The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-05-31

COAT, and the cudgcl with which he
was armed
Halfway 10 Pigeon Hollow a man
was found completely answering the
description. and having the Identical
cudgel in his hand. and the empty
wallet Of the gardener in his pocket.
But he stOHtly denied al knowledge OF
the robbery. He gave his name and
represented himself to be a discharged
farmland on his way 10 the city to
look for work.
He had no aeeomplice. he said. and
no companion. He had been asleep on
the other side Of the wood Il was not
half an hour since he awaked. He had
seen no one. had not been 10 the high
way. and did not know where il was.
The wallet and the cudgel he had
picked mp in the woods and that was
ali there was about It.
''Of course the posse laughed At his
story. not one word Of which they be-
lieved. The gardener positively iden-
tilted him. wallet. cudgel and all
They tried hard aud long to make him
tell what he had done with the money.
and where the other man was.
but they got nothing out Of him but
the same absurd denials, and the same
incredible story.
They had no doubt that he had
concealed the money. or passed il over
to his accOmplice; but. as il was now
too dark to look for the other offender.
they gave mp the chase for the night.
and turned back with their prisoner
1.-The next morning the gardner re-
turned with the detective. and searched
the woods through and through but
without result. In a piece Of soft
ground nesr the entrance to Pigeon
Hollow they found some prints If the
hOb-nailed boots. and not FAR away a
lady's handkerchief with the mono
gram Il in in one corner; but they at
tached no Importance 20 either. aud
did not imagine them To have any con
nection with EACH other
"Well. To make a long story short,
the man was la due time brought TO
trial for highway robbery. aud by
some chance. which then thought
rather unfortunate. il fell To NV lot 10
undertake his defense. was then
young attorney. passing through the
starvation period Of my career. and
was glad Of almost any thing in the
way of business. but did not enter
into that case with much enthusiasm.
expected the mans conviction. and
was strongly inclined 10 believe that
he deserved it. But before the day for
the trial arrived. I had become fully
convinced of his innocence. and though
| saw little chance Of proving il to the
satisfaction Of the jury. became in
tensely Interested in the poor fellows
case. and resolved To do my best for
him.
"That morning. while on my way
down town in sireet-car. nv eve fell
upon an advertisement Ia the paper
which was reading.
"'LOsT. on c. street. between the post.
once and the Union depot sketch book con-
tanning a number Of pencil Studio. MAJ ell 4
The finder will confer great favor by lrny AZ
Il a. the depot parcel room, and vii be hBer-
ally rewarded
1.-The advertisement made no i'm
preston ON my mind. and would never
have received n second thought II I had |
not, on alighting from the ear. found |
n group OF dirty Arabs ON the steps
leaiing To my office. examining with |
great interest a thin paper-cnvered |
volume which one Of them held in his /
hand. Peeping over their shoulders. ! |
saw that the pages were covered with /
pencil drawings. and that ia some cor
ner Of every picture WAS the mvster-
iOus monogram T. An understandable
desire seized me To possess that book.
and give myself the pleasure Of con
ierring upon the unknown E the
great favor 10 which the advertise
ment referred"
1.-The present preseason did not re-
spond very readily TO INV proposition.
Indeed. could have bought n corner
lot with less difficulty; but knew the
street-Arab character well, and after a
good deal Of chatting and jockying. l
my prize and retired with it to
my office. secretly ashamed Of my
folly.
Opening the book almost at ran
dom. l came upon this sketch. the
subject Of which | recognized at a
glance. There was the figure Of nv
clothes the uumistable
boots. the hand minus half finger.
he spiral seams Of the neck aud the
white initial ON the back Of the head.
And there was the date Of the alleged
81 looked up nv memorandum con-
,erning the handkerchief found BY the
detective. to which neither the prose-
,ution nor myself had attached any
Importance. The monogram upon it
vas the same Il which appeared in the
ketch.
" Here was Mystery which must
'e investigated without DELAY. Il was
low nearly nine o'clock. The case
would probably be reached bv eleven.
Why could | not have known this
Oener? Yet two hours was worth
omething. At any rate. resolved TO :
ind the owner Of the book. learn the
Iature Of her connection with nv
lient's affairs, and. II necessary. get
he trial pOstpOsed till could use her ]
estimOny 10 advantage.
Hurrying to the Union station,
ccosted the package-boy, bright and :
ather gentlemanly little fellow. but =
ot disposed to be communicative on }
be subject Of my inquiries
YES, young lady had spoken 20 {
i'm about \ lost sketeil-book. Did be
now her name' He guessed /: was y
liss Evans What was her first e
anne? He guessed it was Alice.
Where did she live? lie guessed Il .
Tas At CORY Green. When did the n
rain go 10 Cory Green2 Il had Just q
one. When would another go2 At
O:43 When would the train from / 2
Orry Green arrive? At 9:21 The d
ext one? At l0:IT Wa- Miss Evans a
} call for the book? He gurs ed she ]
Ould. When' He didn't know; but
| would leave the book with HIM. he
ould give il to her She was sure To
VI for il some time or other. and Il
OuId be o. K and no questions =
ked. a
" Having special reasons for wishing 3