Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-03-01


saw Mr.. Winsted burn the original
document"
THAT MEANS" retorted Benham,
that there never was any original.
Why, Fred, my dear fellow, i know
how this was done. 1t was piece of
patchwork made from that report to
the district attorney. These fellows
clipped words from 1t and pasted them
up to make a letter. Then they had
it photographed and an etching made
from it, and they printed this copy.
which would fool 10000 men out of
1O,O01. / happen to be the one. OF
course they couldn't show the thing In
an investigation as an original, so
they rigged up this trick by which the
absence Of an original would be ac-
counted for, and the other photograph
ic copies would serve their purpose"
1T won't do, Sydney" said Win
sted. "My report to Mr.. Lawrence
was typewriter. 1t was not in my
hand"
'TypewrittenT' said Benham. "Was
it dictated? Didn't you write first
draft Of 1t with your own fist?"
"Yes, but 1t did not go out of my
hands,"
"Where is it?'
"In vault in my Office"
Telephone down there" said Ben
ham. "See II that manuscript is still
In the vault Has somebody there
got keyf"
YES" said winsted. and he moved
toward the telephone.
wait" exclaimed Emily. 'It is not
there. l know where 1t is. 1t is in
the safe at my uncle's house. 1t was
loosely wrapped. l saw Captain Win
sted's writing. 1 was putting some
thing away In the safe-my necklace"
Can you get it?" asked Benham.
"Can you open that safer
81 can have 1t opened"
''This has gone far enough" said
Lawrence. Emily, you will come
with me-"
He took a step toward the door, but
Winsted laid a hand upon his arm,
and Emily fed past them out of the
room. Benham set his back against
the door,
'This won't do, Lawrence" said Mi
not and flashed glance at him.
The next instant Lawrence had
drawn revolver. but Winsted snatch
ed it from his hand and at the same
firpo thrau I oxuranna yioloptlu ho oh
ward.
"Well, upon my wordW exclaimed
Winsted. This is my own gun. l sup
pose you got it last evening"
"While you We're raging about the
ROOM" said Minot "My friend Law
renee happened to know where you
kept it. And nrw, Captain Winsted, let
me speak to you very seriously. You
gave us your word last night
"And you yourselves prevented me
from keeping It," Winsted interrupted.
II intended to die. You stole my prop
erty, and that is the only reason why
am alive. If you have any trouble
from me It is your own fault. If Miss
Lawrence returns with my manu-
script and its mutilation bears out DR..
Benham's theory I shall lay the whole
matter before the governor and ask
for this mans removal from the Office
Of district attorney"
81 think I'll be going" said DR.. Gar
van. II shan't have the pleasure of
sitting on you this morning, Captain
Winsted. though I'd rejoice at the op
portunity. Good day, sir"
mo one will leave this room till Miss
Lawrence returns" said Winsted.
The forces Of iniquity were in ma
jority Of three to two, but they took
counsel of prudence and did not offer
resistance. Within half an hour Emily
completed her errand and placed the
manuscript in Winsted's hands. A
glance at it sufficed
This is an Ill turn, Emily" said
Lawrence. ''Have you no gratitude"
The girl put up her hands to her head
AS If she would have torn her hair.
"You have spent stolen money en- me,
and now you ask me to be grateful!'
she cried. you used me as a tool to
get Captain Winsted into your power.
This honorable man asked me to be his
wife, and had given my consent
Have you no conscience" she cried.
"In my eyes you are drenched in Cap
tain Winsted's blood, though he still
lives. will never enter your house
again. I have taken out of 1t only the
clothes that cover me. 1 will earn my
own bread hereafter. Gratitude? am
grateful for what heard you say to
Mr. Minot over the telephone this morn
ing, but for nothing else"
This is the specific instance referred
to in your letter." said Benham aside
to Winsted. "She has known her uncle
was rascal all along, but now she
feels It."
But Winsted did not hear. He had
taken Emily's hand and was looking
INTO her eyes.