The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-24

AS walked out / saw man, in his
shirt sleeves, bareheaded, sitting at the
far end, with his feet on the railing.
He gave an involuntary start at my
approach.
'Ahv' he said, with something like
sigh, ''out for breath of fresh air, Ell?
1t was so plagued hot in the house, I
thought I'd try it out here myself"
do not know that the mans manner
would have impressed me if had not
seen him in his shirt sleeves; but put
ting this and that together-the way he
started at my approach-his nervous,
jerky manner of speaking, and then
his being in his shirt sleeves-but
pshaw! l wore no coat myself. Who
could on such burning July night?
1 do not know whether fate or prov
idence led me to this man, but I do
with him made me suspect that he
knew something about the murder of
that poor woman whose body 1 had seen
on that memorable morning by the
roadside.
l naturally led the conversation to
the murder. He did not seem inclined
to talk of it, and soon changed the sub
ject.
But brought him back to it by easy
stages, until at last, with gesture of
Impotence, he said: 81 don't care to
talk about it; the authorities are at
work on the case and 1 guess they'll
ferret out the murderer in time"
The best detectives sometimes blunder
In their work. l was an amateur in the
business; hence my great confidence in
my theories. "a tall man," the woman
had said. Here was tall man. A tuft
of coarse black hair clutched in the
dead woman's palm. My friend in his
shirt sleeves had just such hair. These
were the mental notes 1 made while /
was talking with him there on the
balcony.
"Are you stranger here?" asked.
"Not exactly" he replied, 'Pve been
in business here little more than
three months. I'm surveyor"
We parted for the night. and before
returned l decided to dismiss my fool
ish impression of the man and turn my
attention to other matters.
But could not quite rid my mind of
the idea that in some way or other he
was connected with that murder.
In the morning, after breakfast, he
walked across the street to the post
Office in his shirt-sleeves and got his
mail.
1 saw him dozen times that day-al-
ways in his shirt-s.eeves. All that
week, whenever I met the man, he was
coatless. 1t seemed to be his habit to
60 that way.
was strangely attracted to him, and
the more l thought of him, the more
felt convinced that he knew something
about the murder.
He said he was surveyor. Perhaps
that was the reason he took long walks
every afternoon? I had seen him in
the park dozen times; but he seldom
wore his coat.
I sought the colored woman who had
testified at the inquest If she saw that
man in the park again, would she be
able to recognize him?
She thought she would, if she could
see him staIding in the same position.
slipped a ive-dollar bill in her hand,
enjoined hel to secrecy and obtained
her promise to be in the park every
evening after that until she met the
man.
The next day, at twilight, 1 saw a
man standing in the park with his coat
on his arm. In his hand he held heavy
cane, and seemed to be plating
some object in the distance.
While he was in this position the
woman, true to her promise, passed hur-
riedly by, keeping her eyes fixed on him
as she went.
l followed her, and when we were
we'll out of hearing she stopped and
said:
Before God, 1 think its the man !
saw with Mars Huntley. / know him
by his shape!'
was wild with excitement. ''Do not
breathe word of this to any one," was
nv caution to the women as l hurried
to the mayors Office.
'Impossible!' he exclaimed, when
laid the story before him. ''That is
Captain Carlton, a surveyor, whose
character is beyond reproach. 1t is
true he paid the dead woman some at
tention. but"
1 interrupted him with an impatient
gesture. You are bound to take this
woman's testimony" said, land place
this captain under arrest. 1t matters
not what his character may be. The
woman says he is the manP
The marshal was called in. ''Find
Captain Carlton" said the mayor, 'and
tell him I wish to see him Immediately
on business"
1t was, perhaps, full half hour be
fore the captain put in an appearance
and when he did. the mayor did no
know what to say to him.
SWELL" he said, with an inquiring
! look, "what can do for you?"
, The mayor said nothing, but looked
appealingly at me. -.
, 1--WE should send for the woman"
, said.
ssWhat woman?" asked Carlton, ex
, citedly.
ssWhy, captain" said the mayor. in {
nervous voice, ''there is a woman here
, who says that she saw you with Mrs
1 Huntley-"
The man started at the name, and
, faint pallor overspread his face. which
soon changed to an indignant red. ID
did not wait for the mayor to finish thu
sentence. but stamping his foot furious
: ~. exclaimed:
ut is a liza black lie; and III
strike the man or woman dead who say
it!''
ssDon't commit another murder, car
: tain" said, placing my hand on M
pistol, ST accuse you of the crimeP'