The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-07-07

had sold their furniture AT aue'io. |
Hunt questioned them to discover u
they suspected their fathers proper.!
had passed to the man VINO hao wiz
TON the letter but found they hau
never heard OF him.
great many discoveries are s.uin
bled on. Hunt stumbled on the nian
who wrote the letter. He talked win
every one who had known Drlscoil
and learned incidentally from one VI
Driscoll's acquaintances. banker
that Driscoll had kept an account WIN
him Hunt succeeded in inducing the
man to let him have peep at Drls-
coils account One man. an ''aiian
named yechi, had received large
amounts for which there was no eA-
PLANTATION Hunt then asked Driscohs
widow to permit him to look over her
husbands papers Among them ne
found letter the handwriting OF
which corresponded with that OF the
note l had discovered. In the note II
was disguised but not so successfully
but that Hunt suspected 1t was the
same as in the letter he had compared
It with. An expert proved that he was
right. yechi lived as a poor man.
keeping a shop in which he deait IN
odds and ends curiosities. and oio
something In the way OF autographs
Of prominent persons.
When we had laid our plans I went
; with Hunt to vechrs shop The 1tal-
ian had as disagreeable a face as any
man I ever knew. l shuddered at his
knowing we possessed his secret lest
be murder us to prevent our giving 1t
70 the authorities. Hunt said to him:
DO you buy autographs here?"
Sometimes"
Il have one would like to sell you.
Whose autograph is it?"
Not very distinguished person.
Nevertheless we ask a large price Tor
it,
II don't wish to buy any autograph
for large price,"
You will pay fortune for this one
| am sure. when you know whose II
is,"
"Whose Is it?"
"Your own"
The man gave an involuntary start
Up to this time he did not suspect VIZ
had any other motive than to sell 9
bona fde autograph. Hunts words
: your own" and the way the detective
7 looked at him assured him that we hat
: come on very different errand.
LET me see it," said the autograph
Q dealer in a low voice.
o II will read you the note to which
: Is signed" said Hunt
had arranged with Hunt that whel
he drew the note l was to put m.
\ hand in my side pocket and grasp
I revolver. | did so. and Hunt. standing
s we'll away from the Italian that b.
J. might not snatch the paper. read VIVA
n was written. ending with the wor'
g Memo" vechi heard his doom In tn
g words and turned CHASTITY white. Hun
d waited for him to speak. keeping nj
e eyes riveted on him the while.
II How much do you ask for 2" 6nal
~ Vechi asked.
"My friend here" replied the detee
tive. pointing to me. SIS its owner. II
intends to gave the proceeds of its sal
to the family of the man to whom TIL
note was addressed and who was
vechi staggered. Hunt continued:
: 1.-THE price Is certain stocks ant
bonds that passed to this man Memo
IL they are all returned the note will
returned to the writer to do what b
likes with 1t and no steps will be tai
en- in the case II every security
4 not given up Memo will be arrested bt
fore he can leave his shop"
Vechi seemed to be thinking for
few moments. after which he asked:
Tell me the amount"
We did not know the amount, BIT
had provided for this.
You alone know the amount I
present. but since we know that tn
property has passed into the posse
sion of Memo we can at any time di
cover the exact amount. II we di
cover that he has withheld any Of
we may reopen the case"
Vechi stood wavering. Whether
IN was hesitating as to the amount
as would return or whether to defy us
don't know. Presently he said:
at II will buy your autograph. gent
men. but l have not the price hel
You must go with me to my house,
Mt We went with him. as he suggest,
e. walking on one side of him. Hunt
e- the other. Hunt and l each having
cy hand on a revolver concealed. VIII
MT we reached the house Vechi took
ny into a room. locked the door and sa
hit What guarantee have ! that y
n will keep your wOrd?'
at "None whatever" said Hunt. ~
IT. must rely on the promise of q gent
he man."
no Making a virtue of necessity.
rn- opened closet door. exposing a 81
Embedded In the wall. The safe be
vs.. painted like the wall, only its keyh
he was perceptible. Introducing the
to he opened the safe door and took
es. large bundle of securities. 1 lool
n | them over and knew the value Of m
of them. judged they were worth
ute tween $35OOOO and 100000. II
ak were mostly coupon bonds. not
my same property that had been ira
the ferred by Driscoll to vechi.