Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-02-16
BY NORMAN H.uRST.

uCu dG 1tS1 l1e lOuuu ulllSelI alone
in the train for Barnstap1e, he drew
from his pocket the paper that he had
received from Miss Kingston in which
the chessmen had been wrapped and
scrutinized it'carefully. It was an or
binary sheet of coarse brown paper.
with an adhesive address label indicat
ing that it had been expressed from
Barnstaple Jan. ID, 1896.
Darrent sat back in his seat in the
smoker, lighted cigar and ruminated
It was scarcely likely. he felt, that in
the time that had elapsed, some six or
seven weeks, the express clerks would
remember who handed in that parcel
or recognize the writing on the label
Still, he would 80 to the express office
directly on his arrival in Barnstaple
and make inquiries
Suddenly the train pulled up with
jerk. Signals were against them at the
Junction. and they stuck for a good
quarter OF an hour, with the result that
when they did get into Barnstaple the
express Office was closed. He tried to
ind the clerk, but failed, and then how
to kill the 10 hours till s next morning
! became the problem that sorely per-
picked him, for he must stop in Barn
staple that night. Suddenly he recalled
his friend Of the Gaiety theater. From
The highly colored placards that deco
rated the streets and the entrance to the
:heater he learned that an equally
thrilling melodrama to that which was
purveyed to the public on his last visit
was in progress.
| He found his way down the grimy
passage again, and the stern janitor
conveyed his card to Mr. Ridgeway and
brought it backed with the message
from the manager that he would be on
the stage all the evening, but if Mr..
Darrent would go in front and see the
! show Mr.. Ridgeway would see him aft
! erward, and on the card was penciled
In order for stall. Darrent glanced at
The writing and received his second
shock that day, and, instead of accept
ing the hospitality Of Mr.. Ridgeway,
he paid his money at the door and care
fully placed the card in his pocketbook.
With the fall of the curtain Mr.. OAR
rent reached the stage door and cou-
pie Of minutes afterward was in the
managers room again.
Mr.. Ridgeway motioned him to
seat and awaited the commencement Of
the conversation for, while he could
not deny that, upon% the evidence sub
mitted at the trial, the verdict had been
Ia just one, he did not somehow feel
Dveramiable toward the man who had,
bit by bit, built up that evidence
Darrent, who had great belief in the
efficacy Of getting home the first shot,
suddenly opened fire.
"Why did you post a box of chess
men to Miss Ethel Kingston, Bideford,
On the 18th of January 2" he asked.
The effect upon Mr.. Arthur Ridge
way was instantaneous and astonish-
Ing: He simply collapsed into the near
est chair and gasped, Chow the dickens
did you know?''
"Never mind how know. ask you
why did you do it?'
II did it for Astray Marsden's sake.''
"Come, come, Mr. Ridgeway; this is
little too thin. It's not a play, you
know"
GAS sure as heavens above US, Mr..
Darrent, that's the TRUTH
"Come, now said the detective
quietly; ''you'd better make clean
breast Of the whole affair, or you may
find you've put yourself in very seri-
GUS position
elias Astray confessed?''
''Never mind what Astray's done.
You tell me your version.'
"There's not much to tell. I always
liked young Marsden. told you that
when you came before. I always be-
lievs2 IN him and thought him straight
going chap, and so I do now, mind
you," said Ridgeway. $50 do now.''
eyes, yes; go on" calmly interject-
ed Darrent.
"Wel, the day after the murder
'Astray came over here''- 49,
eyes, I know"
-t'looking scared and white, and
begged and prayed me to 60 over to
Norcombe the first thing the next