The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-24
For Years This Woman Kept
tho Fact a Profound Secret.
FOR HUSBANDS SAFETY
Heard Talk About Bandits Arrival 10 Tswn,
Became Alarmed and Was Escorted Hons
BY Man She Feared.

ST. Joseph. Mo. Dec. 9-A few days
ago when the brakeman, on train roll
ing into the station here, opened the door
and called out st joe" two men. sit
ting near each other in the smoker hasti-
ly threw up the windows and, forcing
themselves half way out looked up and
down wisely and exeitedly and drawing
in from the frosty air, simultaneously
exclaimed: This is where Jesse James
lived"
On the high ground that stretches
southwark from the beautiful convent
grounds 90 the old. historic Patee House.
where Gene" Field. in his early literary
career, courted the muse, stands house,
once cut and defaced by the relic hunt
ers, and saved only by the vigilance OF
special patrol
Thousands and thousands OF the city's
strAngers have stood before IL with
mingled awe and curiosity trying to
peek into the room I'm which was enacted
one of the most cold-blooded tragedies OF
the century.
The man who lived in that house on the
hin was known AS Mr.. Howard, and his
wife. a retiring. modest woman, was
member OF the church and deeply felig-
ious. lie was seemingly, domestic. dress
ed plain Y, gave no sign OF having either
occupation or profession, and went ana
came at his pleasure.
He was gentle. kind, liked by his neigh
bofs, was extremely fond of little chill
dren, whom on his walks he would pet
and careSs: while all who ever looked In
to his eyes thought their expression 80
kind and charming as TO be almost angel
ic.
One day this man. who always kept
people I'm front OF his wonderful eyes,
and who. to use the words OF the sport.
never gave one an opportunity 10 get
the drop on him." was hanging a picture
in one of the rooms OF hts house, when
he fell dead, from the chair on which he
WAS standing, shot through the heart
from behind: and his slayer. holding
pistol from which the smoke was still
creeping looked down upon the body OF
man whose name had been household
word on two continents. a terror to the
people OF Missouri and the west-the man
who for years had eluded and escaped the
smartest and most efficient detectives of
the land.
Yes, Jesse James was dead at lastl
Killed by his companion and friend Kill
ed by Bob Ford, the only man whom he
ever trusted.
There was one person I'm st. Joseph, a
young woman, the wife OF prominent
travelling man, 20 whom the news OF
Jesse James death came like q benedic-
ton, for IL unsealed lips that had been
closed for a year.
One night. when the shadows were cut
here and there by the fiickering lights OF
the tower. she entered the drug store
about three blocks from her home to get
something for her husband who had just
come home with a high fever, when she
overheard two men talking about rumor
that Jesse James was In town, the pa
pers OF that day having contained full
particulars of another OF his celebrated
raids and train hold-ups."
She grew alarmed and had just said 10
the druggist that she was afraid TO go
home alone, when who should step I'm but
Mr.. Howard. She knew him we'll. was
near neighbor OF his and. stepping up to
him, said Mr.. Howard, will you take
me homer" TO which he nodded assent.
Outside the door she lost no time I'm
telling him of her fright; how she had
Just read about Jesse James last raid
and the conversation, she had heard in
the drug store as TO his being In the city:
the awful fear she had OF perhaps meet
ing that terrible man. and the possibility
OF her husbands being on some train
that he might hold up.
The man was silent until they reached
her gate when he said To her: Don't
scream, and on your life keep secret
what tell you; but TO show you who 1
am and that 1 am not so black as am
painted. my name is-Jesse James! Your
husband will never be molested by me or
any OF my gang, and you are safe as
long as you keep what ! have told you.
Good night"
And this was her seoret--the sword OF
Damocles which so long hung over her
fair young head
Bob Ford for n time was conspicuous
here and there in the states, and felt
that ne was a hero-felt fisttered by the
gaze OF the curious but. awakening TO the
enormity OF his treachery, he grew hag-
gard and conscience stricken and wan
dered westward to the gold fields, where,
in an alteration I'm a common dance
house, he fell, as his victim fell, with a
bullet through his body.