Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-04-21
IOriginall

\ careful examination Ot the MARKS on
the box was made, resulting in the dis
covery by the blood stains on it that
the index finger of the right hand OF
the murderer was missing. But that
was all the headway made in the case
for some months. Everybody for miles
around knew that a murderer was at
large minus the index finger of his
right hand and everybody was on the
watch for such a person.
zone night about 10 clock a woman
was sitting before embers on a fire
place doing. Behind her on a table
was bright light. before her a white
wall. Opening her eyes. she saw on
the wall the shadow of a man. He
stood still for moment; then, raising
his right hand in which he held a
knife pointing downward, he began to
advance without noise one thing was
notiCea ble-there was something want
ing in the shadow of the thumb and
fOrefngcr If yOu will make such a
shadow, you will see that in that posi-
ton it will show the forefinger pro-
tuberance The woman noticed there
was no such protuberance. The han
die Of the knife took its place, but did
not completely fill it. At any rate,
there was a difference. No more re
markable instance of coolness than
that of this woman threatened with in
stant death is on record.
Sarah" she called in perfectly con
+r.It,J ,-,;,, d, ~, bitch
on.
The shadow retreated Probably the
man stepped into the hall. Sarah came
in. and her mistress said to her:
~ have some bills to pay tomorrow
morning and some purchases TO make
There's not cent of money in the
house | wish you TO take "A note 10
my brother and ask him to let me have
$50, which amount | will draw from
the bank tomorrow and send it to his
office Stop; he will not give it with
out the order. | will write one. Hand
me my writing case
"The servant did as she was directed
and the woman wrote the note, reading
1t over aloud carefully to make sure
that she had made herself plain and
that the servant understood what she
was to do Then the latter left the
house
For five minutes by the clock on the
mantel the woman sat perfectly still.
She could not be sure that her plan
would succeed. She must take her
chances on its succeeding without an
effort to determine whether il had or
not. After five minutes. not sccinr the
shadow reappear she got UP and went
out the frout door t. the next house,
where she sent messenger to the pO-
lice station with the following note:
THE three fingered murderer came Just
now to my house L. murder and rob me.
/ sent my servant with "a note to my
brother living on tha Hilton road for $50.
The murderer heard me tell her what to
do. He will follow her and on her return
will rob her.
The police were out at once. followed
the girl and saw her enter the house
where she was to get the money. One
Of their number entered, dressed him
self in the servants clothes and started
back as if to deliver the money From
behind bush a man sprang u and
called out Your money Or your life"
at the same time covering the supposed
servant with revolver Instead of
complying he sounded Il sharp whistle.
1t was needless, however for the police
were in touch and in an instant had
the robber handcuffed. His right hand
was found TO be minus the index fin
ger. There was absolutely no other tes-
timony 10 convict him of the murder
committed some months before, but
this bit of circumstantial evidence was
sufficient. The shadow of the forefin-
GER
Wrong again. professor" interrupt
ed the facetious student 1t was the
absence of shadow"
You are incorrigible" said the pro
fessor. smiling. What can't be cured
must be endured"
The class, the facetious student and
the teacher all laughed together, and
the latter proceeded with his discourse.
But the interrupter never offended
again. He had no desire to do so. and
he knew the class would cry him down
If he did