Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-05-05
MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
BY ABBIE G. M'KEEVER.

BY ABBIE c. MKEEvER-
Nobody could tell just how the
Countess De Lara had bewitched the
society in which she moved, the very
cream de Ia cream, that was at her feet
and worshiped her.
She was very beautiful, accomplished,
and reputed wealthy; her jewels were
very large and fine. She was accom-.
panied on her tour of the United States
ny her uncle, a gentleman of wealth
and splendid bearing, gray-haired. but
quite youthful in appearance otherwise.
Not to know or to be intimate with
the Countess was to be mere nobody,
hence such time as some of the elite
mad struggling for her smiles
1t was little strange that her favor
should fall upon George Franklin, a
very ordinary appearing young man,
but whose father was worth mint of
money. Her smiles quite turned
Georges head, and his fathers bank
account suffered in proportion.
Now it CHANGED that ere the coming
of the beautiful Countess, George had a
sweetheart in q very different set; a
pretty milliner, and as good as she was
pretty, to whom George had been en-
gagged for six-month. only everything
was kept quiet until his father could
be brought around to see the charms
and acknowledge the worth of his own
dear little Nettie Dare.
What poor, wronged Nettie thought
about the Countess and her sway over
her truant lover, no one ever knew, but
her pink cheeks grew pale and her
brown eyes had pathetic way of gaz-
ing out the window that told of secret
pain.
Thus matters stood until one morn.
ing the city was electrified by a cruel
murder in its midst.
Rich old friedrich Franklin had been
murdered in his bed in the early morn
ing, but by whoma All, that was the
question!
1t appeared the old gentleman had
gone to bed in his usual health, but, &C.
cording to the housemaid's tale, after
violent quarrel with his son George.
When questioned as to the nature of
the quarrel she said it was over money
matters; she couldn't tell just what,
only she believed George wanted
large sum to pay debt. She had lis
tened at the door. but could not under
stand perfectly, only the old gentleman
angrily and firmly refused his request,
and thus they parted.
Other parties knew of Georges press
ing need of money, and one, friend,
to have heard him say,
only the night before the murder. that
the Governor" was to be made to shell
out by hook or by crook.
The result of all this was, in very
short time George was arrested for
his fathers murder.
Every one turned their backs on him
and believed him guilty, even the
Countess, who was quite ILL., and
utterly refused to believe his protests
of innocence.
Did I say every one? No, he had one
friend who was true, and believed him
cruelty wronged, his old sweetheart,
Nettie.
She fastened to the Jail, but was re-
fused admittance. But she went
straight from there to the Chief of Po-
lice and laid her plea before him.
He merely shook his head and re-
fused to believe her wild suspicious, or
to send one of his detectives to look
into it.
Nothing daunted, she went from his
presence to one of the worst streets in
the city, and there found the object of |
her search, q regular street Arab.
whose dirty face lighted up with Joy at |
sight of her.
Miss Nettie! Lor'. its never your"
"Yes, Tom. I came for Won. II
want you. have work for You. Come
aside down the alley SO We can
without being overheard.
Tom followed instantly; he remem-
bered time when Nettie Dare's hand
aad stood between his mother an6
and of the many, many
kindnesses he felt he never could re-.
pay.
He lent willing ear to her plea and |
believed in her suspicious firmly.
@Tlldo inst as You say, Miss Nettie, ]
My tell me SO f'!low1l H,w."