Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-11-22

'You think, then, that the letter was
written by Chatham" said Dunlap.
But what object could Chatham have
for writing such, a lie ter?" .:
"No," answered Sturgis. II do not
think that Chatham wrote this letter.
That is the curious part of it. Icannot
believe that if Chatham had been
aware of the important nature of it's
contents. he could have been willing to
leave it for an instant within Arbo-
CAST s reach" ;
"But who, then, could have been its
author, and why should he have in
trusted the letter to Chatham?" =.
ITO your second question, my answer
is, probably because he wanted 1t
mailed from the main post Office at
about the time that Arbogast would
leave the bank. To the first, cannot
yet give any positive answer, although,
as you will presently see, there are
some clews pointing to our unknown
quantity X jas the author of this let
ter. But let us not anticipate. Suppose
we return to our drama. When Arbo-
CAST read this letter, he evidently
thought, as do, that somebody was
playing him false; that he was to be
gotten rid of in some safer way than
exile; in short, that, as somebody said
of one of the Turkish sultans, he was to
be 'suicided.' He must have had strong
reasons to suspect Chatham of treach-
cry; for he at once impulsively jumped
to the conclusion that his only chance
Of safety lay in striking before he
could be struck. AT any rate, while the
accountant was busy at the. telephone,
Arbogast stood near this desk, mechan-
eally tearing to pieces this letter,
while he planned the accountants
death. He had taken with him your re-
volver. AS the thought of it flashed
upon his mind, his resolution was in
stantly taken. He stealthily crept to
the paying teller's wicket. Through it
he could see the, telephone closet, the
door of which stood open. Chatham
was in direct range, as Arbogast raised
the pistol, and, without a word of warn
ing, fired. The accountant held, the re-
eeiver of the telephone to his ear. This
saved his life; for the bullet entered his
left hand and remained embedded in
his flesh. When the bullet struck him,
Chatham fell forward, striking his head.
against corner Of the telephone
box, and inflicting a slight scalp
wound. I found few hairs of an
intensely red hue, which are evidently
his. I also found shreds Of his cloth
ing whichEcaught on projecting nail
az he fell; and i infer from these his
taste for loud dress He recovered
himself be fore Arbogast was ready to
fire a second time and ran into the
clerks room, probably hoping to make
his way to the street through the
Exchange Place, door: But at the
same time, Arbogast rushed through
the reception room and this office,
reaching the vestibule in time to head
of Chatham, who then turned back
and ran through the secretary's room,
with Arbogast in pursuit. Int4T;the
meantime *. to whom I have al
ready alluded. was waiting in sEx-
change place, where Chatham had 1
:. cab. Upon hearing the pistol slot he
went to the accountants assistance.
He passed into tAis office. which he
B probably reached in tine TO REQ Chat
ham rush in sfrem the =seoretary,s
ROOM; closeE followed BY Arhogalt.
4 z, seized that chaiTrsoter there 81 the
corner and sprang betsl,olsa the hunt
Cd man and his p1slsP = - latter
raised his: arm Is IRE. n1r iaInony-
NOUS friend is probably ! man Of
U great trength 4 for viii. one blow Of