The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-10-12
What Happened to
A Country Girl
iOriginal.'

any day.
Winifred Bolles, an unsophisticated
country girl, went to town in search
Of employment. Walking from store
to store she at last found herself I'M
Willingly in the private Office Of a
benevolent looking old gentleman, Mr..
Herman Knowles, who, though she
did not know it, was the head Of the
Arm
What is it, little girl2" he asked
kindly.
Winifred asked for work and was
sent to the proper person with Mr..
Knowles order that she be employed.
She was directed to begin her labor
the next morning.
AS she was leaving the store a man
stepped up to her aid said
Would you mind taking this to the
telegraph office over there, my dear?
Here's a quarter to pay for it,"
Certainly" said Winifred, and,
without even asking why the man
didn't take it himself, she started for
the telegraph office The message was
inclosed in an envelope, and when
she reached the window where mes
sengeS We're received and handed it in
the clerk took it out of the envelope
and with it a peculiar looking instru-
ment made of steel wire.
HIM he said, looking at the girl
suspiciously. Then he read the mes
sage.
Ben-Don't come tonight We are
watched. ROSE.
Again the clerk looked at the girl,
scanned her features closely and said:
"Sit down there while | count the
Words
Winifred obeyed, but had not been
seated five minutes when a policeman
entered and went to the window, where
the clerk handed him the message and
the wire instrument. Then the police
man turned to Winifred and told her
to come with him. She was taken to a
police station and led up before an
Inspector the policeman at the same
time producing the articles he had
received from the clerk, saying:
The girl tried to send the tele-
gram, evidently warning a burglar.
She'd unintentionally left the skeleton
key in the envelope and handed both
to the clerk at the telegraph Office"
did you order the message sent and
| its receiver arrested?"
YES"
"All right. Take her away"
Poor little Winifred was led away to
cell without the slightest knowledge
of where she was going.
| She knew no one in the city, but
the face of the kind looking gentleman
who had employed her kept coming
up to her, and she determined If pos
sible to send word to him of her mis-
fortune Her message was delivered
and the firms lawyer was instructed
to attend to her case. He called to see
Winifred listened suspiciously to hel
story, then heard the statement Of the
inspector, forming the opinion that
Winifred was in service and had lover
whom she had been intending to intro.
duce into her employers premises for
the purpose of robbery This opinion
he reported to Mr.. Knowles, with the
remark, "All depends upon whether
the telegram reaches Its destination
Thus far the messenger has not been
able to find the person to whom it was
addressed"
Nor will he2" said Mr.. Knowles
'eThe man who gave her the message
watched her and saw her arrest He
doubtless found way to warning"
How do you account for her having
a skeleton key?"
II have no theory as to that. judge
Of the girl only from what l saw OF
her for few minutes, and am never
deceived as to an honest face"
"And you do not consider her appli
cation to you for work a mere blind?"
Certainly not. Please assume tina
she is innocent and do the best you cal
for her" And the merchant turned tt
other matters.
The plan adopted by the police wa!
to have Winifred held for trial and tn,
trial put off in hopes Of development
or an Implication by the girl of her con
federate When Winifred was brough
up for examination there was reall.
nothing to be said in her favor. On
thing and one alone gave her hope
Among the visitors in the courtroom
she saw the kindly face of MI
Knowles There was something il
those benevolent features that sent
thrill of relief through her poor littl
heart
The judge Eeard the statement of tn
prosecution and would have listened
to the evidence of the defense if Their
had been any. Since there was not
Winifred's attorney contented himsel
/ with forming improbable theories as t.
how Winifred came into possession o
the discriminating articles. The judg
remanded the prisoner for trial, ixini
her bail at $1,000
81 will furnish that BAIL" said Mr.
Knowles, rising, and, the paper beins
signed. Winifred was discharged He
benefactor told her to so TO work at hi
store the next morning.
Before the trial came off, by MI
Knowles orders, Winifred's hlstor,
from the time Of her birth was collect
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