The morning call., 1891-07-10


'Poor CharIey!" certainly looked quite
capable of shooting him at that moment
He flushed a little when they passed the
minister with his daughter, closely veileds
by his side. But he asked no questions.
The trial took place at the county seat,
twenty miles from the country nelghoor-
hood where the murder had taken place.
But every one was there. 1t was circum-
stantial, the evidence which convicted poor
worthless Bill Fedden, but terribly pointed
nevertheless.
Charley Chase had gone home alone, or
rather had started alone. He had been shot
in the loDeliest spot in the vicinity, and not
a half mile from the Fedden homestead.
The bullet was evidently from revolver.
of which Bill Fedden owned the sole speci-
men ever brought into the neighborhoOd.
Bills lawyer made strong fight on that
point. The peculiarities sworn to might not
be peculiarities; the ball might have come
from another weapon; other weapons of the
same sort might be owned near by.
But in Il country neighborhood, where men
hunt together in favorable weather. and
gossip about 1t when they cannot hunt,
the lawyer was working against fearful
odds. Everybody knew the ball came from
BilPs revolver, and no rhetoric Orlogic could
shake that conviction. Bill was shown the
ball, and, before the lawyer could shut his
lips, had admitted that it came from his
weapon. His plea that his revolver had
been stolen was considered too trivial to be
seriously entertained. Hired men at the
Fedden farmhouse had seen 1t hanging
against the wall less than twenty-four hours
before the murder. That it was missing
was true. but the fact was not considered
important.
Tom French swore that Fedden was So
Der. 1t was rather remarkable for Bill Fed
den, and the prosecution took some pains to
prove the fact
Len Edwards testified to the intended
threshing.
One man swore to the strange mental state
that made man object to paying bis honest
debts; another to the reckless mood that
lett man careless AS to whether he received
his just dues or not.
The old maid testified to the oath; the
minister to the hurry Fedden was in.
Pearie Bradstreet, who evidently thought
1t sign OF some terrible mood for man to
be indifferent to her, testified to what oc-
CURED between the prisoner and herself. 1t
seemed grand show Tor her; uncharitable
persons said If she had only had man killed
for her sake her measure Of gratifed pride
would be complete.
Bill Feddcn was convicted and sentenced
for life. When asked why Judgment should
not be pronounced against him he simply
denied the murder. What French and Ed
wards and all the rest had testified was true
He had seen Chase kiss Miss Brown. He
had loved Miss Brown. He had hated
revolver had been stolen.
II ever come out of prison / shall come
baek here. And If l come back here the
world shall know l am innocent"
CHAPTER III.
When the old maid who had hoped to
convert Bill had won the minister to her
way OF thinking two years had gone by.
Another year had secured the influence of
two wealthy men. At the end of five years
the Widow Chase herself had signed the
petition Tor the pardon OF the murderer of
her son., The movement grew as time went
on. AT last Governor whose sensibiltirs
could be reached by petition came into
power. Ten years from the month when
Bill Fedden went to prison for life the an-
thorlties came to him one day to tell him he
was free man; not innocent, but par
doned. lie had given 1t up long ago. He
had fought out with himself tile terrible
battle of life-and won peace. He almost
felt that pardon was cruelty. But with the
simple bravery of a man who has nothing
left to hope for, lie went back to the old
home.
There was no one to greet him at the sta
ton that they had now in the little town
which had been country when he went
away. On, the terrible changesl His own
people were gone away years age, no one
knew where. He found his friend, the old
maid, and from her he learned in brief how
the world had gone while the prison walls
mad held him.
Tom French was noted lawyer. Leonard
Edwards was the banker in the little town,
rich and respected. He handled all the
money OF all the residents. Every one
trusted him. Alice Brown had married Ed
wards eight years before. They were child
less. Report said they were not happy.
Pearlle Bradstreet was believed to be thor
oughly and entirely depraved. And so on of
others.
In the evening Fedden went boldly to the
store where he had spent many evenings in
the by-gone years; people looked rather
Queerly at him, but nearly every man pres
ent had signed the petition for his release,
and all gave him sort Of welcome.
There was news to excite comment, uueX-
pected news and SO the expected and dis
cussed and looked-forward-tO return of the
murderer became less important, The news
was that Pearlie Bradstreet had gone; gone
by the train; gone in broad daylight; but
gone with all her belongings; and gone
without word of explanation, SO far as
could be found out, to any one.
we'll watch to see who goes on the train
at midnight. We shall be one man fewer,
as we'll as one woman, in the Ilornng."
At eleven, just as the crowd at the store
were about going home, there was sudden
alarm OF fire. The great mansion belonging
10 Leonard Edwards was burning. By the
time the engines reached 1t, it was beyond
help. Brave men penetrated as far as the
bedroom of Mr.. and Mrs Edwards, and
brought out Mrs. Edwards dead and terribly
burned. The private Office of Leonard Ed
wards, beyond. was simply furnace at that
time.
'If he's in there, he was beyond help long
ago." said fireman.
ITS the work of criminal" said an
other; "the house was fired in score of
places. There are piles of kindling along
the hall above not entirely gone yet 1t
means robbery and murder"
No one could accuse Bill Feddan. how
ever, for all knew where lie had spent the
evening.
No one went on the midnight train, so re-
ported the man who had gone from the fire
purposely to watch.
Something had detained Pearlie Brad
streets lover" he said.
Something had.
CHAPTER ".
The next morning the authorities and
chief citizens went together from the pile of
ruins which had been the home of the
| no nFNh -lara H..