San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-12
THE DIAMOND BUTTON
FROM THE DIARY OF A LAWYER AND THE
NOTE BOOK OF A REPORTER.
By BARCLAY NORTH.


pose. admit that, so far as Fountain
IS concerned, it is plausible"
"Only plausible above the rest because
you have certain ascertained facts OF
statements of himself and Flora to rea
son upon. Fountain is proposing to seek
a fortune; Persons fortune lies waiting
to be sought; Fountain inquiries here
about Persons papers, and admits tc
Flora that he called upon me in refer
ence to that enterprise. Flora is horror
stricken at the idea of his coming to me-
who saw the murderer at distance, and
who pretended to see more than did
These are the connecting links which
make the reasoning seem plausible as tc
Fountain. You seem to stumble over
the idea that there must have been some
knowledge of Messing by Fountain, and
of Fountain by Wessing."
81 confess it"
''It is not necessary to the truth of my
theory that they should not have knowl.
edge or that they should See here
Suppose Fountain did know of Messing,
which | wholly doubt, and that he was
an illegitimate son also, it would make
no difference in his enterprise of killing
Templeton. 1t would be the Legitimate
heir he would have to be rid of before
he or any other Legitimate heir could
pretend to have claim on the unclaimed
fortune"
"There is a true reasoning in that.
P,tf haC
there was any abandonment of Temple
toms mother"
Holbrook had been pacing up and
down as he was thus reasoning. Upon
Toms remark he turned quickly around
and bringing his hands together with a
resounding whack he exclaimed:
Yes, by Heaven, have! Mrs. Tenn
pleton told me that her father had left
her on her mothers death to the care of
an aunt, and went to Philadelphia: that
subsequently a rumOr of his marriage
had reached them, but was never veri-
fled. That was after they had heard OF
his death abroad"
"The facts in this case come out slow
ly," said Tom ''The line of inquiry to
follow is the Pierson line Why not
push your inquiries with Mrs. Temple
ton? See if it is not possible to connect
the Templetons with Pierson."
"Tll do it, and at once. You'll go
with me too, won't your
Yes, I'll go with you, and would be
glad to-"
But haven't we already ground
enough to begin judicial inquiry"
mo; wait until have established the
Identification of Fountain with the man
who purchased the clothes. "I'n go
about it now and then meet you"
but | say, Tom, if Fountain don't
own the gold button, who does?"
"rl be hanged if L can tell-that is
one of the puzzles in this most puzzling
of all cases"
Tom hurried off to his friend, the
leader writer, who had undertaken to
obtain surreptitious portrait Of Foun-
tain.
well, how did you make OUT" asked
Tom.
First rate. got two views of him.
profile and full face" He took them
from his desk.
Tom inspected them closely. Capt.
0l," he said, perfect pictures"
"What are you going to do with
them" asked the leader writer.
pardon me-" said Tom, Il am in a
desperate hurry, and if l do not wait to
explain and thank you for them you will
excuse me, know"
Then he went to the clothing store and
found the clerk.
"What kind of time did you have on
your clambake?"
Bang up" said Tom. ''See here, you
recollect my asking you if you could
identify the man who bought that suit
the man outside of U. S. T.'s?"
Yes"
well, here's the man l suspect Dc
you recognize him?"
The clerk took the photographs and
examined them carefully.
Tom waited in an agony of impa
thence, his heart beating with such
ihrobS that he thought the clerk mus
surely hear it.
Finally the clerk said:
Il am crrtain-positive, that is til,
Iian.
Good. said Tom He'll find hi
I::sle Jolrturmaa upon him. Thank you
. / I'll YOU all about II shortly. I'll com,
re to telt you for yo!r kindness.
II hurried out Of the store.
The coil is finally wound about him
,oua;aln, my boy, there is a surprise il
ore for you In two days time, my