The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-08-18
XIX.

CHAPTER NN.
1t was among the kilograms in a To-
cal paper purchased EN- route, while
passing through pennsylvania, that
John Latham frstread of the murder
of the banker, Richard Willmarth. The
killing of so rich and prominent n cit
izen, the apparent holiness of the
crime, and the mystery thrown about
it in the earlier publications of the
event, made the news of such inter-
est that it was given prominence in
all the dailies of the country. But
comparatively few of those to whom
the knowledge was brought could
have felt such interest in it as John
Latham. How, he asked himself,
would it affect the fortunes Of his
friend Chester Sewall? Would Irma
Willmarth, presumably free now to
follow the bent of her w inclina
tions, reward the constant affection
of her lover by making HIM her hus-
band at as early a day MS propriety
would permit? Or might it be that
her obstinate father had found some
ingenius legal device for still con-
constituting her to his will? There
was also just Il possibility-by no
means probable, however, he reflected
that the sudden acquisition and con-
troll of great wealth might modify her
ideas of the ~desirability of matri-
mony. AT all events, he concluded,
the sudden death of MFR. Willmurth
was most likely to prove a rather for
%tunate thing for Chester, particularly
If he should take exactly the right
course of action. That the young man
would do so without better guidance
than his own John doubted, and he
was consequently impatient to get
home and offer such counsel and aid
as might be required.
To the time Of his reaching T'ren-
ton, hardly nn hours ride from New
York, each train of thought in John
Lntham's mind connected with the
subject OF the Will1narth murder had
Chester Sewall's interests for it's OBJ
jective point. but there he obtained
an afternoon paper, III which he read:
1T is known that Mr.. WilImnrth
was going to see a man named Mi
chael Mccartney when he met his
death. The discovery of this fact wa
a triumph Of detective genius. 1t puts
in the hands of the police the key for
calculation of the mystery. The ends
OF justice compel the suppression of
details for the present. No arrests
have yet been ordered, but they can
be made at any moment and are hour
~ expected"
Going to see Michael McCaffrey!
Mrs. Hall had not confided to him
the name OF the man who had so deep
ly wronged her husband, or even
given n hint that might suggest his
Identification, but John Latham knew
it now. Richard Willmarth was the
man! And it was in going to a meet
ing with his former accomplice or
tool that he had met his DEATH! Well,
if this was not poetic Justice" it
would be difficult to say what it might
be.
Willmarth the man? OF course he
was. The INSCRIPTIONS. sresolute sell
fshness and avarice which were popu-
larly recognized as his dominant char
acteristics would have qualified him
Tor such a deed as the widow alleged,
and his power of wealth and influence
We're such as would Justify her dread
OF awnking the antagon:sm of her un-
named enemy until she wa sure of
the weapons with which to meet him.
And now, as an added proof, il one
We're needed, the name of his KING
hidden copartner in crime, Michael
McCafrey, cropped up, linked with
his in close and secret association.
BY the time his train had reached
Jersey City Mr.. Latham had clearly
planned his IRIS of procedure.
Travel stained and weary as he was,
he determined upon gong into action.
at once, without waiting even to con
suit MS principal, Mrs. Hall. Sending
his valjses home by express, he
Jumped into the first hack that pre-
the ferry and ordered himself taken
with all possible speed To the station
house of the precinct in which Mr..
sWillmarth had lived. Chester Sewalrs
interests and his relations TO the Will
nlarth family were, for The time being,
forgotten. The Widow Halls concerns
took precedence over everything else
in Johns estimation just then. He:
Wonderedaif she knew that McCaffrey