Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-01-06


the chief of police. that officer presented
himself and inquired the nature of her
business.
my GRAND Do you know Mr.. Gripp?"
Grip -Grippv' said the chief. Il
think | do know who you mean. Who
are you?"
My names Cole"
The chief started"
Well, what's your business?"
10 protect my boy. He is at the age
when boys are easily led astray. want
to make bargain with you I'll give
YOU hint that may be Of service to you,
if you'll promise sacredly to help my 10y
if ever he gets into trouble. | only ask
you to overlook the first-mind yJu-the
first offense."
What's your boys name?"
Bob Walters. l was married twice.
My first husband, Bob's father, might be
living to-day if the world had pardoned
his first cifense. He did what wasn't
right-did it to help a friend. and when
1t was found out-and nobody ever got
at the bottom Of the business-he went to
the bad-died."
Il knew your husband, MRS. Cole" said
the chief. in an altered tone. HE was
as honest man as ever knew, and was
my friend when had none. I'll promise
to help his boy--on my honor, Mrs. Cole"
Now we understand each other. I'll
tell you just how it is. Bob's been going
brands for Mr.. Grip. Grips had some
thing on hand he wanted kept quiet, and
he's bound Bob up SO the boys afraid. /
left him in the house half an hour ago.
afraid TO come out"
What is Grip up top
Il don't know where Bob's been for
BIN. know he was in Allegheny, and
more than once, to number -
street"
The chief pricked 10 his ears at that.
How did you learn this?"
By leading him, when he wasn't sus
pecting my motive. to talk about his com
rades in Allegheny"
What eIsei"
'Why-my names Cole. you See
She blushed family Mrs. Cole was
coming to a page in her life that she did
not like to recall.
"WenT'
And her name. they said, was Cole.
too. And they said it was Knox | think
I'm pretty sure-they've mixed me with
the Knox woman"
Your
1T was this way: About six years ago
Mr.. Grip did what people called j good
turn for my last husband-Cole. | don't
believe it. / believe he is a human de-
monr'
They do tell some queer stories now
. bout Grimm - caid fha chiaf
I've thought all along, if the truth
was known, he was my husbands enemy.
But he came to the funeral, and was a
palLbearer, and called afterward. If he
had ever been true friend of my hus-
bands he would never have insulted his
widow
The chief looked at her flaming cheeks
and blazing eyes, and made his own 2p-
plication.
He began talking marriage, and when
| allowed him to pay my husbands funar-
al expenses, and l thought some of my
were looking curiously at me,
went straight to Mr.. Grip to have it
out with him. And we did. / say he is
sham, a deceitful wretch, hypocrite."
Il agree with YOU
when l told him never, never TO speak
TO me again, he laughed and shook the
receipt for my husbands funeral ex-
penses in my face. I've paid every cent
sf it back to him. l can show his re-
Ceipts for the money"
Let me have them. I'd like to com
pare the handwriting"
"I'll send them by Bob. But not 4
soul but you knows | paid the money
back. To this day he has the credit of
hurying my husband
Nice man, Gripp!'
Then l moved away-down the lower
part of the town; his Mrs. Cole Iiyei en-
the hill"
PITY you didn't poison him."
Il have worked. ever since by hus-
land died. cleaning houses and taking in
washing. Look at my haIds-at my
nails'
Il don't need 20, Mrs. Cole. And just
here let me say womer who dress as you
dress. with hands Ike yours. don't need
any Endorsement for honesty"
I'VE don't. Well, it was a poor crea-
ture-a heartbroken looking. soft-faeed-
looking thing who called herself Mrs.
Cole. And the last l heard of her. she
was in Cincinnati. He sent her away.
Why, | never found out. Then | once
met her-face to face, mind you-on Fifth
avenue. in front Of the postofiice. She
looked frightened; she hurried on, and
although / was so angry with her l wish
"a her dead. when l met her, and saw
death in the woman's face l was shock
cd. I'll never wish anybody evil again.
! met her once again. and somebody was
calling her Mrs. Knox
You are sure of that
The chiefs eyes sparkled now with in
tereSt.
Quite. I'm not likely to make mis-
take of that sort"
We'll. about your boy"
why, this demon has been giving hum
half a dollar and dollar az time TO
stay at his office and so errands for him.
He never does anything at the office. be-
cause he stays outside, The doors lock
ed and the pay is for the errands and 10
keep Bob's mouth shut"
Mrs. Cole you would make detee-
tive"
1--WE had s bitter schooling; I'd been in
my grave il I'd not learned a little about
people and their mean ways. I want you
10 find what Bob's been doing for Griap,
ana to warn HIM to keep away from Isol-
ley shops. or whatever shsy are. aud then
7xe will be all right. You've cot all !
snow about Mrs. Knox. Its for you 20
ind out If Mr.. Gripp has brought her
back. or knows anything about Der Of
ate"
That's my affair now. and il do yon'1
jpe remembered. III remember you, Mrs.
Cole. anyhow. l owe i TO you. on Wat
Eers' account. Where 10 you Iiveg''
II don't live. as people say. You'n And
me on Ferry street, number -
The chief made memorandum. and
Mrs. Cole eft his os6ce.
rxxr ra-Ivr-r, ~yY