Morris tribune., 1911-03-03

he murder us to prevent our giving 1t
to the authorities. Hunt said to him:
"Do you buy autographs hereT'
Sometimes.
81 have one would like to sell you"
"Whose autograph is .it?"
''Not very distinguished person.
Nevertheless we ask large price for
it."
81 don't wish to buy any autograph
for large price"
.'You will pay fortune for this one,
l am sure, when you know whose 1t
is"
"Whose is it,"
"Your own"
The man gave an involuntary start.
Up to this time he did not suspect we
had any other motive than to sell
bona fde autograph. Hunts words
"Your own" and the way the detective
looked at him assured him that we had
come on a very different errand.
LET me see it," said the autograph
dealer in a low voice. -
81 will read you the note to which it
is signed" said Hunt.
I had arranged with Hunt that when
he drew the note Il was to put my
hand in my side pocket and grasp a
revolver. l did so, and Hunt, standing
we'll away from the Italian that he
might not snatch the paper, read what
was written, ending with the word
Memo" 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, lis it's owner. He
intends to give the proceeds Of its sale
to the family of the man to 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 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 a
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 at
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 ease"
Vechi stood wavering. Whether he
was hesitating as to the amount he
would return or whether to defy us |
don't know. Presently he said:
81 will buy your autograph, gentle
men, but l have not the price here.
You must go with me to my house."
We went with him. as he suggested,
l walking on one side of him, Hunt on
the other, Hunt and | each having a
hand on Il revolver concealed. When
we reached the house Vechi took us
into a room, locked the door and said:
''What guarantee have / that you
will keep your W0rd?'
"None whatever" said Hunt. "You
must rely on the promise of a gentle
man"
Making virtue of necessity, he
opened a closet door, exposing a 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. I looked
them over and knew the value Of most
of them. judged they were worth be-
tween $33OOO0 and 100000. They
were mostly coupon bonds, not the
same property that had been trans
ferred by Driscoll to Vechi.
''Is this all?" asked Hunt.
"Everything." replied Vechi. 81 have
no desire to leave anything amiss that
will reopen this natter
perhaps my friend" said Hunt
may wish to know the hold you had
on DriscoIl"
II have no such desire,' said. '"The
property IS returned, ana CnaC is SuIH-
cient. The secret Of blackmail if told
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.: a..
Madam, | have an important an
nouncement to make to you, and I 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,
were 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
(some of them recognized him) and
lastly told of our visit to Vechi's shop
It was interesting to watch their fea-
lures during my recital of our inter