The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-11
HORACE GR RANTa

I When we reached the station the lad sat
| down on the baggage truck at the far end or
| the platform, and I got tickets for two De-
| fore I joined him. The station master was
! alone and gave heed, and when tha
| train came along we were fortunate enough
1 to get a compartment to ourselves. Under
the lamplight / had a chance to look my
young friend over. He was a slight, slim
| boy, with a pretty face and a winning way. 1
| noticed that he had small hands and feet and
was neat in his dress. I had intended TO ask
| for full particulars Of his story when we got
settled down on the train, but he was so
nervous and difident that | refrained- /
| had taken a brotherly interest in the lad,
| and 1t naturally followed that l should in
| quire what he meant to do when we reached
London He replied that he didn't even
know the name of single street, and that
| he was in fear of what might befall him when
we reached the end Of our journey.
NV lodgings were situated in Little Bas-
! comb street. and were over the shop OF
very respectable 1eweler. / had the whole
| floor and kept my own man. Just at this
time however, he was absent on months
| leave, and the thought came into my head
to take the boy home with me for couple
of weeks Even before l knew his name,
which he gave as Tommy West I had made
the offer He seemed reluctant to accept
and it was only after considerable urging
that he consented to be my guest as 1t were,
| and then / had to promise that he should
pass as my young cousin. Next morning, as
| got q fair sight of the lad by daylight, l
was somewhat mystihed. He didn't look a
bit like a country boy, and 1 couldn't ina
CINE what he had worked at. His hair had
| been cut in the most awkward way, and ne
seemed awkward in his clothes.
| I wanted Tommy to go out after breakfast
and see London, but he had no curiosity on
the subject, and 1t was only after dark that
1 got him out of the house for dinner. That
evening 1 told Tommy Of my intentions re-
garding a place. and though he thanked me
he did not seem very enthusiastic. In the
| four days he was with me we were out to-
gether only four times, and then only 10
dinner at a modest restaurant. My de-
meanor towards the boy was fatherly, as [
| wanted to win his confidence, but it seemed
| to me as If he dreaded conversation and
avoided it whenever possible. On the fifth
morning he had disappeared from the house,
and for an hour I was more mystifed than
ever His clothing had been left behind, and
l could not make out how he had gone. no
note of explanation had been left behind
| l was trying to figure it out, and wondering
| If shouldn't go to see the police, when
| detectives called to see me. In the course OF
| half an hour 1 was tied up in knots, as 1t
were. On the night I left Kent Sir James
! to London with boy. That boy was believed
| to be woman in disguise. 1t was woman's
hand which had done Sir James to death.
! What had done with the boy? He had dis
| appeared, leaving his suit behind. All! Just
so; but he had first changed to the female
apparel in the portmanteau, as was speedily
shown, and he had gone out in proper dress.
| I was either a confederate or the biggest
| fool IN England In either event must go
with the officer. / was locked up for week
and then admitted to bail, and it was three
months before they concluded that ] was a
! fool instead of a confederate.
, Meanwhile all Of England was searched for
| the GIRL but she was not found. She lived
| in London. She was doubtless one Of Sir
| James many victims. She went down there
| to kill him, and she accomplished her re-
venge. She played me that she might get
safely away, and her plan succeeded. She
probably went from my house to her own
home, and in spite OF all their efforts the
police could not track her. My friends de-
clare that ought to have had at least year
in prison for being so thick-headed, but they
are prejudiced. I am simply a guileless,
| good-natured man, and I cant even say that
am sorry the girl eluded pursuit,