The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-02-12

from her. That evening the stranger,
who was hale and hearty looking old
gentleman of about fifty, called the
I landlord into the little sitting-room
where he and Lena were alone, and,
closing the door, told the following re-
markable story, which did much to ex-
plain Thurston's curious and unfriendly
manner during the time he had lived in
camp.
The gentleman said: II feel that it
is due to the people here who have tried
to be kind to this unfortunate man and
his family that something of the truth
may be known, and any unpleasant
surmises be removed. As the family
lawyer the duty of clearing up great
mystery devolved upon me. but alas! its
successful solution is reached only in
time to find the victim of an awful mis-
take and his wife In their graves.
Charles Thurston was the son of q
wealthy shipowner of Boston. His
father gave him liberal education, and
INDUCED him in every whim. In time
his wild associations produced their eff
feet on him. and without being really
wicked, for he had a noble nature
at heart, his habits became loose
and somewhat dissipated. Then he met
and loved beautiful girl, and being his
equal in every respect, and thinking it
would have beneficial effect upon his
habits, his parents encouraged the
match. In due time there was grand
wedding, and it seemed that he had
abandoned his old associates and their
dissolute society for the love of this
beautiful and true woman. Then came
| a relapse to a certain extent into the old
ways, with some intermissiOns, one of
which was the birth of daughter. This
did not last long, and it soon became
known that he was heavily i'm debt. One
day the town was Mortified by the news
that old Mr.. Thurston had been found
murdered in his room. The sensation
was further magnified by the additional
report that the awful crime was COM
mitted by his son Charles, who robbed
the safe and fled. The circumstantial
evidence against him was overwhelm-
ing, and the officers of the law looked
high and low for him, but without sue
cess. Meanwhile, as matter of course,
the affair possessed a terrible interest
| for me. One night, after had retired,
my door-bell was rung by messenger
boy, who delivered note to me worded
about as follows:
| "'Come at once to No. LOTT Salem street
aud you will get important information
Now the number given to me was
of an obscure street in part of the city
where was entirely unacquainted,
but there was something about the
handwriting which although evidently
| disguised, was familiar to me, and l re-
solved to obey the summons. Calling
a carriage l was driven to the street
mentioned in the note, and, telling the
driver to wait for me. walked to No.
1,017, which found. to be a somewhat di-
lapidated building which had evidently
at one time laid some claim to respect
ability. but was fast going to decay.
Knocking at the door, it was quickly
opened by a neat-looking old woman,
who was however, stranger to me.
Holding the door cautiously, and gaZ-
ing into my face and by the faint light
of a candle she carried i'm her hand She
inquired my business, and, upon being
informed that l was the recipient of a
mysterious note, she said: 'Ah yes; he
is waiting for you-step this way
II was conducted up one flight of
stairs, and upon knocking at the door
of back room familiar voice said:
Come in In a moment was face to
face with Charles Thurston, but oh!
how changed. The boyish smile and
happy face of my young friend disap-
peared, and in their places were care
worn, haggard. features. which had aged
terribly in forty-eight hours.
"'You do not believe me guilty of
this horrible crime??' said Charles. in
an imploring voice the moment en-
tered the room.
Looking into his face for moment,
said did not. but what does this aw-
full mystery meant?
1.-The terrible story is soon told, or
as much ofit as know said he. On
the fatal night of the murder had early
in the evening had words with my
father. being entirely in the wrong,
but answering his chidings somewhat
bitterly. and then went out of his room,
slamming his door with the remark,
You II be sorry for this Everything
that occurred that night came to me
with extraordinary vividness after the
particulars of the tragedy became known
and distinctly remember that some
one was lurking outside the door and
must have heard my foolish remark.
The quarrel had with my father &C.
Cured early in the evening. 1t was
perhaps midnight when returned to
the house. In going upstairs to my
own room had to pass my fathers
door. and noticed that it was wide open
but the room was dark. This was such
an unusual occurrence that went into
the apartment and stumbled over some
thing on the floor. Imagine my horror
and surprise, when, upon lighting the
gas, l discovered that it was the body of
my father weltering in his gore. He
had been stabbed number of times,
evidently after severe struggle with
the assassin. The motive of the CRIME
was only too apparent in the open safe
which had evidently been rilled, and the
number of papers scattered over the
floor. My first impulse was to cry out
murder. then remembered the fact of
the party concealed outside the door,
who had evidently heard our quarrel
and the foolish threat l had made. and
all at once horrible fear possessed me,
and, like the coward | was, fled.
Every word of the story impressed
ME as being truth. and l believed him:
but what was to be done? In vain l
endeavored to persuade him to accom-
pany me home in the carriage. He
said he was lost: that suspicion he
could never remove and guilt of which
he could never prove his innocence had
fastened upon him, and he was ire