Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-05-01

"'What's that on my tuger?' says I,
holding it up.
"1Blood,' says she. *How did you
"'1t's somebody else that's cut, I'm
thinking and 1 told her all about it.
"'Go right away to the police!' che
exclaimed.
"And get myself locked up for life as
witness? That's the way they serve
you in New York. I'll wait first and
see if the papers have anything to say
about it,
"Strange, Mr.. P don't come TO,
his BOOTS said my wife. l wonder il
you could be mistaken about his calling
for them?'
"'Perhaps he has forgotten it himself
and is waiting at home for them; and
here it is three O'clock
$50 saying, 1 took the boots and
started for my customers house. / had
a good way to GO, but hurried as fest a.
| could, thinking all the time of the spot
on the greenback aud the spot on my
finger, for l never thought to wash it of
81 mounted the steps and rang the
bell.
The door was opened so quick that
| it startled me, and there stood sweet
pretty girl, fourteen or fifteen years old
| dressed for traveling-hat and all on.
"' Mr.. P.'s boots said, putting then
down.
"Papa is not at home yet, and it i:
SO strange! she cried. Il was watching
for him. We were to leave for Boston
by the quarter past three express train
| and it is that now. Papa is always sc
purctual, can't think what to make OF
"Sie appeared to be more thinking
aloud than talking to me.
SO Probably business detains him, mis-:
something unexpected, no doubt
Il could not help casting a glance st
my finger as spoke-I mean the finger
that had the spot on it. I looked from
the finger to the young girl.
." DO you think any thing has happen
cd to him? she demanded, earnestly.
Happened to him? No, indeed
Sure to be home in few minutes.'
"The words nearly choked me. How
[ got them out don't know. + left the
house as quick as possible, holding the
finger separate from the other fingers til
! reached my shop.
Something awful has been going on
wife. We will sec it tor certain in tn,
papers,
Peter said she, 'be sure you dom
| wash that finger
"Why not? said I, my teeth chatter
ing.
"'I tell you you must not do it unit
we get the news
"'Good gracious, wife, says I, shav
| got to be all light with my finger so
l shall not sleep q wink
"' Yes, you have says she; and
will do it up in rag so nothing can ru1
the stain OUT
please don't do that, wife.
makes me feel strange
"'But before was done speaking sh
had the rag on. Then she got supper
but not moutbful could eat.
80 It's Of no use, can't work; ma,
as we'll 60 to bed,' l said.
~ did not light up the shop, but wen
into the other room and got into bed.
laid awake nearly all night in terribl
state with my finger. At last I fel
asleep, and dreamed it began to swell
and kept growing larger and larger, til
it was bigger than my head. I was il
great trouble. I doctor came to cut
of, and, just as he was commencing,
heard scream which woke me. Their
was nay wife standing over me, with
newspaper in her hand.
The awfulest thing that ever hap
pened! she cried. EMr. P-was mu1
dered yesterday afternoon, and it wa
his murderer you did that job fol-
Read!'
1.-The account was short. MIR. P
! had been discovered in the basement O
his warehouse, near his vault, quite dead
stabbed ever SO many times. The vaul
it was where he kept his valuables-
| was open. Everything disposable WI
taken, of which was large sum in ban
bills-a tremendous robbery. From IL
basement into the vsult, you crossed a
area, covered with al iron grating, whic
let light into cellar below. The mu1
derer's heel must have caught betwee
the bars during the scuf1e. 1t wa
wrenched of, and was found stuck there
There was no clue whatever to the mu1
! derer except the heel. This was tn
| whole story.
Il jumped out of bed.
SO Now, Peter, what are you going t
do?' asked my wife.
"'1 am going to see Lawyer E. Oh
was one of my customers), and tell hin
all l know
"sThat's right said she.
II hurried off as soon as I dressed
Lawyer E. was not up. l waited TO
him. As soon as he came into the room
l told him my story. He took it COOL
enough; but that was because he was
lawyer, I reckon.
"'Wait till / have my breakfast h
said, and I will go with you to polio
headquarters.'
" 70 be locked upY says I. won
that be the way Of itT
Gle laughed.
"'1 will take care of you, Peter
says he; Il will 60 bail for your appear
ance, if necessary
latter he had his breakfast, we start
ed off together. Lawyer E. took M
to the chief man; I forgot what the,
call him. l told my story over again
Then 1 answered so many questions tina
began to feel as if I had killed MI
P myself.
Before they got through, they show
ed me the heel of the boot. could hav
sworn to it on a stack of bibles. Then
pulled off the rag and showed him m,
finger.
"'What's that for?" said the polio
officer.
II told him.
"' Never mind that. Let's zee tn
bank bill!' he exclaimed.
81 took it from my pocket, and CAV
it to him.
=" He marked it carefully, and the
made me mark it, 30 I should know j
again" he said. "Then he put the bi
in an envelope, and wrote on it, and pu
it in his safe.
"They handed me paper to 20 befo1
the coroner's jury that afternoon, an
lawyer E. gave his word that shout
be there. Then went home.