The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-14

But doctors differed AS TO what instrument
was likely 10 effect its purpose In the pc
cnliar way manifest 1t seemed that no
likely to come from this direction.
Another moot point was the possible mo-
tive for the crime. Its two victims were
respectable old women. little likely to pro-
woke enmity OF the violent kind. The mo-
tive could scarcely be plumber, for nothing
In the house had been removed or even
tempered with. Spoonsand other silver ta-
Bile articles lay on the kitchen dresser. just
in the order In which the housekeeper her
self had evidently arranged them. Also.
there was large sum of money on the
siderable house property in ", and as 1t
was just after quarter day his recent re-
ceipts had been large, and he had
delayed to bank them, fact which
by many people fSis money s was fep. IN
an Old-fashioned bureau at the back OF Mr.
Miidon's room. 1t was found intact, and
the old gentleman himself conld testify
that there had been no attempt on the part
of any stranger to enter his apartment. If
any body had entered the honse with this
object. why had they not effected It'll The
crippled valid upstairs would have been
more easily disposed of than the old
woman below. One detective suggested
that the old gentleman had never left his
chair by the window. whence any deed OF
violence might have been seen By passers-
by. But another replied that such q MUIR
derer as this would scarcely have been de-
sounds on the stair head would certainly
have easily decoyed the old man to the
door of the apartment
Gentlemen" said the younger Mr.. Mil
don. "the great question is: Who rang the
bellY'
Among the detectives and legal function
aries who met in conclave with the very
few witnesses who had any testimony TO
offer. there was one young man who fi!led
such o subordinate place that he had
scarcely any right TO speak In the councils
of his seniors and superiors and certainly
he received very little encouragement
when he ventured to suggest that he had
his own doubts as tn the innocence OF
young Mr.. Mildon himself.
The others scorned him. Had not young
Mildon como upon the scene of his own free
will and volunteered q statement which
set him in the line of suspicion. He
could scarcely help that" murmured he of
the doub BITS; "for, even if his uncle had for
would have been found In the house and he
would have been called upon to account
for It,"
1t was further urged that the singular
absence of apparent motive became. in the
case of young Mildon, an absence of all
motive whatever. He, of oil people. was
most likely to know of the money his uncle
had in the house. and where he kept 1t; yet
he had certainly been in the old gentleman's
room, everything there had been at his
mercy, and still the invalid was safe and
his store Intact. To these pleas the young
man. w HON We will call Talford, could find
no answer; yet he did notsay he surrendered
his suspicious. He was sllenced but not
convinced.
Months passed on, and the great crime
committed IN the little house in u
seemed likely to be relegated to the list of
unsolved mysteries. Talford himself had
ceased To take any active interest In the
matter; and the impression which had once
been so strong upon his mind was wearing
faint. so that probably in time, he himself
wonld have grown increduIous oft.
This Mr.. Talford had q watch which gave
him q good deal of trouble. and at last he
took it To q friendly shopkeeper. a skillful
mechanIcian, who. he thought. might cure
its alterations. The man looked at 1t care
fully-said he thought he saw what was
wrong-a rather peculiar defect-and pro-
cee'ied to rummsge In drawer for tool
he needed to remedy it. He did not readily
find It, and summoned his wife to his aid.
While they were looking for this minor I'M
plement he remarked by the way that he
and not see his best hammer either. Tai
ford. Who as shading idly by, was aroused
by the woman's answer, which came In the
form of this inquiry
"Have you ever had it since you lent it to
Young Mr.. Mildonf
Her husband thought not now he came
conversation: what was the hammer
IikeW
"Oh. not an ordinary hammer-a watch
makers hammer-like this" and the shop
keeper produced tool which Talford saw
at once seemed we'll adapted to produce
those fatal and peculiar wounds which had
aroused SO much speculation.
do you use these tools muchi" he asked
carelessly.
Not very much, or should have missed
kaa an IL
nearly year sinceI lent it TO Mr.. Mildon."
That signified that 1t had been in his
possession for some timo before the MUIR
ders.
keeper and fastened away. His old i'm
preston was now as vivid IS ever. and he
had something more tangible to back it,
He was resolved on bold stroke. He
would take counsel with nobody, but
would venture agreat deal and win or lose
ali.
He put q pair of handouts in his pocket
piece of important business. They werded
their way to the street where the younger
Mr.. Mildon lived in lodgings. which he had
occupied for long time. Talford left his
comrade Co wait On the pavement and re-
paired To the house alone.
WAS Mr.. Mildon at homef" he asked of
the woman who opened the door. Yes, he
was at home, In his own room. Then the
visitor would 60 to him there; he need not
be announced; when Mr.. Mildon saw him
he would understand.
Young Mildon rose from his writing desk
on the entrance OF his unexpected Ruest.
His face was perfectly unconscious, with
out either surprise or alarm. For one mo-
ment the two men looked at each other in
silence. If Talfords conviction wavered,
certainly his determinati did not.
Laying the "darbies" on the able he said:
Mr.. Mildon, am prepared for violence,
but you will obllge me If you will quietly
produce the watch makers hammer with
which you murdered your uncles house
keeper and her friend"
Whether il was the sudden revelation of
the discovery of the m uch- debated weapon
or Or idea that TalfOrd would never have
acted as he did without some strong evil
dence to Justify him cannot be explained.
But young Mildon, without u word of pro-
test. turned on his heel. went to a chest of
drawers. unlocked one and displayed to
Talford the terrible instruments. 1t lay
among his handkerchiefs and neckties. He
had never even cleaned 1t. Dry blood WAS
on 1t. and there were one OF two adherin z
hairs. Yet. what seemed such an inter care
lessncss had come nearer to achieving Sc
curity than any amount of restless precau-
ton might have done.
The whole of Charles Mildon's oriQina al
account was proved to be perfectly true.
He had only omitted it's most i'm por tant
parts.
1t was true that the old housekeeper had
admitted him and that she had appeared
just as usual.
He had omitted to say that he had in
stantly felled her to the ground with blow
which needed no repetition. That he had
next been startled by the appearance of an
other old woman, coming up tho kitchen
ar nm hof In had