Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-08-27

'iou are mistaken" he said. coming
forward from his hiding place without
fear Il have done nothing to cause
my arrest. came in here to escape a
mob of rascals who were trying to
murder me. found this man sitting
dead in his chair"
"Oh. that is lie" shouted the ex
cited Waterman. HE came to me With
n story like that. l. like q fool. loaned
him my leather jacket. my SLOUGH hat.
my keys. l even told him which door
the big brass key unlocked. Oh. oh!'
IL think myself the story is absurd
said the mounted officer. "One does
not unlock private doors With stolen
keys to escape murderers. One comes
to the police for protection"
''ln my opinion" said the Waterman.
the men lie was running away from
wanted him for another crime like
this"
"Well. it will do no good to stand
here and argue" said the officer on the
beat. I'VE must take the fellow to
the depot. Let him tell his story
there"
IF you feel it to be your duty to
place me under arrest" said Buck
ford, land do not blame you in the
least, take me at once to the prefec-
ture. My adventures tonight happen
ed while acting under instructions
from the project of police. He can
understand the whole thing
"Oh. if that's the case, it can soon he
settled" said the officer. "Come With
me.'
"And L." said the other policeman.
"will remain until the arrival Of the
commissaire. You will of course make
the report"
II will attend to that. Now come,
my fine fellow, to the project. am
anxious to see whether you tell the
truth or not''
But stayw cried the Waterman.
"My leather Jacket and my SLOUGH
hat"
"Well, what about them?'
II want them"
"Oh, indeed! Well, what are you.
IN accomplice Of this fellow"
"Thc good God forbid: But l want
what belongs to me-
"You will get the,n-after we are
through using them. \ pretty watch.
man you are: luu are as guilty of NJ.
de Billions death as his murderer
Your neglect made it possible
The Waterman and one officer re-
NAMED on the scene while Buckford
in the custody Of the other officer. left
for the prefecture.
1t was nearly midnight when they
arrived. and the project was not to be
seen till morning. The officer made
his report, and the prisoner. against
cell to wait till morning.
He spent most wretched night and
as the weary hours dragged them
selves along the humor of his situation
died away. He now felt that he was
in n most difficult situation. \ thou
sand questions crowded into his busy
brain. Suppose the project did not re-
call his face. Suppose the project did
not believe his story. All depended on
the project.
In the morning he was taken into the
office of the project He found there,
beside the project of police, the chief
Of the detective service and a commits
saire. The three looked at him with
cold, condemning eyes as he entered.
He also saw. standing little apart,
the policeman who had arrested him
the night before.
els this the man:" asked the project
of police.
THAT is the man." replied the police.
man.
RELATE the circumstances of his ar
rest and explain why lie was held to
see me personally instead of being
sent TO the depot of detention
Il was patrolling my regular post
when l was accosted by q very excited
man." said the policeman. HE was,
it seemed, Waterman employed by
NJ. de Bullion. who was building the
large apartment houses in that district.
He told me that man had taken his
leather jacket and hat and keys: that
he had gone away with them: that he
was now undoubtedly trying to rob the
houses to which the keys belonged.
will explain that some of these houses
are already erected. while of the 9TH
ers only the foundations are up. I
whistled for assistance and accompa-
MED the Waterman to the Office of NJ.
de Bullion. 1t seems that this NJ. de
Bullion is peculiar man, who"-
"Never mind that. 1t will all be told
at the investigation. What we want
now are the facts concerning this
man."
well. we found NJ. de Bullion dead
in his chair at his desk. This fellow
was hiding in closet. arrested him.
he said he had not killed NJ. de Bull
lion. but had gone into the place to es.
cape some enemies of his own who had
tried to kill him. He also stated that
he had been acting under direct orders
from you, NJ. lie Prefect."
The chief Of the detectives and the
commissaire looked at the project with
interrogative eyes. The project looked
sternly and scrutinizingly at Buckford.
What orders have l ever given your
he asked.