The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-05-22

there is something j-st too lovely for
anything In Girard Roberts saying that
ne doesn't believe Donald guilty. If
any one should take anything Of mine
and 1t were found In his bureau draw
er l couldn't be so generous as to at.
tribute the theft to an error.
Donald has been to see me. He did
not act or talk like a guilty man.
What's more, he didn't seem to realize
bis awful position. 1 supposed that
he was more sensitive. Though charg-
ed with stealing money that was in
tended for aunty, with whom he has
been on friendly terms for years, to
say nothing of his devotion to me, he
seemed very unconcerned. When
learned he was downstairs l nerved
myself for a very painful interview.
For fear should say the wrong thing
/ thought over what l should say.
When entered the room 1 dreaded to
look at him. Indeed, kept my eyes on
the floor.
Donald" l said, you know how
interested we all are that you should
clear yourself of this horrible charge.
We will all do anything in the world
to help you-Aunty, l, Oscar
looked up, and what was my sur
prise to see an amused look on Don
aids face. Indeed, he was smiling.
Then he advanced, took my hand and
gave it gentle pressure.
Don't be troubled, little GIRL" be
said. There are always wheels with
IN wheels. There is also such a thing
as being too smart / have something
to say to you. Had l not l would not
have come to see you resting under the
imputation Of being a thief. Listen.
From the first suspected something
wrong in your friend Oscar Richmond.
From what heard believed him to
be thief. introduced into this house
hold Girard Roberts, who is really a
detective
"a detectivev'
That's what he is. He laid trap
for Richmond and caught not Rich
mOnd, but me. He bought your aunt's
diamond for the purpose of laying this
trap. He put the bills to pay for it on
the mantel as a decoy for Richmond
They were all marked, that he might
prove them his property. Richmond
took them, but, being smart rogue
and suspecting that we were on his
track, sent a man with them to my
room. This man represented himself
as an old chum Of mine, and my land
lady permitted him to go to the room
to wait for me. Once there, he put the
money in my bureau drawer and went
away. The next day Richmond ar
ranged that a constable should go to
my room to search for something he
claimed he had lost. You know the
result"
"But," l said, oscar Richmond did
nothing criminal. You were trying to
catch him, and he turned the tables
on you"
"Wait a biz. Richmond was an &C
countant for firm In San Francisco,
from whom he skipped with $4,000.
Roberts was employed by them to
track him. My employing Roberts was
coincidence. Richmond's real name
is Machinery. He was arrested this
morning and is now awaiting extradi-
ton papers to take him to San Fran
cisco for trial."
And now am alone in my room, try
ing to get settled down to the fact that
l am myself. Oscar Richmond is not
Oscar Richmond at all, but somebody
else and criminal Donald Chase is
not going to the penitentiary, but is to
be my husband instead )Girard Rob-
erts, who came to US with his appar-
emily light character and trivial words
Ia skin deep man whom nobody either
loves or dislikes-turns out to be one
of those cunning detectives one reads
about in stories. But now know that
he Is real detective he seems very
different to me. Just as soon as it was
all out, instead Of calling me Alice he
called me Miss Avery. j was so mad /
could have choked him. Besides, l
thought he was quite gentleman. He
Is very plain. Indeed Donald says he
served term as policeman.
Well, well; shall never again think
can tell the difference between a
rogue and an honest man.
I am nightly relieved I'm going to
set the day for the wedding at an early
date. I don't care to go through any
more such experiences. Donald has
come out all right, and that's enough
Of it for me.