Daily camera., 1897-07-27

olTOuS.
The woman stared, then Hendricks
saw her eyes waver.
"Yes, perhaps he did hate him. He
had good reason for doing so; Strong
robbed him of every cent of his savings
when they were partners in mining en-
terprises out west years ago. That
was my brothers one weak point; he
was really a sort of monomaniac on the
subject. But what has that to do
with"
''Strong was murdered in his bed
three weeks ago." said Hendricks, i'm
pressively.
ooh, my God! you don't mean it? Ny
brother could not have killed him!
Tom could not have done such thing!
Oh, Mr.. Hendricks, don't tell me it is
true! He has been enough trouble to
me, without my having to face such
horror as that"
Il am sorry to say it looks very much
as if he did it," Hendricks replied "In
fact, / have rather strong evidence
against him."
Drawing her child to sofa with her,
the woman sat down. Hendricks was
afraid she was going to faint, she had
turned so white, but when he started
to rise to her assistance she motioned
him back.
"Now 1 understand" she said. ''He
went away about three weeks ago, and
would not tell me where he had been.
In fact, it irritated him when we asked
about his absence. Fred!" she cried, as
she held the boy little way from her,
"your uncle Tom has killed man. He
is a murderer, and will have to be exc
cuted like any other criminal. That's
what has been the matter with him
! lately. That's why he has been so rest
less and unable to sleep, and why he is
so anxious to read the newspapers. Poor
! Tom! He used to be good brother to
me when l was a girl Oh, Mr.. Hen
bricks, / can't bear it! it is awful-awful
to think of what may come of it. Is
there no hope?"
'If he is not brought to justice, an
innocent man will most likely suffer in
his place." said Hendricks-"o man with
the world before him, young man en-
gagged to lovely girl. She, too, will
have to suffer. Your brother is with
out doubt guilty, and I really see little
chance for him.
You came back to search his room.
Isuppose," answered the woman. You
know where it is. l shall offer no objec-
ton. l want to do what is right. If he
has done wrong deliberately, he must
take the consequences"
81 shall not search his room,' replied
the detective. This is your house;
you are suffering enough already. | shall
not try to find. under your roof, evi-
dence against him. | think I can do
without it. / only thought you might
not be unwilling to tell me something
about his past business relations with
Strong. l suppose your brother has
given you the facts in the case?" .....
yes, he has often done so, and will
! tell you, as well as ! can, all about it,"
The woman stroked her sons head
thoughtfully for moment, then she
went on: 81 really believe this Richard
n. Strong did my brother great
wrong. They were equal partners in
several small mining ventures in Col
orado 20 years ago and seemed to get
along pretty well together Eut it hap
| pened that just at the tine they were
trying to get possession Of a certain
tract of silver mining land which my
brother was confident would enrich
| ~
turn to New York on important bust
ness of his own. Now, NY brother.
Thomas Farleigh, was known toGe an
exceptionally good judge of mineral IN
dications, and it often happened that
when he showed interest i: PROPERTY
the owners would refuse to sell at any
reasonable price. So, in tbs case, Mr..
Strong proposed to him that he be not
known IN the transfer al II bc;t that
/ he leave in his hands his part CE ne pur-
chase money and let the property be
made over to him while Tom was in
| New York. My brothe. Thought It 4
| good idea and consented, lea' ,ug AZ! his
savings, something over $5G0N With
Strong, simply On the assurance that on
| his rc!l;yr - shcG.I haze /. deed to a
half interest in the property,
"Stron2 no doubt meant to be honest,
and | believe only an accident to my
brother prevented him from EeinT so.
On Toms way to New York he fell from
a train at Cincinnati, struck his head
against stone and was taken ir:gns:-
ble to ; hospital. The doctors sai his
skull was fractured and he became in
sane. From the hospital ! had him
taken to private asylum. where re-
manned with him as long as could.
| After | left Cincinnati Mr.. Strong heard
of the accident and went to see him.
My brother did not recognize him, and,
believing that Tom would never be re-
stored to his right mind, Mr.. Strong
said nothing to anyone about the money
put into his hands by my brother. He
went ahead and organized big com
pany of eastern capitalists to operate
the mine. They struck rich vein, and