Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-01-29
AVENGED AT LAST;
Or, a Worldwide Chase.
A STORY OF RETRIBUTION.
BY "AR ASH"
ICoPYRIGHT, 1901
CHAPTER V.

with Percy Lowell and ascertain what
that young man knew about the many
transactions which had taken place be-
tween Velasquez and Crandau.
Sometimes the young Englishman
got very communicative for he was
naturally free open-hearted sort of a
fellow, not more than twenty-seven
years of age, or whereabouts.
Wilcox liked him so we'll that he
asked Lowell to give him a little of his
history. Said Lovel: IF tell you my
| history you may not think so well of
me after you hear it as you do now"
''Oh, 1 dare say, like most young men
who drift to Frisco, you have led a
kinder wild life, but it is evident you
were primed with pretty good educa-
| ton before you started in on it, was the
response.
Yes" said the Englishman, Il sup
pose that's so, and since l left Oxford |
have seen life through the kaleidoscope
| of many prOmiscuous journeyings. left
| home before l was twenty, got through
good pile of money in Paris and Brus-
sells and then suddenly found myself in
| New York. played the races, gambled
and knocked around from one job to
another and altogether led Bohemian
| life. But | feel like SOLDERING up now;
| it isn't necessary for follow to be a vag-
abond all his life, and I'm ready for the
! change. 1t isn't more than three weeks
since l handled the chips for the last
time, but have done with it for keeps.
| BY the way, the very last game / sat
| down to vas in the same room that NelaS-
| quez frequented and he dropped over five
| thousand dollars that night. 1t was the
same evening he sold the mining stock.
He Gften used to come to that den, and
some of the boys there know a good
deal about him, but l very much ques-
ton whether any of them would tell
you much"
Good" remarked Lovers newly
found friend, I'm glad to hear that
your,aro tired of your wild life, and,
what's more, l believe you. So from
now on you will please consider yourself
private secretary to Joel Wilcox. /
never did put on airs before, but
guess ] amt too old to begin. Is it
go?"
''Why, you astonish me, Mr.. Wilcox;
but 1 will try to deserve your conf
dence."
''All right; l count myself a pretty
good Judge of man when l see one, and
l think that so far as l am concerned, l
am safe in engaging you for an unlimit-
ed period; the salary question we can
settle as we go along" added Wilcox in
jovial manner.
But what he continued, was that
you said about Velasquez being known
by the boys in the gambling house?"
Percy then repeated what he had al
/ 81
that the knowledge might be useful in
hunting down the rascal.
As both Mr.. Wilcox and the English
man We're good takers the conversation
was kept up in lively manner, and it
was not long before Wilcox knew all
about Percy from his childhood up.
AS the train pulled up at San Paola
Mr.. Wilcox said: ''Ah! guess, my boy,
you've been more of fool than an in
territorial scamp"
The remark was full of truth, for
Percy Lowell was never really bad, only
one of those lads so especially common
among the better English classes who
become utterly reckless in the eager
pursuit of folly as it flies Yet
through all his ups and downs he was
nonchalant, easy-tempered and cool as
an iced cucumber. Always he could
find time to part his hair in the right
place, no matter if the house was on
fire; but he could also be relied upon
to reach the outside safely. And no
matter where or how deep he would
sink in life's turbulent waters, he in
variably came to the top again smiling.
Always philosophically contented, he
never lost his temper or became unduly
excited, and after a varied experience
covering a range of occupations from
Spectator to book-canvasser, be fiOated
into Crandall e Co.'S office, and from
there, as we have seen, to his present
position. And this last move was to
change the whole course of his life.
When Joel Wilcox went to bed that
night he felt certain that Anton Roy
mans release was near at hand. He was
now entirely confident that Velasquez
had murdered Delaro. but he was not
the man to act rashly or with undue
haste.
So he concluded to sleep on his recent
discoveries, and make disclosures later.
Next morning he and Percy Lowell
started over to see Mrs. Delaro. She |
met them at the door and said: ''Ohi |
Mr.. Wilcox, I'm so glad you have come.
Something of great Importance has
TRANSFERRED"
They walked into the house and into |
the library. where Mr.. Wilcox was as
tonished to see one of the workmen |
from the cellars seated. The door was |
closed, but, at Mr.. Wilcox's request. |
Lowell was allowed to remain in the |
room.
This man." said the unhappy widow, |
has brought something here which
will probably prove beyond a doubt who
it was that killed my dear husband.
Yesterday one of this mans boys was
bathing in the stream which flows at
the foot of the hill yonder," said the
lady, pointing from the window as she
spoke, land, in diving to pick objects
from the mud in the bottom of the
river, found this weapon"
Here Mrs. Delaro produced an ivory
handled stiletto upon the handle of
which was carved the initials Il. W
Great guns" exclaimed Wilcox,
1--WE shall prove that snake guilty SOON
er than l expected"
Then a long conversation ensued and
the workman was asked to repeat his
story to Wilcox, and so much cngrOSSed
did every body become in the recitation
that in the excitement of the hour it
was forgotten that Lowell had not been
But Mr.. Wilcox soon made amends