The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-01-12
A Startling Sensation.
BY AN Ex-DETECTIvE.
CHAPTER VI.

surprised to receive the conclusion Of nv nara
1--WE dated at this place. l regret that circum
stances prevent my going more fully into details
as the sequel, which will in The. near fnture he
written up by an associated press reporter, would
then be more fully appreciatedl
Now, dear reader, will close nv part of tbi.
narrative in as few words as possible, and if
nave failed to interest 5ou, l can only ask that
you patiently await tie sequel
In 1884, and about two weeks prior
to the opening of this story, James
Willis and Bert Mills both being ab-
sent, there appeared at the store of
Mills & Willis gentleman who, after
inquiring for Mr.. Willis, informed the
head clerk that he had bought of Mr..
Mills his interest in the establishment.
VI course this was a surprise to the
chief, as he imagined that he enjoyed
entire confidence of his employers, but
as he showed bill of sale together
with copy ofthe late inventory, every
| -,
thing seemed regular.
The clerks had hardly recovered from
this surprise when another gentleman
appeared upon the scenes and upon
being informed that neither Mr.. Mills
nor MIR. Willis was to be found, he an
nonnced that he had purchased all the
right, title and interest of Mr.. Willis
in the establishment, and he TOO pro-
dueed the necessary paper.
Upon inquiry it was learned that
neither Mr.. Willis nor Mr. Mills had
been seen on the streets of the village
for several days. A visit to their re.
spective residences revealed the fact
that the women were also gone, and
no traces of them could be found. They
had oil 50 completely covered up their
tracks that the most clever Of the vii
Layers could get no clue. Even the
gentlemen who had bought them out
could only tell where they had met
and transacted their business.
| am sorry that | cannot 60 into de-
tail, as was my intention, in this very
Interesting part of my narrative, but
circumstances prevent.
| had worked several months on the
case when / induced Uncle Ned to di-
Vulge all the family secrets in his pos
session; and with this clue was era
bled to trace out the true situation,
Secret meetings had been held between
Burt Mills and Emma Lund- Willis, as
also between James Willis and Edna
Latimer-Mills. The result of these
meetings was that an elopement was
planned and carried to successful
termination.
so well were all these secrets kept
that neither James nor Bert, Emma
nor Edna, knew the intentions of the
other.
by mutual consent and as a matter
of business, an inventory of their
stock was taken and under some pre-
text both left home, each entirely ig-
nc:ant of the intentions of the other
Bert went to Omaha, and met the
gentleman to whom he sold. Emma
met him in Chicago and from there
they went to Florida, where they have
been ever since.
James went to Kansas City, where
he met his man. He and Edna met
IN Denver. From there they went to
California, thence to Oregon.
The gentleman whom chose to call
James Willis and the lady whom in
troduced to you as Edna Latimer are
at this moment living In the state of
Oregon, and are well known among
the professions. Mr. Willis has found
warm place IN the hearts of the com.
mon people while Edna is loved by
all who know her.
III justice to myself will say that
n order that these people might live
N in peace and happiness, / sacrificed
ny time and resigned my situation,
ather than to make public my discoy-
ries. Would to God it was in my
'ower to arrest further proceedings,
'ut Others have stepped in whose !
'reed for gain has oyershadowed every