The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-28
A MIDNIGHT
TRAGEDY;
a-OR-
Illa Crime Of The
Brokers Office.
w. F. MOTT.
w. F. MOTT.
CHAPTER XIV.


South street when he observed man
In front of him, who he thought re.
sembled the man he had met on the
train.
The fellow entered saloon, and Stu.
art followed him and heard him speak,
He believed he recognized the voice, but
he was not positive. The man wore
cap pulled down over his face, so that
yhIs eyebrows were concealed. But when
the man left the saloon, as he presently
did, he raised his cap, and Stuart made
q recognition. ,
At last he had found the man who had
brought an added weight Of dreadful
suspicion upon him, and whom he be.
1ieved to be John Oakburn's murderer.
Stuart's heart leaped, and wild, e1.
ultant feeling came upon him, while his
nerves were tense with excitement
At that instant the man turned and
looked Stuart full in the face.
The latter saw look Of recognition IN
the fellows eyes, and no doubt the
other saw the same expression in Stu.
arts flashing orbs, for he wheeled about
and started to run.
Stuart Harland leaped after him, de.
termined that the supposed murderer
should not escape.
Halt" cried Stuart, and he strained
every muscle in the attempt to overtake
his man.
The next instant, when the chase had
only well begun, Stuart received cruel
blow on the head, and he fell to his
knees, but with q desperate effort, in.
spired by the thought that the man who
might prove his innocence would escape
he staggered up again, half senseless.
and saw Levi Kredge disappear around
a neighboring corner. The man Of
whom he was in pursuit was no where
to be seen. He had vanished myste.
riously.
Stuart reeled back against the wall OF
the nearest building, dazed and stunned
by the blow.
When he had sufficiently recovered,
Stuart made his way to neighborlnG
corner, suffering from vortigo and dull
heavy pain in his head.
The first passing car halted at a signal
from Stuart, and, boarding it, he was
carried rapidly out Of the neighborhood
The incident which we have just re.
lated transpired 30 quickly that scarcely
anyone witnessed it, and no excitemen,
was occasioned.
Stuart was enraged and bitterly dis
appointed.
It maddened him to think thatthe sup.
posed assassin had eluded him, and he
Vowed to repay Levi Kredge for his das'
-Itardly blow If he ever had an opportunity
to do so.
! The young man proceeded directly to
the Office Of Paxton, the detective, tc
whom he related his experience.
! Acting under Paxton's instructions,
five minutes later Sayer and another OF
the detectives agents were on their way
TO that particular part OF South street
In which Stuart Harland had encountered
the unknown and Levi Kredge. They
were to attempt to trace these men from
This point.
! While Stuart Harland was relating his
recent exciting experiences Stanmore
entered the detectives Office and be.
came an interested listener to all the
young mans story.
Am never to prove my innocence7
Am I to be again placed OF trial for my
life2" said Stuart, despondently, as he
concluded his narrative.
Il believe disclosures will yet be made
TtudL WILL llOOo IAlO udih A44J DSSAy "ASh
uget," said Paxton, and he added:
Il made a little discovery the other
day, which I saw fit not to mention to
any one, but to encourage you will tell
you about 1t now"
Thus speaking, he opened desk and
took out small package.
: 1t was the very parcel we saw him
take from the closet in Levi Kredge's
room when he searched that apartment.
Il wish you to closely observe what !
am about to show you" he said, and
opening the package he drew out small
canvas bag, such as gold coin is packed
IN at the mint.
Paxton held up the canvas coin bag,
and both Stuart Harland and Stanmore
saw the name John Oakburn" printed
ON the bag, as though the work had been
done with pen.
Stuart Harland sprang forward and
examined the coin bag more closely.
Il have seen that money bag in
John Oakburn's little safe! Where die
you find it2" he cried.
Il found it in Levi Kredge's room, \
answered Paxton.
Then he had hand in the MURDER
Perhaps" answered Paxton. AT all
events we now have good case against
Kredge. Let me recapitulate the point
7 have made against him. First, it can
not be determined where he was at the
time Of the murder. Second, his boots
made the tracks under the office win
dow. Third, he has a large sum OF
money now, which he did not have be.
fore the murder. Fourth, the money.
bag known to belong to John Oakburp
ana 10 nave oeen kepu III NIB private saf.
is found in Kredge's room.
after all your labor has not beer
In vain. You have accomplished much,
said Stuart.
True. but 1t yet remains TO reall!
prove his guilt. After all, ours is bu
presumptive evidence, replied the de-
fective.
Paxton had business on hand, and ex
cusing himself, presently he left the Of
FROM the time OF Levi hredges ais
appearance Paxton had felt conhden
that his sister Judith knew where M
was, and he had placed shadow on thu
woman's track 81 we have seen.
Although the result had not confirmed
the detectives belief, he had no
abandoned his opinion, and he had de-
,termined that judith should be the guld'
TO conduct him to her brothers hiding
place.
He had racked his mind to devise some
ruse whereby he might turn Judith:
supposed knowledge to account. since
the shadow" had failed to track her tc
Lewis concealncnt.
Paxton tried "the letter dodge" as the
detectives termed it among themselves
;r lo htoip aJ %