Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-03-03
! A STRANGE CLEW
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! ''0be Captain i
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s. Ole Captain

noon when we again entered the fac
tory Office. Banks carrying a package
about fifteen inches square.
you will oblige me by gathering
all the employees. of the factory to-
gether in this Office, Mr.. Williams, =
said Banks. addressing the head clerk.
Let the outer doors be locked and
when the men are all In here see that
the Office Goor is securely fastened
ALSO wish to try very Interesting
little experiment"
| Il observe that you use type
writer" he went on, after Mr.. Will
Jams had given orders to have the
men called. ''Will you kindly remove
the ribbon or if you have an unused
one, better STILL"
This being brought Banks proceeded
to unite his package Removing the
outer wrapper he laid bare plain
| cardboard box, the cover of which he
was on the point of lifting, when he
looked up to see the eyes of all pres
ent gazing upon it with eager curl
osity.
In five minutes the men-looking
somewhat mystified-were all assem-
bled, and everything ready for the
next STEP
Now, men, he said, addressing the
gathering. ''as little more can be done
in the matter of the murder until we
hear from Detective Gregg, Mr. Will
/ Jams here has kindly consented to al
low me this favorable opportunity to
| put to the test little theory which
it is said that in China all holders of
public offices, and especially soldiers,
are known by their thumbmarks. The
arrangement of the grooves and fur
rows on the s---n, it is claimed, is
alike in no two individuals. AS each
mans name is called he will please
step forward, press his left thumb
upon the typewriter ribbon, and then
of prepared glass"
Banks eyed each man keenly as he
came up in answer to his name and
did as requested.
Now" said Banks, lifting the mys-
FERROUS package, Il have here small
magic lantern through which | pro-
pose to put the slide bearing the i'm
pressions. 1t is now dark enough,
fancy ,and-yes-- the back of that
large calendar yonder will serve ex-
cellently as a white surface Oblige
me, Mr. Williams, by turning its face
1 to tho uall THANH won >,
While pseaking my friend had
busted himself in preparing the Ian
tern, so that matters moved absorbing
| ly and without delay
TO make the test a little more in
teresting," he continued, 81 will first
show you the thumb-mark of a gen.
| tleman whom | have a great desire to
meet. We will compare the others
with this one."
On the disc of light thrown upon the
wall appeared peculiar arrangement
of lines, jagged, running and ending
| in the same place.
Presently Banks pushed the long
slide in and stopped at number one
For a few seconds he allowed it to
| show out beside the first 1t exhibited
a conformation entirely different He
| then superimposed them, and placed
| the figure on the moving slide direct
| ly over that on the stationary one.
| The result was a confused net work of
| interviewer lines.
Quickly he hurried through the list,
| treating each in the same manner and
allowing the dissimilarities to speak
for themselves. Presently one of the
| thumb marks fitted so nicely over the
stationary one that not a single vari-
alton could be observed; there was no
crossing of the lines, and no blur. |
noticed commotion in the back part
of the room Then came a yell from
Banks.
Seize him-John Trasker-the MUIR
derer! Don't let hi mescape, men!"
Before a hand could be raised to
stay him John Trasker had plunged
headforemost through the window and
was flying with terror at his heels
down the street
Ere the doors could be opened and
hut anu VI ldAcC0 liz ud0 OCCuI GU
long start. AS it was only dusk
outside, and there were few houses
near the factory, he was still in view,
however, and the men tore after him
with cries of "Stope the murderer!
Stop him!"
Presently a clatter of hoofs was
heard and horse and rider dashed
past them and gained rapidly upon
the flying fugitive. Seeing he would
be shortly overtaken if he kept the
road, Trasker climbed a stone wall
and dashed across a meadow
With leap the rider cleared the
saddle; with a single bound he went
over the wall, and almost before the
other pursuers realized what was hap
pening John Trasker was struggling
to free his pinioned arms from the
iron grasp of his muscular captor.
Why, if it isn't Stanton!" cried
Mr.. Williams in surprise as he and
the others came up.
Arriving at the factory, Trasker
broke down and made most abject
confession. He had planned to remain
behind that evening to rifle the open
safe. Overhearing the quarrel between
uncle and nephew, he saw how it
might be used to his advantage. On
his way through the general Office he
looked through Stanton's desk and Sc
cured his knife. Returning after the
deed. to complete the evidence against
the young fellow, he had left the
discriminating thumb mark. As for
Stanton, his story was very simple
He had returned to the premises last
evening with view of apologizing
to his uncle. but, pride overcoming
his good intention. he had gone away
without entering. Shortly afterward,
meeting friend who lived some
twenty miles from town, he had been
tempted with the prospect of a days
shooting to accompany him home
Three o'clock that afternoon and inst