Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-11-26

was In hopeless confusion; so. keenly
disappointed, Warde started for the
roundabout path which would take
him back to the scene of the murder.
He now noticed that the original
trail over which he and the chief of
police had gone had been obliterated
by number of footprints, evidently
made by the coroner and his jury.
AS he was casually looking ut these
he suddenly uttered an exclamation
of the utmost establishment; for
there on the snow he again detected
the imprint of the mysterious arctics,
and he soon satisfied himself that the
unknown had joined the coroner's
jury and the few stragglers who had
gone with them to view the body of
the murdered man. There could be
no doubt of this, for he found traces
of the arctics frequently, some little
distance from the regular path, as If
the unknown had been pushed out
there by the jostling crowd. A wild
excitement took possession of Warde,
and he fairly ran toward the spot
where Wright had been killed, all
eagerness to look ut the man who
wore the arctics, and decide whether
there was any probability that he had
any connection with the crime. Great
was his disappointment to find that
the body had been removed and that
the inquest had been adjourned, for
not human being was in sight. On
his way back he detected more ev;-
dences of the unknown in the shape
| of footprints pointing toward the
city.
AS fast as he could go he sought
the headquarters, where he found
his friend, the chief of police.
"What did the coroner's jury do?"
he asked.
"They simply examined the body
and took in the bearings, rs it were,
ordered the corpse to be taken to
the home of the deceased, and adj
journed the inquest until tomorrow.
Wright was undoubtedly robbed OF q
watch and several other valuables,
which so far can only be guessed at.
Tomorrow the inquest will be con-
tinued ut the Wright place, and more
light will be thrown on the case. BY
the way, how did your mysterious
criminal pan out?"
II will lay the facts before you and
you can judge for yourself as to their
| value"
Warde then told the story of the
| footprints, how the unknown had not
gone through the woods, but had cut
across to the direct route, and was
going back to the city when he fell
in with the coroner and his party,
Joined them, went back with them
| to the scene of the murder, and for
all Warde knew was q member of the
coroner's jury.
swell, that certainly Is peculiar"
said the chief. II wish I had known
it; might get some satisfaction out
of your man."
'Did you observe no one with arc.
tics on?"
"No; never thought of looking,
as il never occurred to me that your
man had made roundabout trip
Through the woods and joined the
coroner. OF course there Sas a con-
siderable number of stragglers who
we're gathered up as the coroner
made his way to the scene OF the
murder. l presume that officer
brought the jurors with him. He al
so had n lawyer, Col. James Frank
lin, with him. The colonel was an
old friend of Wright's, and he will
assist at the prosecution. if there is
anybody to prosecute. He will also
devote himself to discovering who
the murderer is. think we will find
him of service, as he is man OF
great penetration"
81 will call upon him and find out
what he knows about Wright, and
get his ideas as to the murder"
THAT would be good idea. Let
me caution you, however, about what
you write for your paper. 1t is just
possible that your ingenious theories
may be true, and if you outline them
to the public you may render impos-
sible the capture of the criminal"
"Wel, will agree not to say any
thing yet on that subject provided
You will not furnish the other papers
with any of my theories, as you call
them"
"All right" said the chief, with a
smile; IF you unravel the mystery
1 think you are entitled to monop-
oily of it."
Warde then sought Col Franklin to
lay his Investigations before him, an
ticipating that he would find in the
lawyer n more sympathetic judge OF
the Importance of his discoveries.
When he had gone the chief of po-