The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-01

Lester and / sailed out with our
cameras, for no other purpose than
to secure a half dozen snap shots when
ever desirable ones might present them
selves.
1t was an ideal day for picture TAX
ing. Rain had fallen the night before
and had left the atmosphere clear
land brilliant, with none Of that dim
haze which is the camerist's Nemesis
SO often.
We had strolled along the road, per
haps two miles out OF the village, and
had caught three or four very pretty
views.
None had presented themselves, how
ever, for some time, when, by turn of
the road, we came upon a man drink
ing from = spring at the side of the
road. He was but few feet away,
and was stopping down with his back
toward u.s.
Lets get him." said l, in low tone.
"All right" replied Lester: you DO
It, though. I've only got one plate
left"
/ had several unexposed plates re-
naming in my camera, SO | pointed the
box toward the nan and pressed the
button. just at the instant when the
shutter must have operated, the man
heard us and turned his head, facing US
squarely.
He evidently understood what we
were about, for he scowlcd deeply and
walked rapidly away through the
J 1,.;eI,1,,+ -
modest as. He carried small black
/ grip with him.
As the mans retreating figure disap-
peared through the trees, Lester and /
! drew long breath of relief, for we
felt like criminals detected in crime,
and ws were trife afraid Of the fell
! low besides.
! We wandered on a little further,
swapping few more wayside pictures,
and then turned toward home and re-
| traced our steps
That afternoon Lester came over to
/ my fathers house to witness the devel-
/ opment Of the mornings pictures.
As, one by one, We put the plates
through the developer, majority came
l
| der-exposed and there were minor de-
fects in others; but, on the whole, they
were very good
The star negative OF the lot, however,
was that of the stranger whom l had
photographed drinking, and who had
turned his head and caught me in the
act. That was perfect. Everything
was brilliantly sharp, and the shutter
had caught the mans full face. In the
| negative, even so small an object rs
his eyes stood out beautifully.
We made a blue print Of this mega
tive, and both Lester and myself rec
ognized the faithfulntss of the likeness,
notwithstanding the fact that we had
seen the man but moment
About the middle of the afternoon
my father returned from the neigh Dor
ing town, ten miles away, in one of
the banks of which he was clerk He
seemed to be much excited and per-
turbed about something. Ny mother
noticed it also. and immediately in
quired as 20 the cause of his uneasiness.
The bank was robbed last night"
he answered, land over fifty thousand
dollars stolen. Every cent had in the
world is gone with the rest"
My mother made an exclamation Of
6isnav.
And the worst Of Il is. ~ went on NV
father, that we are almost certain
who the thief is, but we haven't thing
in the world TO trace HIN bv-not a
vestigc of a photograph or anything
like it, which we could give to de-
tectives TO guide them In the hunt. The
mans goue and the money with him"
And my father sank despondently
into a chair.
Meanwhile Lester and I stood BY.
listening silently, the still wet blue
print in my hand. After a minute
went and pressed the print out fat
upon the table, on which my fathers
arm was leaning. A; any other time l
would have proudly exhibited it to him.
and would have been sure of his inter
est and appreciation, but | did not feel
like ,n,raGiug upon his present wo-ri-
mcut-
As l laid the picture face upward
upon the table, my father turned his
hcei and looked at it indiffereutly.
Suddenly he pushed 1ne aside and bent
over the print so closely that his face
almost touched IL
/ recovered nv balance With difficult
", and stared at HIM in frightened be-
wildermeat Nv father had never act
Ell in this manner before. and I was a.
most afraid he lad gone mad.
Greet Scott" he exclaimed The
very Thing"
Then, wheeling around. he Crasped
me By the shoulders, ana wanted 80
know whore I got that picture.
I was far too d2zed By MS strange
actions 70 answer word; SO Lester IN
terEoscd and told my father, in IS few
words rs possible, Of our morning ex-
petition, and Of the man whom we had
Photographed in the act Of drinking.
BLESS the csmera." CIRCULATED my
father. exclte6ly, that's. Eli Parker,
the thief! And the best likeness Of
him / ever saw, tool"
Then he questioned rs closely a. %
the direction The E.au .ai t..se- when
discovered. and o- a- .,-s -,i,-
the print AID the negative. a1d .-,sh-
Ing out Of the house 10 take the next
train back 10 town. Lester ana I
talked about II all the afternoon. and
feit ourselves nrite heraes far havin1