Year: 1877

as he knew no one had been aware of the loca-
ton of the cupboard excepting himself, his
wife, now dead his son Walter, who was Ill
South America, and his daughter Ethel, who
had net been out Of her room for months.
He had left it TO her to show Mrs. Remington
over the house at the time of the purchase, and
supposed she had told her about the secret
cupboard.


The attention of the little group around the
bag was now called by Mrs. Remington to an
ornamental scarlet monogram-"E. NJ. on
its front. embroidered within wreath of bril-
liant autumn leaves.


"This bag surely belonged to my daughter"
said Mr.. Moretcn excitedly.


When Ethel Moreton was questioned with re-
gard to the matter, she said she had not thought
of the bag since she had been i'll. Mrs. Rem
ington had called on her few days before the
robbery, but she could not believe that that
lady would have stolen anything from the
house. She did not remember whether or not
she had told the Remingtons about the secret
cupboard.


The term Of court at which the Remingtons
we're to be tried for the robbery was now at
hand, but, on motion of the eminent counsel
whom they had retained, the case was con-
tiuued to The next term. AS the money had
been recovered, and there was a pronounced
public sympathy with the defendants, the
bank officials, especially Mr.. Moreton, were
anxious to have the prosecuting attorney quaSh
the Indictment but Mr.. Remington insisted
on legal exoneration.


One dav during the early summer the family
physician who had known Ethel intimately
from her birth, surprised Mr.. Moreton with
the announcement that his daughter was kept
i'll by some mental trouble, and that he be-
lieved it TO be in some way connected with the
bank affair.


"She fell ILL.," said DR.. Knowlton, "the day
the robbery was discovered. From child she
was never afraid to go out in the dark. She Is
familiar with all the ins and outs OF the baDk.
Silver-stocking is fond of her, and she would
have no fear of him. She knew OF the secret
cupboard. and the money was found in her
bag. Besides, her nervous attacks always
occur whenever the bank affair is mentioned IN
her presence The burden upon her mind
must be alleviated or she will never live 80 see
another autumn"


This private interview. which the faithful
and skillful old physician had sought with Mr.
Moreton, was hardly over before the latter,
almost broken down by a bewiderinS sorrow,
repaired to his daughters sick chamber: :,


1t took much persuasion, and the relteratco
presentment of the fact that the innocent were
suffering for the guilty. to induce Ethel, with
sobs and tears, to tell her story. At last she
said


.You know, papa, that was ct that French
boarding-school in the city two years. There
were in TIE institution what was called Sc ret
cloues.' Just a few of the girls with congenial
tastes met regularly in each others rooms.
There were the Lovers of Laughter" and the
Ten Tied Travellers, each having passwords
and signs. I belonged to the Ten Tried
Travellers The society was ct first useful Il
its design and tendencies.


ff.1n
world and at our meetings, dressed IN travel
ing suits, and had our maps, guide books and
we'll stored lunch baskets. W, would stop and
explore every considerable town and interest
ing point, point Il Tho end Of the first rear Julia Nc
Marshall came to the school. She was very
stylish young lady who had Travelled all over
Europe and the East. Each Of the chques wed
in efforts to get her, but ours was successful
One of our society having left school she was
installed as one of the Ten.


"Sbe was yery handsome and fascinating
and had been in society great deal, but came
to Madam Leclerc's to perfect herself IN music
and French, previous to going abroad again,
this time on her wedding tour. She fairly be-
wildered US with tales of adventure, and pro-
posed that when she went on this trip we
should al, accompany her /; being then mar
ried woman she could chaperon us.


"We all asked our parents, when we went
home at Christmas, if we could 60 with her,
and were all refused as you, papa, may le-
member in nv case. Then. on our return,
Miss McMarshall proposed that we should get
ND a fund, putting into it all the money we
could by any device coax from our parents. and
place it in her hands to pay our expenses
She was to invite US to go with her and our
parents we're to believe that We were to be her
free guests. But We could not get near enough
money for the purpose.


"At the beginning of the spring term, Juila
got changed around SO as to room 18th me-
She used 10 talk to me until I became COM
pletely carried away with the alluring details
of the proposed trip. She pictured the sensa-
ton ten elegantly dressed and handsome young
American ladies' would create in the fashionable
circles in Europe, with titled young men fol-
lowing in our train and giving Us entertain
ments.


eat last she proposed thst I should take
some money from the bank, knowing as she
did that you, papa, kept the keys. remem-
Der how started when she broached the sub
iect. but she told me how many thousands
of dollars there were in bank, and said that
lust enough money to make up the sum needed
would never be missed, and, if it should be,
would not be suspected at all.


~ came home in the midsummer vacation
full of the plan. an2 declared You know, my
intention to remain at home during the autumn
to see to our moving into the new house.


"AfterI had made up my mind to do wrong,
circumstances seemed to conspire to lead me
on. I planned and planned. I went often to
the bank to see you and petted old Sllver-stock-
ing more than ever. knew all about the COM
bination lock of the safe, and where you and
Dir. Strand used to set d Tn the numbers. =.


"When YOU sent MpA Remington to look at
our house the thought came to me that would
not tell her about the secret cupboard, aud
that perfected my plan. I could always go
about in the dark freely and i'll familiar places,
and find ANYTHING wanted nearly as easily as
if it we're light. / kept one of the two keys to
the hall door of our old house, and knew where
YOU placed the keys of the bank at night.


"When you and Mr.. Strand both went over
to that meeting thought my opportunity had
come. About midnight, in the midst OF the
storm that had come up soon after you had
gone, / put ON my oil silk coat. left the house,
went through the grounds by your summer
path. and g, tered the side door of the bank.


"Silver-stocking lever made noise except
to sniff and sniff to make sure that it was l. l
had taken my travelling bag to put the money
in. and wax taper to light the safe with after
had opened it. There was such lot OF
money took more, than had intended TO;
After I had strapped my bag reached out and
took another note that was left loose IN a little
drawer, and tucked it under the flap.


81 hurried ont of the bank, though carefully
locking the safe and doors after me, and went
directly across the street to Mr.. Remingtons g.
I easily entered the hall and placed the bag IN
the cupboard. That ten-dollar note. no doubt,
got displaced, while was getting the bag In
behind the hat-rack to place it in the cup
board, and fell into the corner.


81 didn't dare carry the money home for
fear you might be suspected, and our house