Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-04-07
Look here. sir.

II Lne ponce sergeant anticipated that
Stuart would reeol and manifest all the
terror of guilt at the sight Of the dead
face of John Oakburn, he was greatly
disappointed.
Such was not the result.
Stuart gazed sadly upon the CHASTITY
features of the old cashier, and not the
faintest evidence, such as the police ser
geant hoped TO elicit, was discernible in
his manner.
This is a foul crime. The murderer
must be discovered. Poor John Oak
burn must be avenged" said Stuart,
earnestly.
His voice and manner were so natur-
ally sincere that those who heard him
were impressed.
Even the Coroner voice sounded more
kindly as he proceeded TO question Stu
art, when it was quite evident to all that
the police sergeant's ancient test had
utterly failed
AT what time did you leave the
house last night, Mr.. Harland?" was the
first question prOpounded by the Cor
oner.
1T was not quite one O'Clock. had
1 set my alarm-clOck to ring at one pre-
cisely, and without removing my cloth
| ing, 1 fell asleep. was awakened by
some loud noise, though what it was I
cannot tell. Springing up, I glanced at
the clock, and I saw it was exactly twenty
minutes of one o'clock. left the house
in few minutes"
~Ahi he confesses he was in the house
at the time Of the murder. He does not
know about the clock that was overturned
here, and that the time Of the assassina-
ton has been positively determined,
whispered the police sergeant, turning
to Paxton.
Wait until the examination is con-
! cluded-restrain your exultatiOn until
then, retorted the detective.
| Why did you leave suddenly last
night, as you did?" the Coroner then
asked.
away by important business; I was on
my way to see a friend of mine"
But you have not told us what the
nature OF your business was.
1t was a strictly private matter. 1t
had no reference to this unfortunate
affair"
Perhaps so. But you can at least
tell US your friends name?"
Stuart hesitated for a moment, and
then he said:
His name is James Sanborn."
At the mention Of that name, Mr.. Gar
rison gave a violent start and he thought:
| There is no longer a shadow OF
doubt. Stuart knows all, but he means
TO shield me. 1t is because am Edna's
father. For my daughters sake, he Will
/ imperil himself rather than reveal the
truth. He is a noble fellow. How IN
worthy am of such friendship as hist"
Then you decline to give US plain,
straightforward explanation of your con-
duet. I warn you, Mr.. Harland, that
your own interest demands that you
should conceal nothing" said the COro-
ner.
I can say no more; another than my
self is concerned, replied Stuart.
Very well, sir; Mr.. Sanborn, the gen
tleman with whom you say you had bust
ness, shall be questioned"
Stuart bit his lips. Mr.. Garrison
turned white as death, and the Coroner
smiled at his victims discontinue as he
said blandly:
You had not thought Of that, I see. "
Stuart's eyes blazed with widespread
| light, but he restrained the angry retOrt
that arose to his lips and remained
silent.
The Coroner questioned Stuart further,
but nothing worthy of note was ELECTED.
Stuart adhered determinedly to the
policy which he had adopted, and he
could not be induced to reveal what the
motive of the midnight journey was.
Paxton regarded the course of the
suspected man as absolutely suicidal.
He is endangering his life" he said
TO Mr.. Garrison.
He knew now that if he advised Stu
art Harland to tell the whole truth, he
would advise his own exposure. He
could not make that sacrifice, for his
was not the noble, heroic character
which the Creator had given Stuart
Harland.
The agitation and excitement of the
broker had awakened a vague suspicion
in the mind of the detective that per-
L.
would have dared to confess about the
business which had called Stuart Har-
land away on the night of the murder.
| PaxtOns mind was filled with sur
misses and cOnjectures, but the widest
of them all fell far short of the startling
truth which future developments were
destined TO reveal.
Jason Garrison knew that his daugh-
ter's life was bound up with that of the
man who was imperiling himself for his
sake, and as he reflected that if Stuart
was sacrificed Edna would not survive
the blow, his torture was inexpreSsible.
Marion Oakburn had listened TO Stu
art Harland's examination with the
deepest interest, and as she cOmpre-
hended that the suspicion against him
seemed destined TO bring him into
deadly peril, although they had hereto
fore been but passing acquaintances
she felt that the strands OF their lives
which led into the unexplOred future
had been woven together by a mystic
fatality without the knowledge of either
The cashiers daughter was not &
fatalist; but she could not think that the
singular combination OF events which
had recently transpired had come about
by mere chance.
In view of all the circumstances oi
this case, I order that Stuart Harland bt
searched.
-Of1ieer Smith, you will attend to this
matter" said the coroner, addressing
the police sergeant.
A hot flush mantled Stuart Harland'
face.
What Am I to be subjected to this
indignity, as though I were a common
thief he exclaimed.
Justice is no respeeter of persons. In
quest of truth, she seeks for informa-
ton everywhere. If need be, she enters
the sacred precincts of the elOister. Nc
man is exempt from her search, an
swered the coroner, impressively.
$50 be it then. Let this farce con-
tinue to the end and he bowed his
head.
The officer named came forward and
proceeded to search him
| He first examined Stuart's overcoat
. pockets, and Stuart assisted him, saying
confidently:
You will find nothing to reward you.
we shall see,n answered Police Ser
geant Smith, grufly.
Presently, the officer thrust his hand in
to the inside pocket of the young man 6
overcoat and drew out a number of Wa1
impressions Of locks and skeleton keys
/ He held them up TO the sight OF all
I exclaiming:
t I thought so. Here is the proof We
We're in search of"
Stuart Harland staggered like one sud