Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-05-26
CHAPTER XIX.

The detective halted, because at that
moment he saw the rag-picker draw a
pair Of boots out of the ash barrel.
He instantly thought of the tracks he
had found under the window of Carl
sons office.
AS the rag-picker drew up the boots,
Paxton sprang to his side.
The Italian-for such he was-evi-
IDENTIFY fancied he was about to be robbed
of his prize, for he clutched the old boots
tightly in one hand, while he brandished
his iron hook in the other, menacingly,
as the other came up.
Me find a the boot, me keepa, the
rag-picker said.
Precisely so, my friend. You will
sell the boots, thought" said Paxton.
Me sell a. You give a the mon.
Here is half dollar"
You take a the bOota."
The exchange was made in a moment.
Paxton would cheerfully have given a
much larger price for those well-nigh
worthless old boots, for as the italian
held them up, he had caught a glimpse
of those soles.
He had observed that the soles of the
boots were encircled by double rows of
nails in a peculiar manner, and he be-
lieved he had discovered the boots which
had made the imprints on the earth IN
der the window of Jason Garrison 3
office.
Paxton took the boot which had thus
fallen into his possession to his Office,
and upon testing them, he found that
his superstition was correct.
The boots were perfect fit for his
casts, and the rows Of nails were the
same in both casts and boots.
OF course the presumption was, that
the boots had belonged to Kredge. But
regarding this point the detective de-
sired to positively convince himself.
Paxton called upon the landlady of
Kredge's late boarding house, and from
/ having seen them in his room, a cham
/ bermaid identified the boots as belong
I ing to Levi Kredge.
This sufficed to prove, to the detec-
/ tive's entire satisfaction, that Levi
Kredge entered the Office of Jason Gar
rison on the night of John Oakburn' 3
murder, through the rear window.
But meanwhile the trial of Stuart
Harland was concluded.
All that men could accomplish in be-
I half of the accused had been done by
I his attorney and friends.
The result was averiieatiOn of Lawyer
! SaybroOk's prediction.
The jury had failed to agree.
They were discharged, and Stuart
/ Harland was remanded to prison 10
await the process Of the law.
In his case, new trial would now be
l necessary.
But Harland was not destined to re-
main in prison until he was again placed
! on trial for his life.
The young man was admitted to bail
/ in the sum of twenty thousand dollars.
I His wealthy aunt became his security,
and signed his bail bond.
] Edna Garrison, and Stuarts friends,
] u-h. had LETT 5nr-IWr cd "a
were reioiced at the result of the trial.
But Stuart was himself detected and
/ gloomy.
He was aware that public sentiment
was against him, and he felt that he
could enjoy no rest or peace of mind
while the awful shadow Of doubt rested
upon him.
After his release. Stuart called upon
Paxton.
The detective received Harland very
cordially. and the latter said very alb
ruptly:
Paxton; am determined to take q
part in the work you have undertaken
Tor my salvation Tell me how TO helI
you. I must do something.
I understand how you feel, and
honor you for your inability to res
while others ars labOring to unearth the
| mystery in the solution of which Vol
have a vital interest But you are &
novice in the business. answered Pax
ton.
But I have an interest to work al
no other man can feel bound to.
True. And you would be more likely
than any one else to recognize the mar
who exchanged overcoats with you, ever
II he were disguised You might under.
take a search for the villain on your Owl
account Chance may favor you, saiC
i Paxton.
! BE saw that the young man was in