Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-03-26

| shadow in one place. But | have an
! idea
"You are fortunate-so early in
the morning.
s'It is this, that the head of these
affairs is not to be found in the I'M
der world, but higher up. For all
we know, one who passes as a gen
! tleman."
'That I have thought of myself -
said the chief, thoughtfully. ''Per-
haps we have been working in the
wrong direction all along. Well |
can only urge you to do your best,
or we shall find ourselves disliked
by the press and the public and in
general disrepute."
eth try new tack" and the de-
tective brought his teeth together
with a snap Don't think [ haven't
worked hard over this cursed affair.
| 1t worries me quite as MUCH as it
does you," but the chief did not seem
to be listening, was leaning back in
his chair as if half asleep, and the
other, seeing him SO preoccupied,
took the opportunity to slip out of
| the room.
The closing of the door reused the
chief from his reverie, for he sat up
and looked around as if wondering
| to find himself alone. Just then a
timid tap sounded on the door and
the attendant entered.
''Well, what do you want?" asked
the chief.
There's heavy swell outside who
says he thinks he has news of impor-
lance, bout this last robbery on de
aveny."
''Some other fool-crank, I suppose,
| to take up my Time" growled
Barnes; then, settling back in his
chair, with an air of resignation,
''well, tell him to come in"
The visitor tripped in gayly, as if
bent on a pleasure mission. He was
| rather overdressed and wore a gar
denia in his lapel. His face was
smiling, but Barnes in an ill-humor
frowned that down.
'You have some infor1nation-be
brief. Sit down." motioning toward a
chair. The visitor dropped into the
seat.
Inspector Barnes, I believe you
the sobriquet of Will o. the Wisp re-
Gently escaped, with others, from the
Auburn prison"
Barnes nodded stiff1y.
Il have reason to know that he is
still in this city. That he arrived
here a few days ago."
"Are you sure of that?" eying his
visitor keenly. Our men have been
looking for him, but l had no news
of his whereabouts
swell, you see an amateur some
times can beat professional"
''But how do you know you have
seen the man-do you know him nel'-
sonally?"
''Well, hardly, not being in the
habit of associating with such peo-
ple," with a laugh.
Explain yourself"
81 need not GO into details-in fact,
| prefer not to. This man, it hap
pens, called on us some time ago.
He holds a paper-a document,
which, if made public, would do a
great injury to our family. Now, he
could only have got hold Of this pa
per through fellow-prisoner-
Martin Frale-to whom it was con-
fided many years ago.
II see. Frale was the man who
was killed when a crowd of them es-
capped from Auburn" and the chief
examined a paper which he drew
from one of the pigeon-holes above
his desk. ''This Frale and Will, it
seems, had struck up a great friend
ship in prison. Frale, ! learn, saved
his life from the assault of another
man when they were working in the
shoe shop. Since that time they
were like brothers. It's rather a
pity that this Frale was shot; be-
cause, you see, he had but a short
time more to serve, if he had not
attempted to escape" He replaced
the paper in his desk, and looked
to his visitor as if waiting for him
to speak
"By the way, you have not told me
your name," as the other maintained
silence.
''To be sure, I forgot that. Of
course, [ don't want to appear con-
spicuously in the matter
''You need not"
'My name is Frank Ellison"
"And you think that perhaps this
escaped prisoner may be the head of
these recent robberies. The suppose
ton is not bad one, for when he
was at large he conducted some pref
ty clever jobs
| He took a memorandum pad from
his desk, and dipped his pen into the
| ink, at the same time assuming an
attitude of attention.
"Now, then, where is this place
where our man can be found?"
There are reasons why | cannot