Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1908-11-07 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

FORTY FIVE-POUND NOTES  (Continued).  to his senses he was so ashamed that he has been moping ever since, and last night he did not keep his appointment with Miss Cartwright. And now he is in my rooms groaning and talking of suicide."  "A pretty mess, indeed. What is the _amount of money he owes his firm.?" "Two hundred pounds." "Can I see the boys" " I wish you would, old fellow. lam at toy wits' end."  We found Tom Sylvester, a handsome, bright-eyed lad of two and twenty, in the lowest depths of despondence, and as limp as a rag. I saw at a glance it was no good to moralise, and so I told him at once that we might help him if he would make a plain statement of his affairs. It was a sorry story of weakness and folly. " Now look here, my lad," I said, when he had finished, at the same time resting my hand lightly upon his arm, "if I lend you the money---'  I had no time to say more when he clutched my wrist fiercely, and, gazing with wide-open eyes at my hand, blurted out : " Where the dickens did you get that ring ?" I returned his look of amazement with interest, and then suddenly a light seemed to dawn upon my mind.  4' A lady gave it to me," I said, smiling. "It's a lie." "Steady, boy, steady," I said, quietly; "if you keep a civil tongue in your head and answer a few questions we may get to the bottom of this. You were to meet Miss Carturig4tt last night?" • es.,, "Where F"  ' What's that to yon?" Was it at the Haymarket Theatre?" The lad looked at me in astonishment.  "I see I am right," I said. "Now, among the men who fleeced you at the gambling club, and especially among those who were with you last Monday, was there one about thirty-five, very gentlemanly in his dress and manner, and wearing an eye-glass?"  "Yes, that's Walter Fennel—' Flash Wat ' they call him. But I don't believe he had an.--thing to do with robbing me. He is a very decent chap."  "Well, Tom, here is your ring and £2OO in bank-notes. They were sent you by a lady whom you know. If I may advise I would  say, accept the money and put yourself right, and then try to be worthy of a lady who is evidently a great deal too good for you. Come, Harry, I want you to help me see the end of this business." .  Harry Sylvester and I went at once to Scotland Yard. In a few hours "Flash Wat " was under arrest, and at the present time he is safely lodged in gaol undergoing a lengthy term of imprisonment. There is little more to say. It appears that Miss Cartwright had been told that Tom had been asking everyone to lend him the £2OO, and many of his evil doings had been related to her by the usual kind friends. She somehow secured the money and intended to send it to her unworthy lover, and at the same time return her engagement ring. In order to place both in his hands she had persuaded an uncle —not her father—to take her to the theatre, and had then purchased the ticket for the stall next to her and had sent this to Tom. He lost the ticket in the manner we know, and was ashamed even to go near the theatre.  When "Flash Wat " borrowed the twopence from me it appears he was actually in need of that sum to get home, but having obtained my address he decided to put it to some use. In Tom's pocket-book—which was his share of the spoil obtained from the drugged boy on the Monday—he found the stall ticket for Wednesday evening. He sent this to keep me away from home while he ransacked the place.  I am glad to say that Tom's lesson did him good. He pulled himself together and is now going along famously. The last time I saw him he was driving in the park with Miss Cartwright, and the colonel and the whole party seemed in the best of spirits. I caught Tom's eye, but the ungrateful young dog cut me dead.