Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-07

My friend here" replied the detec-
tive. pointing 20 me. lis its owner He
intends TO give the proceeds of its sale
70 the family Of the man 10 whom this
note was addressed and who was
Vechi staggered Hunt continued.
THE price Is certain stocks and
bonds that passed to this man Memo.
If they are all returned the note viii BE
returned 70 the writer 70 do what he
likes with It and no steps viii be TAX
en- IN the case. II every security IS
mot given up Memo will be- arrested be-
fore he can leave his shop
Vechi seemed 10 be- thinking for
few moments. after which he asked:
Tell me the amount"
We aid not know the amount but
had provided for this.
You alone know the amount at
present. bat since we know thar this
property has passed ih.o tie posses
sion Of Memo we can at any time dis
cover the exact amount. II we dis
cover that he has withheld any OF Il
we may reopen the case
Vechi stood wavering Whether ne
was hesitadng as 10 the amount he
would return or whether 60 defy Us /
don know. Presently he said.
Il viii buy your autograph. gentle
men, but / have not the price here
You must 20 with me 10 my house"
We went with him. as he suggested.
walking on one side Of him. Hunt on
the other. Hunt and I each having
hard on "A revolver concealed When
into a room. locked the door and said.
"WhaC guarantee have l that you
will keep your word?'
None whatever" said Hunt. You
must rely on the promise OF a gentle
man"
AIsking a virtue OF necessity. he
opened q closet door, exposing 4 safe
tint edded in the wall The safe being
painted ike the wall, only IL kcyhole
was peraeptible Introducing the key,
be opened the safe door and took out
a large bundle Of securities. I looked
them over and knew the value Of most
Of them. l Judged they were worth be
tween $25OCOO and 100000 They
were mostly coupon bonds. not the
same property that had been trans
ferred 10y DriscOll TO Vechi.
"Is this alIE" asked Hunt.
Everything" replied Vechi. Il have
no desire To leave anything amiss that
will reopen this matter"
Perhaps my friend" said Hunt
may wish to know the hold you had
on Driscoll''
4 have no such desire" l said. THE
property is returned. and that is suft
~ Of ~
might bring distress on an innocent
family. Goodby. Mr.. Memo. SO far as
this matter is in my possession you
may consider it closed"
We went from the shop TO the Dris-
coils. where Mrs. Driscoll answered
my card In person. l said to her:
Madam, l have an important an
nouncement to make to you. and 1 de-
sire that you call into the room your
sons and daughters TO hear it."
Surprised. she complied with my re
quest, and her children, mostly grown,
We're summoned. When they were all
assembled ] told the story of my pur-
chase Of the desk and the finding OF
the paper in the secret drawer. Then
I entered upon Hunts Investigations
CSOme of them recognized him and
lastly told of our visit to Vechis shop.
1t was interesting to watch their fea-
tures during my recital Of our inter
view with the DlGckmailer they grow
ing more and more intent till the de
livery Of the property. When the re
.ital was finished l took the securities
from my pocket and handed them to
Mrs. DriscOll, saying:
There IRE securities affording an
annual income of $4,000. In cousidcra-
ton Of which we have taken the lib
crty Of giving indemnity against prose
cutiOn for blackmail and
I shranb from speaking the dreadful
word murder.
Every member Of the family ap-
proved of all I had done and acEuowl-
edged in every possible way their in
debteducss for the great favor I had
done them. Before I left the house
every one Of us took an onth never 10
reveal anything Of what had hap
pcned
Mrs Drfsooll afterwari informed me
that so far IS she coald discover the
equivalent Of al the securities her
husband he'd possessed was returned.
Some $1,000 IN cash was uuaccoshted
FOR.