The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-07-13
THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY.
By R0DRIGUEs OTTOLENgUI.
evidence" "A Modern UYznr,i -
Final Proof" Etc
lCopyright. 1so6, by @. p. Putnam's Sons All
rights rcservcdl

you're hard to please, mister. But
ain't easy to offend. Ill swear either
way you like. There; that's fair
enough, amt it?"
Look here! Let me make myself
clear. What want is the truth.
VIII pay for that, whatever II Is. Rut
when you admit that you are such a
liar how am to believe what you tell
me?'
That's so, mister You've got me
there. l don't know why you should.
But what can do to help you out?"
Il cannot take your word unsupport-
ed. You tell me that Mora was here
late that night. There was a dance
going on, was there not?"
"A regular hummer"
HDid Mora dance with any Of the
women?"
"why. sure! You don't take him for
n wallfower. do you?"
II have been told that the best
dancer here that night was girl called
Lillian Vale"
ThiS assertion was made merely to
watch Its effect and upon the chance
that 1t might be true, since the bar
keeper had told him that the girl fire.
Quented tho hall and had expressed
her intention to beat -the-~opcnins,-
soirec on tile following night. This
Mr.. Mitchell doubted, but lie had de-
termined that In case he should fail
to find her before then he would be
present himself
"Yes; she was here" said Rogers.
did Mora dance with her?" asked
Mr.. Mitchell.
NO" replied Rogers; 81 don't think
he danced with her; lcastways didn't
see him. But then l wasn't on the
watch oil the time. not bein dancin
man myself, but more in the drinkin
line, which just reminds me my throat
Is parched again. You must excuse my
mentionin 1t. but I amt talked so long
on stretch in years"
More beer was ordered. and Mr.
Mitchell followed up his advantage.
".You say he did not dance with this
girl. Then Of course you know herr"
"Know the Lily? Well, l should
smile, since she was so high," indlcat-
ing a stature so low that he must have
known her at birth IL he were correct.
Does she know Mora"
That's more than can tell YOU"
"Well, do you know where she can
be found ut present"
II don't know where she's llvin, but
can find her for you IL there's any
money in It," the last part of the SEN
tcnce added slyly.
"Oli, have no fear! You will be we'll
paid. How soon can you find this
girl2"
by this afternoon, I reckon. You
see, ! know woman as knows her
we'll, sort Of brought her up, as you
might say. But they don't live to-
gether now, cause the old woman took
to gin. But the girl makes 1t point
to see her two or three times n week,
80 I've only got to find out what time
she's expected, and you could lay
round till she shows up. And there
you are, as neat as wax"
The proposition seemed to be good
one, for, even though this girl and
the mysterious Mrs. Morton might lie
the same person. still her change Of
residence would in no way prevent
her from visiting her cid foster moth
er. Besides, now that he had heard Of
this elder woman Mr.. Mitchell was
more than ever pleased. for. while he
might have difficulty with the girl, it
would be comparatively easy to ex-
tract information from the old wo-
man, who could be made garrulous II
n little liquor were wisely admins
tered.
Every well. Rogers" said Mr.. Mitch.
el. "The sooner you find out about
this the better. Suppose you visit the
old woman at once, and will go with
you"
zone times the same as another
with me-" replied the old sot, and the
two men left the room. AS they were
about to pass the bar Rogers slyly re.
marked:
"Did you speak? Yes; thanks! Gp
me whisky straight, Jack" with
which he leaned against the bar with
the air OF an old habitue.
Mr.. Mitchell handed fifty dollar
note to the barkeeper and told him
that he might keep the change, which