The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1912-03-07

with en- eye upon the weeping girl.
II am from the undertaker's. sir"
wlnsted waved his hand frantically.
The man bowed gravely and withdrew
into the hall. wlnsied betook himself
10 the task Of comforting Emily, say
ing be knew not what His poor at
tempt was interrupted by the entrance
OF Martin ]. Minot and DR.. Garyan.
Mlnot maintained bis usual calm.
but Garvan, who was bitter partisan
OF the ring, glared upon WInsted with
undisguised animosity. -
What does this mean, Mr.. Law
rencer' he demanded But the dis
trict attorney only shook bis head.
Perhaps the gallant captain VIII
oblige us with an explanation said
the coroner. but before Winsted could
reply the entrance Of DR.. Benham
changed the current Of the scene.
Benham was a strong man In every
way, a bundle OF muscle and a reser-
yoir OF energy. Winsted's message
pad broken his heart. IL was healed
again In a fash at the sight OF bis
friend alive He swept Minot, Law
renee and Garvnn with fiery glance.
"You pack Of hounds" be said,
don't glare at mel I'm not afraid Of
you! I'll lay some Of you by the heels
before ! get through It's lucky for
you, Minot. that you burned that
letter.
Captain Winsted burned H." said
Mlnot calmly, I'm the presence OF my
felf and the district attorney, but we
have Photographic copy, in case It
should be required"
Benham stepped swiftly to the table
In the middle of the room. where. upon
a large ash tray. lay all that was left
OF the burned letter. A fragment Of
the paper had escaped the fire II
contained only one full word and
parts Of two others Benham examin.
ed II closely.
"A trick. as supposed" said he.
81 happen to be rather expert In these
matters. This was print-from q
zinc etching probably. Captain Win
sted demands the original
Whatever that bit OF paper may
be-" said Minot. 'Mr. Lawrence and ]
saw Mr.. winsted burn the original
document"
THAT means" retorted Benham,
that there never was any original
Why, Fred, my dear fellow, ] know
how this was done. II was piece OF
patchwork made from that report to
the district attorney. These fellows
clipped words from II and pasted them
up to make letter. Then they had
Il photographed and an etching made
from 1t, and they printed this copy,
which would fool 10000 men out OF
l0,00l. happen to be the one. OF
course they couldn't show the thing In
an investigation as an original, so
they rugged np this trick by which the
absence OF an original would be &C
counted for, and the other photograph
lc copies would serve their purpose"
1T won't do, sydney" said Win
sted my report to Mr. Lawrence
was typewriter. 1t was not 10 my
hand"
"TypewrlttenT said Benham. Was
it dlctatedf Didn't you write first
draft of II with your own fsty
yes. but II did not go out OF my
hands"
Where IL itT
"ln a vault In my Office"
Telephone down there" said Ben
ham. "See II that manuscript Ia still
10 the vault Has somebody there
got key|
Eyes" said Wlnsted. and he moved
toward the telephone.
"wait," exclai'~ed Emily. 1T is not
there. know where 1t Is. II is In
the safe AZ nay uncle's house. 1t was
loosely wrapped. ] saw Captain Win
steds writing. was putting some
thing away In the safe-my necklace"
Can yon get III" asked Benham.
Can you open that safer
Il can have II opened"
srhls has gone far enough" said
Lawrence, Emily, you viii come
With me-
He took step toward the door, but
wlnsted laid hand upon bis arm.
and Emily fed past them out Of the
room. Benham set bis back against
the door
This won't do. Lawrence, said MI
DOT and flashed a glance OF him
The next instant Lawrence had
drawn a revolver, but winsted snatch
ID IL from his hand and at the same
time threw Lawrence violently back
ward
Well. upon my word exclaimed
wlnsted, This is my own gun. sup
pose you got II last evening"
While you were raging about the
room. said Aiinot my friend Law
renee happened to know where you
kept Il. And now. Captain Winsted. let
me speak 10 you very seriously You
gave us your word last night
and yon yourselves prevented me
from keeping II. winsicd interrupted
Il intended 10 die You stole my prop
er,y. and that is the only reason why !
ana alive II you have any trouble
from me II Is your own fault II Miss
Lawrence returns wslh my manu-
serlFst and its mutilaiion bears out Or
Bsnham's theory shall lay the whole
matter before the governor and ask
for this mans removal from the once
u district httorney~
4 ihink III be going" said Or Gar
van. Il shau't have the pleasure OF
sitting Oh you this morning. Captain
wlnsted. though "a rejoiee q, the %.
pOrsmnliy. Good day. SIR"
NO one viii leave this rooE I'll Miss
Lawrenes returns" said wins,et.