The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-08-04

whenever they met any one to revea
their identity they left the place wher'
they were Immediately.
Miss Chamberlin and l IHrted a
friends, but we were really lovers.
One summer was yachting or thu
New Jersey coast when Joe Shedd, ont
of the crew, came to me with a bottls
he had taken out of the water.
II don't want It," said. This coast
Is covered with bottles that young
people have thrown out with fake &C
counts OF shipwreck in them"
The man went away, but presently
returned with paper, which he said
might mean something real. 1t read:
Whoever finds this take up floor N. q
corner OF sawmili one mile west Of d..
Conn.
ats one Of these children's mes
sages," I said to the man, ito fool per
sons" Then handed 1t back to him
During the next autumn Shedd came
into my office. He said that he couldn't
get 1t out of his head that the mes
sage he had picked up at sea was q
bona fide one. He would like to go
to ID. and look into the matter, but he
had no money for the purpose. tried
to persuade him to dismiss the sub
ject from his mind, but when was
satisfied that he wouldn't do so till he
had proved the truth OF my position
l advanced him the price Of ticket
to n. with something to spare.
Whatever find" he said. 'I'll bring
to you"
You'll not find anything to bring.
But don't worry about repaying the
amount l have advanced. It's not O
loan. ifs q gift"
BE made no reply to this. but left
NE. ard that's the last I thought Of
the matter for a week. when he paid
NE another visit | saw In moment
by his expression that he had found
something.
We'll" ! said jocularly. did you
get big diamondY'
We were alone. and he closed the
door before replying. Then he said:
mo. but got a hundred $1,000
bonds"
/ wondered IL the man had gone
daft
II consider the find yours, sir" he
continued, 80 ! didn't disturb any
thing found, putting back tho floor
Ing. Nobody knew about my being
there"
do you mean to tell me you found
. lot of bonds placed where that paper
you picked up indicatedY'
II do"
"what else?" asked after drawing
several long breaths.
"rhis."
He handed me paper, on which
was scrawled In lead pencil:
Cashier didn't do this. The man as did
10 where he cant be reached.
Notwithstanding that this paper had
q genuine look, some time was re-
Quired for Shedd to convince me that
It would be worth while to go with
him and have look at his find.
"You see. sir" he said, ~the bonds
must have been stolen property. and
I'm afraid to touch 'em for fear Of
getting myself into trouble"
"very WELL" I said at last. 'T1i go
with you. and II you've found some
missing securities and there is re-
ward offered for their recovery I'll see
that you get It."
We reached ID. In the afternoon, and.
Shedd having provided himself with
tools and lantern, after supper we
walked out to a deserted sawmill. II
was some distance from the road and
stood alone Going to corner Of the
mill, Shedd removed some rubbish and
took up plank OF flooring. Between
two joists lay bundle. the wrapper
being newspaper. Shedd handed II
to me, and. unrolling 1t. there sure
enough were hundred $1,000 bonds
Of railway company. saw at a
glance that they were not negotiable
by the thieves. The date on the news
paper indicated that It had been print
ed nine years before. Shedd had TAX
on the only thing besides the bonds
the scrap of paper-that had been left
In the place OF concealment.
Having replaced the flooring, we re-
turned by an early train the next morn
Ing. and. going to police headquarters
reported the find.
I was informed that nine years be-
fore certain bank had missed the
bonds, and the cashier whose accounts
We're short had been convicted Of max
ing way with them. And here came
the surprise of my life and an explana.
ton Of mystery that had kept me
from the woman loved.
The name of the cashier was Vincent
Chamberlin.
There had been just enough shortage
In his accounts and clrcumstantial evil.
dence against him to convict him of
having taken the bonds, doubtless for
the purpose Of speculation. Their find.
Ing, with the note accompanying them.
was vindication for the cashier, and
he was released from prison.
The happiest day in my life was
when, having gone to my Henrietta
with her brothers vindication In my
hands, saw the look OF mingled Won
der and delight In her eyes as she read
the words that were to take away the
great stain and make him a free man
She stood for awhile looking at moth
ing, as II wrapped In happy dream.
RETAINED from interrupting this joyous
sense OF relief as long as could con-
tain myself, then took her In my arms.
said nothing, nor did she. Her head
fell upon my shoulder, and this was the
only sign asked for TO know that my
season OF disappointment had ended.