The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-15

SOinS way Win the ulRlI Oh Beatrice
did not doubt
I picked UP the whole lot and rode
back to Lees with It, This time !
went TO the big house. where l saw
John Lee sauntering on the veranda. He
looked up in surprise when he saw
me
Whose truck is that2'' I asked.
dumping the clothing on the veranda.
Good Godl Where did you ge,
| these?" he exclaimed.
I'm one of the old houses at the mill.
Do you recognize them?"
Why. yes he said. They belong
to NOrah. the colored maid of my niece
She was missing the same night Bea,
=, trice went away."
/ 1 began to get excited.
Where did this Norah belong? In
/ Utica e.
NO believe her home was Ia SYRIA
cuse"
1 had another chill.
/ Thanking Lee, 1 went back to the
mill. rummaged around considerably
but found nothing more.
The ground around the mills was a
sandy loan easily impressed with a
footprint where the grass was not toe
thick I searched about for the foot
prints Of the colored woman, for | knew
that she, at least. had been there
AT last, near the almost dried up
stream. found the print of heel. II
was that of mans boot
Eagerly I looked further. / found
where some one had jumped across the
soft, wet bed of the tiny rivulet I ex-
/ amined the marks
1t appeared to me that there were
more prints than one man would make.
Yet there was nothing like tho print OF
small shoe such as Beatrice would
wear. Evidently more men than one
had been there. Not one of them might
be connected with the fight.
But 1 persevered. l mounted the bay
and rode short distance, when I dis
mounted and found several other foot
prints.
In this way 1 went on TIL I reached
a small hamlet of three or four farm
houses grouped more closely together
than was the rule. I believe the local
name was Grafenburg, or something like
that.
I inquired at each house for informa-
ton. Not one of the farmers had even
heard of the tragedy at Lees. But
they knew Beatrice Forrest had been
married and run away.
1 asked in vain. till at last / struck
hired man who was somewhat given
to visiting a hired girl on a farm some
distance away. He listened patiently
while 1 told him who and what was
after.
II amt seen no women, black or
white" he said, but a couple or three
nights ago 1 remember l was daown to
sec my-a friend. I rode cid Kate. the
black mare yonder. came joggin' home
bout l o'clock an passed three men.
remember naow that one was little
feller-only a boy. An one was a mtg
ger. Yep. an the other one had a
beard
l was quivering with excitement. With
out doubt the boy was Beatrice, the
negro, Norah. But was the man with a
beard Bob Forrest or Ellis Finland? En-
land was killed in Syracuse. Norah lived
there
Would I ever see light7
ascertained the direction the trio
had gone, and proceeded. put the bay
to his limit that day.
1 went through village after village.
1 found men, and women, too. who had
seen three tramps, one young and one
black.
traced them, as Golden had Ellis En-
land, to Richfield Springs. and there my
clue ended
1 resolved TO return TO Utica, and
leave the bay. coming on the following
day to Richfield Springs by train and
taking up the search there without any,
thing 10 hamper my movements. 1
would go. and go. and go. till I found
something.
So l fed the bay and had supper my
self at hotel, and started homeward.
1t was almost morning when 1 arrived.
The bay. powerful and enduring as he
was, was stiffened with his long jour
ney. and ! wac as bad
One Of the grooms was waiting I'D.
and for his loss OF sleep 1 slipped a five
dollar bill in his hand.
ANY luck. sir?'' he asked
Some. I answered
went into the house. James and the
servants were. of course. in bed I knew
that James always had sherry In the
library, and I went in there 10 get a
glass.
On the table lay an evening paper of
Utica, spread open, with the scare head
title of an article staring up at me.
On the paper 1 saw a telegram. I shud-
dered. The sight of one of these deviush
little papers now gave me the horrors
picked up the paper:
The escaped murderer recapturedi
Bob Forrest arrested near Syracusei
Living alone in empty barn!''
l dropped the newspaper, and, half
dazed. with trembling fingers took up
the telegram.
The BLUSH gray envelope held two in
stead OF one. The first was simple
enough. 1t ran:
James Stage. Utica, New York:
Forrest retaken near Syracuse.
Brought back TO prison.
CARTER"
l did not know who Carter was. Prob
ably some prison official or police onicer
Of Syracuse. The other telegram was
evidently in reply to one James had
sent:
James Stage, Utica, New York:
NO. Forrest was alone No trace of
girl. Forrest will not talk.
With a nightly groan 1 staggered to
the cabinet and took drink OF brandy
instead OF sherry.
II Beatrice was not with Forrest. and
had not been with Finland, where In the
name OF merciful God was she?
staggered up TO bed. half determined