Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-08

son as being connected with the case
Jack was puzzled. He went over the
papers again and yet again, but the name
was not mentioned, and it was with feel
| ing akin to anger that he started at last
| but [ could see CLEAN in his dusky eyes
when we parted that showed determine
| ton to solve the mystery if possible, and
I felt that the fair Claire was likely to get
| into trouble if she undertook to play with
my friend Jack.
! Jack was not much given to writing
much while on duty, so [ was not disap-
| pointed on hearing nothing nothing from
! him at first, but as the months went by
| bringing me nothing but an occasional
postal, assuring me that he was in good
health, began to feel uneasy, and for the
first time l doubted the loyalty of his
friendship.
1t was six months after he left New
/ York before heard from him to my sat
isfaction, and then it was in his usual odd
way, for walking into our room one fine
| evening I found Jack comfortably seated
in his easy chair, with his feet on the win
| Gow-sill.
He was smoking placidly and looked as
unconcerned as if he had been gone but a
week.
come? How are you? Why didn't you
write to me?"
Gone at time, Fred. one at time,'' he
laughed, shaking hands energetically. "I
| just got in. I'm hungry. And I didn't
write because I wanted to tell you all
| about it. And now my dear boy, if there
is anything eatable around just call it
OUT
We had a neat little cupboard in con-
nection with our modest establishment
where we generally stored a few things
suitable for light lunch. I set out all [
could find in 1t, and then, turning on the
| gas and drawing the blinds close, I turn
ed and watched him while he ate.
'That's good" he said at last, pushing
| his chair back from the table and light
ing a cigar. "And now, Fred, what have
we got to drink"
Nothing but whisky" I replied. Il
would have done better had [ known you
were coming, but then [ can brew some
punch"
"Splendid for storytelling, punch is"
cried Jack, merrily. Elk it up, Fred
and then sit down. [ want to talk with
you"
soon had a steaming jug on the table,
and then, lighting my pipe, sat down on
the other side of the open fire and pre-
pared to listen. But still Jack was 81
lent. ''Well?' I said at last, interroga-
lively.
He looked up thoughtfully and repeat
ed the word, "Well?"
"What about the story?" said L; "did
| you solve the mystery"
| He nodded.
| 'DO you know who committed the muir
der?"
He nodded again and took a sip of
punch.
''Yes,' he said thoughtfully. II know
all about it, and 1 won't keep you in sus-
pense any longer"
| He pulled a moment at his cigar and
took another pull at the punch, and then
! squared himself in front of me to tell
/ the story.
"You remember, Fred" he said, ''that
when I left here I was in some doubt as
to which side had employed me? Prob
ably you will remember my fear that
L was to be employed to shield the as
sassin?"
! I nodded.
"Well," he continued, "that is just what
I have done"
I stared at him, but he made no reply.
YES" he repeated, ''that is just what I
have done. You see, on my arrival at De-
troit, I called at once on Mrs. Morton.
| She is a widow, Fred, and Just as-but
| pshaw, there is no use in my trying to
describe her. Any way, [ called on her
and found out the reason she had en-
| pIoyed me-
'You see," he continued, sat the time of
! the murder a certain persOn-One Isaac
| Sharply-was found bending over the
! body. He submitted to arrest and was
| detained until after the inquest. Claire
| that is Mrs. MOrtOn-remembere that a
messenger had come from the station for
! her husband, and that Mr.. Morton had
called on Sherpley in his cell, but as they
were we'll acquainted with him and the
| murdered man, she paid no attention to
| it at the time.
"After her husbands death, however,
which occurred some months later, she
found among her husbands papers proof
that Mr.. Morton had paid Sharpley $1O,-
| 900. This aroused her suspicion that
all was not right, and, without waiting to
consult her friends, she had sent for
me.
II asked her if Mr.. Morton had ever
had business dealing with this man
Sharpley.
NO. She was sure he nad not.
''What had been Sharpley's circum-
stances?
"'Poor,' she replied; in fact he had
hardly been able to support his family
'Was he still living near them?
'FNo. He had left the city Immediate
| ly after his discharge, and his family fol-
! lowed him shortly after
'It was evident that she suspected
Sharpley, and it became my first duty to
find him. Luckily the police had kept
some track of him, and from them I
learned that he had purchased ticket
for Chicago. [ went there at once and
commenced my search, but without avail
and last became convinced that he had
not gone to Chicago as all. Returning to
Detroit, took fresh start. This time |
undertook to follow his family. And as
they had taken some of their household
goods with them [ thoughtit pretty sure
that they could be easily found.
Before starting after them however,
| had another interview with Claire.
Jack flushed little at this point. He
| soon recovered himself and continued as