The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-01-31
..Ha il out 81 tow. .

He proceeded to outline the course.
which Edgar should pursue, and upon
this advice the young man acted to
the best of his ability during the next
two days while Mr.. Gehrfng was still
absent from the city, but he failed in
both branches of his endeavor. He
did not find the steel box, and he did
not succeed in concealing the fact of
its loss. A reporter got wind of it, and
the story of the missing documents
was published
Girard read this article on his way
to business next morning, and despair
took hold upon him. At the earliest
possible moment he went to Calder
woods house, only to learn that the
old lawyer passed away.
In the published story of the loss OF
the documents the facts about John
Girard's death were accurately stated.
He had died from a rupture of blood
vessel In the brain. His body was dis
covered by his son, who had returned
to the office about 10 in the evening.
John Girard had died or at least
fallen into complete Inconsistencies
about 5 o'clock. There were workmen
In the shop for an hour longer.
The reporter who had visited Edgar
| Girard came to him again on the day
of Calderwood's death and questioned
him closely about the possibility tina
a machinist from the shop had stolen
| the precious papers. Edgar summoned
all the men from the shop.
'.This gentleman said Girard, indi-
eating the reporter, has come to me
| in the line of his duty to investigate a
rumor that my fathers documents in
the suit against Weyburn were taken
| from the safe by some one from the
shop who happened to come in here
after my fathers seizure while he sat
helpless or dead in that chair. know
how John Girard would have looked
upon such a suspicion, and feel just
the same way myself.
The reporter was tactful fellow,
| and he managed to extract considerable
| information from this assemblage with
out giving offense. He learned that
the men who had remained latest on
the day of John Girard's death were
the very pick of the flock and that the
last to leave was the master workman
and natural king of them all, veteran
of his craft, Tom Stevenson by name
The men were dismissed. The re
porter departed Girard was alone,
and his meditations were not cheerful.
Presently there appeared ence more
upon the scene the giant form and the
face of weathered granite appertaining
to old Tom Stevenson. He said that he
had been appointed sort OF committee
of one to express the sympathy Of the
men and their appreciation of Mr..
Girard's confidence and also to make a
suggestion
when you come back, SIR said he,
observing that Girard wore his hat and
had closed his desk, I'D like to spend
perhaps an hour or SO with that safe.
Don't wait for me, (" answered Gil
rard Go right ahead. But if you're
looking for secret compartments you
won't find Them
He was gone about half an hour.
When he returned Tom Stevenson sat
rigid in the chair where John Girard
had died, and upon his knees there lay.
an oblong box of thin, high tempered
steel. The blood rushed into Girard's
face and sang in his ears at that sight.
Stevenson pointed to the open safe.
There had been bit Of carpet on the
bottom Of the compartment under the
private drawers. This was now re-
moved, and Girard saw rectflinear
cavity into which the steel box fitted
with exactitude when so placed. A
concealed spring held 1t, and the top
of the box looked precisely like the
natural floor of the safe.
Have you your fathers keys?. ask
ed Stevenson
They were instantly produced Ste
venson picked the right key at a glance
and opened the box It contained a
few letters bearing upon the suit, but
not of vital Importance, and thin note.
book in which was a quantity concise
record of the ten years litigation, with
tabulation of all expenses. The Wey-
burn contract and the other essential
documents were not there.
This was the real disappointment
The original failure to find the papers
had been a trife compared with It.
The theft stood now proved. and the
evidence that It had been committed
by one of the workmen was enormous
II strengthened. Only mechanic of
exceptional training could have found
the steel box or the spring that re-
leased it or any means of opening its
lock.
This is bad, very bad, sir, said old
Tom Stevenson. II must take some
action for the good name Of the men.
He laid the box on Girard's desk and
went heavily out into the shop, but he
said nothing to any one. He merely re-
sumed his work.
Gfrard after some restless pacing of
the fioof. hetook himself to the tele-
phone, BY which means he learned
that Mr. Gehring had returned to
town. 70 him, therefore, he went
sYou are looking at this matter with