Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-02-01

Miss Montrose, may ask you some
questions in regard to Allen Ran
dolph?'
Her cheeks paled for moment, but
she replied,-'Yes, SIR
Then please tell me all that you
know about him.
He paid his addresses to me some
months ago, but did not like him, for
1 found that his character was not good
she replied.
Did he take any photograph with
him?'
HE did gave him one which I
thought was mine, but I have since
found that they had been misplaced
upon the table, and that I had given
him Uncle James 4 got it in the
dark
All was clear now, and I knew that
Allen Randolph was the assassin. So I
drew the photograph from my pocket
and asked,
'Do you recognize this, Miss Mont
rose p
sAh yes; it is the identical one, for
I had clipped the top corners (? she ex-
claimed, as she reached for the picture.
I saw that the top corners were cut
off, circumstance which / had not
noticed before
where did Allen Randolph intend
going !?
ITO New York city,
"Please describe him p
He was rather tall, with dark hair
and large moustache.'
There are many men who will answer
to your description. Had he no de-
formity by which he might be rec
ognized p asked.
Il remember now the little finger Of
the left hand was missing was the
reply.
I had gained the desired information,
and we talked until Mr.. Montrose en-
tered. I told him of my success, and
be wished me God speed on nv mission.
at daybreak the next morning I was
on the cars bound for New York. AL
ready 1 felt myself clutching Charley's
assassin by the throat and crying
vengeance.
I reached my destination and pro-
ceeded to private boarding house and
commenced my search. For two months
I haunted the saloons and gambling
bells, but the object of my search was
not there. I saw many young men
who looked as if they were the assassin,
but as they wore gloves l did not take
the liberty to see if the left little finger
was missing. answered every per-
sonal advertisement l saw, in hopes that
the advertiser might be Allen Randolph;
but they were not, and many were the
curses got for answering them.
One morning I sat in my room look
ing over the Herald, when my eyes
rested upon the following advertise
ment:
WANTED. A room mate, by ayoung
man. Inquire at room 3S, Metropolitan
Hotel
I threw the paper aside and was soon
at the door of Room 38. As I entered
I was kindly greeted by young man
of about fve-and-twenty. He looked
like Allen Randolph, but he had no
moustache, and as I glanced at his
hands, which were encased in gloves,
my heart told me that 1 stood in the
presence of the assassin.
I suited him, and I returned to my
boarding house, paid my bill, and was
considered as the room mate of Norman
Walker, for such was the name he gave
me.
We got along very well together, and
I watched his every movement. He
wore his gloves both day and night, and
when l asked him why he did SO be re-
piled that he had a peculiar disease upon
his hands ; and when I spoke of the
murder of Charley he trembled like a
leaf.
One night he invited me to take
game of cards with him. I consented,
and as he seated himself told him that
l had once belonged to secret society
which was now extinct. He laid the
cards aside and asked me to give him
the signs, grips, and passwords of the
order
! arose from my chair, and gave him
some strange signs.
Now for the grip; please give me
your hand, Norman
He held forth his right hand but I
checked him by saying,
mo your left
1t is a strange grip, he said and his
cheek paled and his hand trembled.
| grasped it with my left hand and
said, M
See here j; now grasp this way, and
press the little fingers and I pressed
it, but it was as soft as cotton.
I arose from my seat pale but calm.
I saw before me the assassin of my true
friend. At that moment the photograph
fell from my pocket to the table; he
grasped it and exclaimed,
sWhere did you get this p
4 found it in the store of Gilmore &
Brother, where you murdered Charley =
l cried.
You lie! ! never killed him. replied
Randolph, in loud voice.
4 find that your left finger is miss
ing said, trying to be calm.
you'll never live to tell that = he
cried.
And before ! could place myself in
an attitude Of defence, he sprang over
the table and hurled me to the floor.