Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-11-20

known throughout the section IN
which she dwells as the woman Hes-
nit" The story of her life would fur-
nish the material for thrilling mover.
For fifty years Mrs. Blake has lived
in this lonely cabin, her only COM
panion being a dog and couple OF
cats.
In 1885 Polly Andrews was a lovely
girl living with her parents on a
farm near Springfield, Ky. They were
well-to-do, respectable people, and Fol
ly, being an unusually pretty girl, IN
dustrious, modest and amiable. natur-
ally had many suitors for her hand.
Among them was one Stephen Letton,
a prosperous young farmer OF the
neighborhood. This man was conceded
to be Polly's accepted sweetheart.
The Andrews residence was situated
near the public highway, and travellers
were frequently entertained there.
During the summer of 1885 a stranger
giving his name as Thomas Blake,
stopped over night with the Andrews.
He stated that he was from Boyle
county, and was in quest Of mules,
which he was buying for the southern
market. He was handsome man, and
to all appearances gentleman of high
standing. An attachment sprang up
between him and Polly, which resulted
in marriage in the spring Of 1886, not
before Mr.. Andrews had, however, sat
isfied himself that Blake was all he
had represented himself to be.
After the wedding Blake took up
his residence with his father-in-law,
and strange as it may seem, strong
intimacy was formed between him and
young Letton, Polly's rejected lover. If
Letton felt any resentment at his treat
ment by the young lady, he gave no
evidence Of it, but continued on the
most friendly terms with the whole
family.
In the autumn following Polly's mar
riage to Blake, Letton sold his prop
erty and announced his intention of
emigrating to what is now West Vir-
ginia, alleging he had purchased an
interest in a coal mine there. About
this time Blake decided to return to
Boyle county to settle up some unfin-
ished business, and then to journey to
eastern Kentucky in search Of mules.
AS Lotions route led him in that
direction the two men decided to trav-
ell together. After tarrying near Dan
vile few days the friends continued
their journey. On arriving in Boyle
county they repaired to the home of a
wealthy drover, with whom Blake had
frequently transacted business, and
here the travellers separated. Before
Letton took his leave of Blake, how
ever, he borrowed from the latter
sum of money, which he promised to
repay on reaching his destination,
claiming that his money had all been
invested there.
The night following Blake's depar-
ture from the droyer's house in Boyle
county, it was entered by an assassin,
who killed the inmates and secured
package containing $1,000 in bank
notes. In order to conceal his crime
the murderer set fire to the house. The
building burned slowly, and the neigh
bors were enabled to extinguish the
flames and discover the murderous
work which had been done. The assas-
sin, before leaving the yard, had torn
open the wrapper on the package of
money and flung it on the ground. This
was picked up by the officers of the
law, and marks of blood were found
upon it. This was the only clue in
their possession.
Shortly after Blake's return to
Springfield he received the money