Gilpin observer., 1916-06-15
CHAPTER Xxx.
A Cruel Weapon.


York's most solid and reputable law
firms. two persons sat talking.
The honest roses in the cheeks OF
Miss Poppy Ordway bloomed glorious
ly. Her raiment whispered silkily
when she moved her splendid shoul.
ders a bit more comfortably against
the mahogany chair-back.
And now, Mr.. Farnsworth." she
was saying. car you give me the full
particulars of that mysterious rob-
berry,"
The eminent lawyers quiet eyes
were taking pleasurable note of The
woman's beauty, the concise handling
Of the discussion in hand.
"As one of the attorneys for the
estate Of James B. Whitby. think
am qualified to do so.", he stated
gravely.
Then" said Poppy Ordway. open
ing a little red morocco notebook at
a page far to the back. "let US pro
! ceed"
Mr.. Farnsworth spread out before
him a set of papers.
'First-Standard Copper and Zinc
out preface, "one of the most conserva
tive and entirely solvent concerns In
the country. Under the control and
in the hands of whitby. Halstead.
Witherspoon G Haste.
Suspected OF crooked methods.
Twice involved in suits at law. charged
with rate and rebate swindles.
'Second-On the night of June 18.
| 1899, President Whitby had in his pos
session. for what reason has never
been made known, at his bachelor
apartments at Whitby place. Aredale
$502.000 in banknotes of high denomi.
nations. He had sent away his man
for the night and was entirely alone.
'Third-He was found at nine
o'clock the next morning. in his library.
sitting before a table. several hours
dead. Under his hand lay an unfin-
ished letter. This letter follows. YER
| batim:
New York City. New York.
June IS. 1899.
l. James b whitby. president of the
Standard Copper and Zinc company. Con-
| solidated, sit down to write what I be-
lieve will be my last word on earth.
The telephone wires have been cut. my
/ man Is away for the night. and l am en-
| tirely alone in the grip of one Of my re-
| current attacks of heart trouble. but my
I brain Is abnormally clear brought out
1 last evening from business $502, 900, for
reasons known to myself-all of It In bills
| of high denomination.
At one o'clock this night looked up to
| face a pistol held by a man. a young man
| yhn cla cd all
be patient" he said quietly. "for ! intend
| having a talk with you"
| Then followed what sufficed to heat me
| into the greatest rage of my life-an ac-
| cusation of myself. my methods and my
| firm. the statistical coldness OF which
| was the acme OF studied insolence He
| was n young man. almost boy, lust
home from a year In Europe after col
lege.
He had. II appears. found his father a
bankrupt. through unwise speculations of
a partner. and tracing some transactions
| to me. laid II all at my door He de-
| uanded the money had in my posses
sion-af the point of the pistol!
Shaking with rage obeyed. and threat
ened to expose him by daylight. He cool
| ly told me ] would not dare because of
proofs. In his hands. which would states-
prison me. and which proofs I positively
know do not exist.
The affair. I believe at this writing will!
! cost me my life. SO vitality did II stir my
anger. and here and now before my
strength fails, let me commend him to
the fullest limit of the law for punish
ment He is as truly my murderer as II
he had fired his gun. to this swear. and
| his name Is
There" finished the attorney. the
letter ended. signed only by the hand
Of death. leaving the greatest mystery
OF the times. There was no trace Of
the young man with the pistol.
There has been found no trace Of
the immense bundle of banknotes. as
there could be found no record of their
numbers nor any word of where Mr..
Whitby got them. There has been
found nothing, as all the world knows.
The estate has employed the best de.
| tective talent of the country to no
| avail. There are no true clues. opin.
ions or theories. All are false when
applied"
With lightning rapidity Miss Ord.
way had been following the attorneys
reading in shorthand in the red note.
book.
"Ah!" she said with a breath OF
satisfaction. that is excellent! Excel.
lent-and It closes the first matter of
which | spoke. Now for the second"
She smiled into Mr.. Farnsworth's
eyes in her own bewitching manner as
she told the small lie, for there we're
M fun unotton. ,,r~u -hS-A a. IA