The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

es oe —os mh A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 393 ‘Took here,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t understand this.’’ ‘What is it?’’ asked Mr. Undercliff, drawing near. ‘““When.was the money lost ?”’ “In ?75—July 13, 1875.’ ‘But is this the very same money? I understood you to-say it was.’’ ‘““Ves, I have never touched it, excepting when it was first found.’’ ‘‘ But somebody else has touched it.’’ ‘“ Impossible !’’ ‘Then how is it I find a ten dollar note here of the series of 1876?’ cried Thorne. CHAPTER TII].—H1GH WORDS. THORNE’S announcement was received by the group about the table with ejaculations which signified their surprise. Mr. Undercliff looked at the young man in blank amazement. His partner shut his teeth tightly upon his lip and a strange, grayish pallor settled about his mouth. ‘The captain simply stared with bulging eyes at the note in Thorne’s hand. Carter Monck- ‘ton, strange to say, looked only at his father; but nobody else noticed the junior partner’s distressed features. “Do you understand ?’’ repeated Thorne, ‘‘ Here is a note dated a year after the robbery.”’ “Tet me see it?’’ cried Mr. Undercliff, finding his voice at length Thorne passed it over. ‘The other examined it wonderingly. “Vou are right,’? he muttered. ‘‘I—I can’t explain it.”’ ‘“ But—but, sir, don’t you see that it mast be explained?’’ blurted out Thorne. ‘‘If the notes were simply laid in the vault and recovered after two years, how did that one get among them unless they have been tampered with while in your possession ? ’’ “That is impossible!’’ cried Undercliff. ‘‘ Nobody can get into this safe but myself. I alone have the key. Even Monckton yonder does not know the combination. In fact, nobody but myself was aware that the notes were there, eh Monckton? It was a surprise to you, was it not ?”’ The junior partner was forced to wet his lips before replying. ‘‘T certainly had no idea you kept them,’’ he said. “’Then,’’ said Thorne, calmly, ‘‘ those notes were never lost—/chey were stolen and put back again by the thief !”? 3 ‘“‘Tmpossible !’? murmured Undercliff. “Tt is not impossible,’’ cried Thorne doggedly. ‘‘ Whoever took the money was able to return it after a time. I thank God that no suspicion -can rest upon my father, for he had gone from here. But whoever com- mitted the crime was familiar with your office, and knew when the vault was to be repaired.’’ ‘“My dear boy, the character of every one of our clerks was beyond question,’’ interposed Undercliff. ‘‘ Yet to prove to myself that none of them was guilty of the crime in the first place, I had every one followed by my detectives until I was absolutely assured that he was trustworthy. No, COMME OO KSaEO