Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-01-17

spo-N authorities h d
E\EST@H\ not seen that the
c---~@"N obvious thing to
do was to discover at once where the
clothes worn by the murderer were pur-
chased.
1t was true, he admitted, that he had
had an advantage in determining who
the purchaser was, through Holbrook's
acquaintance with Flora Ashgrove, but
why had not the detectives of the rcgu-
lar force found out, as he had done,
whore the clothes had been bought?
He was in high glee over his discovery,
and much pleased with himself. The
facts were indisputable, and were to be
recognized at a glance.
There was the conversation between
Flora and Fountain on the veranda at
Newport, and there was the Identified
ton of Fountain with the man who had
purchased the one suit which had not
been bought by the U. S. rs. While
these We're not conclusive, still they were
sufficient to justify the immediate arrest
of Fountain, when the facts necessary
for proofs before the jury could be easily
brought out by judicious inquiry.
TO construct the Chain of evidence
which would convict Fountain in court
was work for the authorities, not for
him. He had detected the criminal, and
that was all that could be demanded of
him, and all that he had set out to do.
1t was thus filled with triumph that
he sought Holbroolz to consult with him
as to the next step-the placing of all
the facts before the district attorney. To
his surprise no less than to his indigna-
ton, he found the lawyer loath to go
further in the matter.
SO long as there was a question of
doubt involved in the investigation, Hol-
brook had been earnest and energetic,
but now, when all question of doubt had
vanished-when the identification was
complete, he hesitated, "baulked," as
Tom said, Fright at the finish"
The fact that Flora Ashgrove would be
inevitably drawn into the matter dis
turbed Holbrook greatly. While all the
tenderness with which he had formerly
regarded her was wholly dissipated, still
it seemed horrible thing to him, that
she should be dragged to the witness
stand and compelled to give the evidence
which would send to the gallows the man
she had shown she SO deeply, and even
wildly, loved. He shrank from the idea
that he should be instrumental in putting
her in such position.
With these sentiments Tom could not,
or at least would not, sympathize. 1t
might be hard for her, but it was hard
also for Annie Templeton that her brother
should be struck down and killed, and it
was one of the inevitable consequences
of crime that the innocent suffered no
less than the guilty, and while it was I'M
fortunate that Miss Ashgrove was in the
position in which she was, yet justice
must be done.
To all Of this argument Holbrook had
no reply, and he realized he could make
none. In the end, however, he gave a
reluctant consent that everything should
be laid before the district attorney, but
he positively refused to go with Tom to
that official. If he appeared at all in the
matter, it should only be as an unwilling
witness, to tell how his suspicious of
Fountain had been aroused, and he sim
cerely hoped that even that much would
not be required of him. SO Tom was
compelled to go alone. On his way he
dismissed Holbrook's scruples as fanciful
to the last degree, and busted himself
with the order of the narrative which he
was to submit to the prosecuting officer.
On entering the Office he saw the door
of the private room was closed, and he
was about to send in his card, when a
voice called out from an adjoining room;
'Hallo, Tom! Come in. Where have
you been this month of Sundays
Tom passed into the room and saw an
assistant of the district attorney, in the
center of a group of his fellow deputies. p"
''Is the chief engaged" asked Tom
after salutations.
YES was the reply, "but only for a
short time Come in; Was just telling
the boys some of my adventures while
Yachting. We were out in Teddy Bra
hams yacht-only a small party, Jack
Hanshaw, Fred Cox, Harry Fountain
and myself
WHO? Fountain?"
eyes, Harry Fountain. Do you know
him? A fine fellow"
"What Fountain" asked Tom, some
what interested; Fountain of the Uniol
and the Lambs--athete?'
The same. Why"
"Oh, nothing particular. When wa
ths?"
ooh, let me see. We were out tn
15th 10th, 18th and 18th of last month
We went on board the 14th at night, ant
sailed early the next morning"
"Of August" said Tom, with suddel
alarm. Hold on; where were you Oh
the 17th?'
eve ran into Greenport bay, about
o'clock at night, under the brightes
moon
"You are sure of that date?" querie
Tom earnestly.
"Why, yes. Certainly. What's tn
matter with you?"
This is important. You've made n
mistake?'
mistake, no. Here's my diary wit
the entry. See" and he held it up 70
Tom to read.