The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-18

asHe q va ~ NV
injured man. His gold watch and chain
were still about him., but the pocket-book
and the ten five-pound notes were missing:
The police had at once communicated
with the bank and Obtained the numbers
OF the notes. The numbers were published
in the papers in order that. should any per-
son attempt TO pass one. the police might
be instantly communicated with. They
ran from BL "A. $50 to BL "A. s95 inclusive.
John Aiister read the account OF the ont
rage through and put the paper down. be
remembered the note he had just received
from Lillian Wilson. Smiling to himself AZ
the absurdity OF the idea that IL would
have anything to do with the crime he
drew IL from his pocket and just out OF
mere idle curiosity looked at the number
printed on 1t.
With an exclamation of horror he let the
note fall on his lap. The number OF the
note in his possession was BL 74,oS9 1t
was one of the notes which had been stolen
by the person who had left Mr.. Solomon
Turner for dead.
1t took John Alister q minute or two to
realize the situation. Then be burst into
profuse preparation. He had in his pocket
anote which was q cIew to q murderous
outrage-perhaps q murder; for. according
TO the report. the old gentleman's life was
despaIred of.
with the note TO Scotland Yard and explain
how IL came into his possession. Forum
ately he had Lillian Wilson's note to prove
the truth of his statement.
no oxdmlutu the letter CLOSELY luo
letter had been posted that day and had
arrived by the last delivery.
1t was posted this afternoon" he said to
, himself. The girl must have received IL
from some one this mOrnlng-poesibly from
the murderer
John AiIster began to feel very uncom-
Portable. In the first place, he didn't want
the story of his lending O liver to q girl In
Piccadllly to get into the papers; and IN
the second place he had an idea that his
information to the police would drag this
girl into the affair in a very unpleasant
manner.
Lillian Wilson had any guilty knowledge of
the real ownership of the note she had sent
him.
II can't help the consequences" he said
to himself. Il muet go to Scotland lard at
once and make q clean breast of every
thing"
John Alister, as soon as he had thor
oughly mad up his mind What he ought to
do. felt that he ought to do it at once.
He wonld have preferred to "sleep on it,"
to put the business of until the morning:
but he felt that by so doing ne might be
aiding o criminals escape from justice.
His "clew" might be Invaluable TO the po-
lice at the present moment.
He pulled himself together and ordered
the waiter to bring him q liquor-giass of
brandy. He wanted to steady his nerves
q little before undergoing the ordeal of
Scotland Yard.
Al liz - lOI ~ OLaIdt y
waiter came IN with q message from the
hall porter. A young lady had left o note
for MIR. Alister. and wished to know if he
was IN the club.
was from Lillian Wilson: "Sir-Will you
see me at oncef / am outside the club. 1t
is . matter of life and death"
My God. Then she knows about the
murder" he thought. And, putting on his
hat. be went ont INTO the street.
The girl to whom he had lent the note
was standing In the shadow. q little way
from the club entrance. She saw him come
out, and walked toward him at once.
Directly she came into the light Of the
lamp he saw that her face was deathly pale,
and her eyes red with weeping.
Mr.. Alister." exclaimed the girl. before
he had time to sag O word. "you won't mind
my sending for you like this; but | want to
see You about neutrality-suspicious. very
terrible"
Il can guess what 1t is" replied Ais
ter. Il have compared the number of the
note you sent me to-day with the mum bers
mentioned in the account of the outrage on
the railway"
Have vou7" cried the girl. Then you
know"
THAT is one of the missing notice. But
come, i am sure You are not directly con-
cerned in this terrible business. Tell me.
how do you come to know that 1t is one of
themf Young ladies are not in the habit of
taking the number of q note before they
Il know it is one of them,n said the girl.
because | have the others. SeeI" she ex-
claimed, drawing an envelope from her
pocket. and taking ont number of folded
notes, here are all the missing notes, will
the exception of the one l sent you this
afternoon"
John Alister was completely taken aback.
How did this girl, who not long ago had
asked him for her fare in Piccadilly, come
to be possessed of ESQ, and of ESQ in bank
notes which had been stolen from the vic
tim of an attempted murderf
Allster hesitated before he replied. His
first idea was that he ought at once to call
q policeman; but he felt that the girl w as
acting fairly by him and concealing MOTH
ing. She bad come to him of her own free
will, and she had made no concealment of
the possession of the stolen property.
my dear cir" he said. presently, this is
q very serious affair. You must 90 TO the
authorities ana tell them all you know. OF
course. you nave come by these notes inno-
Gently enough; but they are q most impor-
tant clew to the discovery of the man who
committed the crime. / don't want to ask
you any impertinent questions. but You'll
have to say from whom you obtained these
notes.
THAT'S the worst of it," answered the
girl. her eyes filling with tears. Il don't
want TO do that. | can't: and i came to
see you tonight. hoping l would be able
TO stop your going TO the police, and say
ing how you got thei note IN your posses
sion.n
Good heavens.7 exclaimed John Alister.
lyon mustn't talk to me like that. You
cannot expect that / shall help you to keep
matter like this secret. Why. it's assist
ing a murderer"
"But if you know all. If / tell You all"
my good girl, | am quite willing to be-
heve that ron are innocent of any evil in
tention in the matter, but, after ell, You
are q perfect stranger to me. / know moth
ing about you except that / met you in
Piccadilly Circus and gave you f5."
mo You lent me f5. and j have hon.
estly returned It TO you"
That's true, but the note you send me
ia part of the proceeds of a robbery, a rob-
y berry committed with murderous violence,
"Weil,n said the girl. brushing her tears
away, and hardening her face. lat any
rate / am here, and / have shown you the
notes. have concealed nothing. You
have me In your power. You can seize nv
arm and call a policeman. Will you hear
what have to say before you decide what
you will dof'
"Yes, | don't think | can be dong any
harm. But / don't think anything you can
say will induce me TO alter my mind"
Hear what | have 10 say first. Then,
when i have told you. you can decide. Ii
is not very much l am going 10 ask you,
See. here are the notes; take them"
she handed over the envelope with the
notes in il to Alister. He put the packet
in his pocket.
Vow she said. you have all the notes
To-morrow you can take them to Scotland
Yard. wan5you to take them tomorrow
but not tonight
"Wby not to-night"
!, sBecause / don't want TO be hunted dowr
tonight. don't want to be traced by the