Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-05-12


did not share the detectives excite
ment, and he very deliberately read the
following memorandum from his order
book:
May sth. IS.
John Oakburn, No Wall Street, CITY
One ancient air pistol S.
To be delivered to-day.
The name Of the murdered man was
the very last one the detective antici-
pated hearing announced as that OF the
purchaser of the air pistol, and he was
completely surprised.
Paxton had entertained the hope that
the fatal bullet which had oceasioned
the death of John Oakburn would serve
as an important clue in tracing the un-
fortunate mans assassin.
From the first it had been the de-
tective's purpose to trace the weapon
Of death to the assassin, by means of
the bullet.
Now the purpose Of the man-trailer
was no longer possible TO be executed, /
and the hope which the possession of
the death-missile had given him was de-
stroyed.
SO John Oakburn was murdered with
his own weapon. The assassin probably
found the weapon in the office and used
it to kill Oakburn, very possibly, with
the intention OF perplexing the inves-
tigator, should the weapon be traced"
thought the detective.
He recalled to mind the fact that no
one had mentioned having ever seen
such weapon as the air-pistOl in the
possession of John Oakburn, and as a
new idea entered his mind he cried:
I have it! The strange weapon with
which Oakburn was murdered formed
one of his collection of curious, ancient
weapons.
THE assassin had opened the old cash
ier's little safe, robbed it, and secured
the air-pistOl when he heard Oakburn
coming. The wretch had discovered that
the pistol was loaded and ready for use.
He used it to kill his victim because it
made no sound"
Paxton was satisfied with this theory.
On this very evening, while Paxton
was visiting the curiosity shop, Levi
Kredge was on his way to visit his sister.
The treacherous scoundrel had taken
the alarm, and he was thoroughly on his
guard.
From the evening when Paxton had
Swallowed him to the office of Pratt 4
Weeks, Levi Kredge had experienced
the keenest anxiety for his personal
safety.
They are on my traill Do they sus-
pect the TRUTH" he asked himself over
and over again.
For the present he did not visit Pratt
& Weeks, for the willy brokers had in
structed him not to do so.
Levi Kredge met his sister in the rear
of Garrison's Office by appointment, and
the moment Judith saw his face she
knew that he was troubled.
What is it Levi; you look frightened"
said Judith.
I am frightened, Judith; the detect
ives are shadowing me day and night.
rs that fact" cried Judith, start
ing.
pieion against me-
What do you fearI"
You know well enough, I fear shall
be charged with John Oakburn's muir
der"
THAT should not alarm you. You
| didn't kill the old man."
NO, that's a fact. But there are cir
eumstances against me, Judith, of which
| you do not know"
All, you have secrets from your af-
| fectionate sister, eh?"
I tell you fear 1 shall yet be placed
in peril of my life, on account of John
| Oakburn's murder"
If it comes to that, I'll save you. I'll
/ point out the real assassin, and prove
that persons guilt.
After this, they conversed at some
/ length, but they discussed personal af-
/ fairs, of no interest to our readers.
PaxtOn's faithful auxiliary, whose duty
it was to track Kredge, overheard this
conversation, for he had not neglected
to track the janitOr on this occasion.
The detective agent repeated what he
had overheard of the conversation just
recorded to his principal.
This intelligence seemed, at the first
view, to overthrow the detectives
theory of the guilt of Kredge. But
Paxton was not yet ready to admit that
| Kredge was not the assassin or his ac-
complete, and he thought:
-Kredge may have been concerned in
the crime, and Judith be ignorant of the
fact
One point, however, seemed estab-
/ lished. Judith Kredge was sincere in
/ believing she could produce enough to
procure the conviction Of some one, who
was not Stuart Harland.
The perplexing complications and
/ mysteries with which the case abounded
would have confused a professional,
but Paxton saw his way clear. His next
| step was indicated by the intelligence
he had just received.
Judith Kredge must be compelled to
reveal the knowledge OF the crime which
/ she was concealing.
To accomplish this, Paxton resolved
/ to arrest Levi Kredge and charge him
with John Oakburn's murder.
He meant to thoroughly frighten
Kredge, and lead them to believe that
/
/ assassin, was imminent, and he counted
/ on Judith keeping her promise and re-
vealing what she claimed to know,
thinking only by such a course could
/ Levi be saved
But meanwhile, during the time Oecu-
pied by Paxton in making the investga-
tons recorded, the Grand Jury had held
a session. Stuart Harland's case had
been considered, and true bill was re-
| turned against him.
Stuart Harland had endured his i'm
/ prisOnment bravely.
Edna Garrison was an almost con-
slant visitor to his cell, and the imper-
| lied young man was cheered and sus-
tanned by her unfailing devotion.
Harland's attorney was a shrewd and
| successful criminal lawyer, and when
Stuart had positively answered him
that the real truth regarding the motive
for his visit 70 Albany on the night OF
the crime could not be. told under any
| circumstances. he said:
I viii not question your motive, but
We must invent some plausible defense
or you are lost.