The morning news., 1889-05-31

8. young man of "a, living in a town in
illinois. he took out premiums amounting
TO Sl5.O 900, and thirty days subsequently
went IN bathing in a river and was
drowned. There were ten witnesses to the
TACT that he was seen to sink, having ap-
parently been taken with cramp, and,
though strict search had been made, the
body had not been found. Pending the pay
ment of tue policy the company sent me
out to look over the ground. Ifound, first,
that the young man was alone in the
world, and that his character stood well.
secondly the testimony of the ten wit
nesses could not be put aside. 1t seemed as
plain case as one could ask for, and there
was only one queer circumstance about II.
he had made will few days previous to
his death in favor of another young man
about his own age. The two were room
mates, but l could not find that Wakeful,
the policy holder, was under any great OBJ
legations to Scotten, who had been made his
heir. They simply passed for chums.
Scotten'S explanations were very smoky,
and after my talk with him was quite sa
isned that taere was plan on foot to beat
the company.
The spot selected by the bathers was
portion OF deep mill pond near where
water was taken into fiume to run a grlst
mil. This mill was owned by Scotten's
! father, but managed by hired helD. l had
several of the boys go down with me and
locate the spot where Wakeful went down.
1t was 40 feet above the gates TO the Hume.
The body had been dragged for in vain,
| and the idea was that the current mad car
RED it over the dam and down to the lake.
l found upon quiet inquiry that Wakeful
| was considered the besJ swimmer and diver
in the neighborhood. / experimental lit
tie myself, and although only a fair swim
mer, found that by diving at the spot
where the young man went down | could
| remain under water almost to gates.
| was perfectly satisfied now that | had
| the plan. Wakefui mad reached and passed
under the gates, gone down the fume, and
| then climbed out by the beams OF the mill.
lie had skipped Dat To wait for the money
| TO be- paid 10 Scotten, and then both were to
go off together. / had this theory all down
fine, when lo body was found ten miles
down the river and identified as that of
v akeful. | was willing to surrender, and
| went about feeling that deserved to be
kicked. A strange feeling drew me to the
mill, however. If WakefuI had not
worked the game he could have done it,
aid somehow wanted to see the route he
would take.
swan down the fume, lodged to the
lett Of the water wheel, and caught brace.
| Pulling myself up on the timbers | walked
along until found pair of stairs and an
opening leading to the first story of the
mill. 1t was after hours and the mill was
closed. had been standing quietly for a
| few minutes, when a side door which had
not noticed opened and young Scotten ap-
! peared. He did not look about him at all,
but started upstairs, and saw that he had
parcel under his arm. | followed him to
the garret of the mill, and there sat Wake
! full as big as life. Tue plan was just What
l had surmised, although all but the two
conspirat rs were honest in their declara-
! tious. Wakeful was to remain until the
money was paid aud then the pa r were 60
! went to prison for five years apiece.