be TAX
en- in the case. If every security is
not given up Memo will be arrested be-
fore he can leave his shop"
Vechi seemed to be thinking for d
few moments, after which he asked:
Tell me the amount"
We did not know the amount, but
had provided for this.
You alone know the amount ut
present, but since we know that this
property has passed into the posses
sion Of Memo we can at any time dis
cover the exact amount. If we dis
cover that he has withheld any Of it
we may reopen the case"
Vechi stood wavering. Whether he
was h%esitating as to the amount he
would return or whether to defy us I
don't know. Presently he said:
Il will buy your autograph, gentle
men, but 1 have not the price here.
You must go with me to my house."
We went with him, as he suggested,
I walking or n side of him, Hunt on
the other, Hunt and l each having &
we reached the house Vechi took US
into a room, locked the door and said:
What guarantee have 1 that you
will keep your word?"
"None whatever" said Hunt. you
must rely on the promise of a gentle
man."
Making a virtue Of necessity, he
opened a closet door, exposing d safe
Embedded in the wall. The safe being
painted like the wall, only its keyhole
was perceptible. Introducing the key,
he opened the safe door and took out
a large bundle of securities. l looked
them over and knew the value of most
Of them. l Judged they were worth be.
tween $35O,0OO and 100000. They
were mostly coupon bonds. not the
same property that had been trans.
ferred by Driscoll to Vechi.
us this all?" asked Hunt.
"Everything," replied Vechi. II hav,
no desire to leave anything amiss tina,
will reopen this matter"
Perhaps my friend" said Hunt
may wish to know the hold YOU ha(
IN Driscoll."
II have no such desire" | said. 1.-The
property is returned, and that is sum
Gent. The secret Of blackmail If TOLD
might bring distress on an innocen,
family. Goodby, Mr.. Memo. So far a.
this matter is in my possession vol
may consider Il closed
We went from the Shop to the EDris
coils. where Mrs. DriscoIl ;answere,
my card in person. i Said TO her:
Madam, l have ain important IAN
nouncement to make to you, 'dnd iI'de
sire that you call into the room you
sons and daughters to hear it,
Surprised, she complied with nv re
quest, and her children. mostly grown
were summoned. When they were al
assembled l told the story Of my pur
chase of the desk and the finding O
the paper in the secret drawer. The
I entered upon Hunts investigation
{some of them recognized him) an,
lastly told of our visit to Vechi's shoL
1t was interesting to watch their fea
lures during my recital Of our inter
view with the blackmailer, they grow
ing more and more intent till the de
livery of the property. When the re
cital was finished I took the securitie
from my pocket and handed them t
Mrs. Driscoll, saying:
There are securities affording al
annual income Of $4,000, in considers
ton of which we have taken the lit
erty of giving indemnity against prose
cution for blackmail and
I shrank from speaking the dreadful
word murder.
Every member Of the family az
proved of all I had done and acknowl
edged in every possible way their il
debtedness for the great favor I ha,
done them. Before I left the hous
every n of us took an oath never t
reveal anything Of what had har
pened.
Mrs. Driscoll afterward informed m
that so far as she could discover til
equivalent Of all the securities he
husband had possessed was returnet
Some 5000 in cash WINS unaccounte
for.