Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-01-07

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tial evidence, you can readily estab-
lish the fact that the pistols were
changed. 1t is generally understood
that Herbert Wright hns story to
tell which will place new phase on
the murder and possibly implicate
some one else. So an attempt is made
to poison him. have announced my
intention of working at the puzzle,
and have made some important dis
coveries. What is the result? / am
lured into a den of crime and tumble
into carefully laid plan to assas-
sinate me. All these things prove to
my mind, Mr.. Everett, that there is
q powerful organization ut work. At
first the life of John I. Wright stood
in the way Of its accomplishing some
great end. He was put out of the
way, but not without some telltale
evidence being left behind. Herbert
Wright having in some way come
across these evidences is marked for
death; and the attempt made on my
life satisfies me that l was on the
right track. Mr.. Wright's death was,
I am convinced, but part of some
far-reaching enterprise, some great
undertaking that had been planned
with commercial nicely. His death
was not matter of passion, but
business, and the interest that de-
manded it now wish to close Her
bert's mouth, and put n period to my
Investigations"
81 can hardly believe it," said the
lawyer. because it implies the pos
session of power almost unlimited,
not to speak of the money necessary
to hire all the agents"
At this juncture the door opened
and Detective Fenton entered the
room.
81 am glad to find you both here"
he said.
"You've struck something new in
the Wright case?" asked Irving.
"Yes; have been discharged from
the police force on account of my ac-
tivity in the case"
GLOW do you know that?" said Mr..
Everett. do you mean to say that
the chief of police has lent himself to
a plot to prevent the truth from COM
ing out?"
Not ut all. The chief is my friend,
and he did not want to see me 60.
/ have been on the force Is years and
have never had complaint lodged
against me. The chief has no more
power to retain me than l have my
self"
perhaps it was politics?"
Couldn't haven't been. l happened
to have been one of the most active
supporters of the present mayor"
"What causes you to think that
your activity in the Wright case
brought about your dismissal?"
II first asked the chief on what
grounds l was retired. He replied
very warmly that he had received a
peremptory note from the mayor to
discharge me from the service.
looked up the mayor and put the
same question to him. He replied
that 10 fault was found with me
whatever, and he could give me no
reason at all. Now, while the mayor
controls the chief, he is in turn con-
trolled by the boss"
"The boss?"
"Pat Kernigan, you know; the man
who can vote the slums as he pleases,
who knows every wharf rat, every
den keeper and every criminal that
haunts the Rest and other places OF
the same order, and who can make
and unmake mayors. This man vir-
tually appoints the police. He is
shrewd enough not to abuse his pow
er. He knows that there must be
good men on the force, but he draws
the line at any interference with his
followers. Last night Billy MCGEE
resumed his place behind the bar at
Peters Rest, and the place is now in
full blast again. This morning / saw
MCGEE in close consultation near the
mayors office. At noon came my dis
missal."
"That is only case of circumstan-
tial evidence" said Everett, "but /
believe am getting infected with the
theories of you two. If there is any
thing in it, however, some other in
fiuence than Billy McGee's must have
persuaded Kernigan to this step, and
it must have been pecuniary or
very peremptory influence. MCGEE
would have stopped when he secured
permission to reopen his dive. There
is something beyond"
There always is in this beastly
case" said Warde.
IF this organization can. in I'D
dition to its power to commit crime,
discharge ut will members of the po-
lice force, why nobody-nothing-is
safe from it. I can hardly imagine
any cohesive power that can bind to-
L l.