The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-18
TIE EHEMZNG STORY
Two Thousand Dollars Reward.

Two Thousand Dollars Reward
(By C. B. Lewis.)
Had you asked any inhabitant of the
village of Glendale over ten years of
age about the Widow Clifton and her
daughter Bessie, you would have re-
celved the following summary:
Seen a widow several years; hus-
band didn't leave her much; house and
lot are mortgaged for fifteen hundred
dollars and how they are going to pay
It off can't see. They used to be
stuck up, but have had to come down;
widow sews and Bessie gives painting
and music lessons. Some folks say
that the girl expects to marry a rich
man. but she'll die of old age first.
She may be good looking, but what
does a rich man want of poor girl2"
It was true that Bessie gave lessons,
as stated, and that dresses were made
in the house. There were no relatives
to come to their financial assistance
when the husband and father died. and
the mother and daughter had to work
or starve. But for the mortgage they
could have pulled along fairly well. 1t
was their horror. They knew they
never could pay it. It was so near the
value of the village house and lot that
If any one bought the place there
would be very little left over and
Bessie had an artistic nature and
had taken some lessons in drawing
and painting. but she knew that her
work would not stand criticism beyond
certain point. She had been going
into the city twice week to get be-
yond this point, but amid all her
harassments this was discourag1ng
work. It meant, with other things, a
pinching of the family purse until
mother and daughter were sometimes
hungry and found nothing in the cup
board to satisfy the feeling
On this particular day and date, as
Miss Bessie was returning home on the
!, 1te,r c,erfra
day. she read in the evening paper an
account of a robbery at a first class
hotel. The robber had got away with
considerable money and large
amount of jewelry, and the victims
had combined and offered a reward OF
$4,000 for his arrest What purported
to be a good description Of the man
IF I only could come across that
mani" sighed Bessie as she let the
paper fall. Fifteen hundred dollars
of the money would pay off the mort
age, and the other five hundred would
surely put me on the road to success.
I am sure Ia know him from this de-
scription. and If got eyes on him ne
should not escape. I'd
And then she began to wonder
whether he would surrender at d1scre-
ton or make fight for it. She was
almost oblivious to her surroundings
when a voice at her elbow said:
Excuse me, miss" and a man sat
down beside her He was privileged
to, as the car was crowded, but she
felt a little nettled that he had bro
ken in on her thoughts. It was two
or three minutes before she glanced
at him, and then for an instant her
heart almost stood still
"A middle-aged man-smooth face
benevolent Ioolx-blue eyes-prominent
nose-scar of an old burn on the left
cheek-large hands-two front teeth
filed with gold
That was the description of the rob-
Der in the paper still lying on her lap
Her eyes had been caught by the scar
on his face. She saw the prominent
nose-the smooth face-the scant
hair-the large hands. She gasped for
breath and was all a-tremble.
The man had a small satchel on his
knees, and there was no doubt that
he was leaving the city with his plum
der. He presently turned to glance
out of the window, and she saw the
benevolent look. Miss Bessie Clifton
had her mani Fate had walked him
right into the car in which she sat.
It was a suburban trolley line, and
she had fifteen miles to ride. She had
planned in imagination what she
would do If she ran across the man,
but now that she was face TO race
with the problem things were differ
ent He looked like a strong man,
and Notwithstanding his benevolent
look he might not submit to capture
without blOodshed.
There were about a dozen people on
the car. men and women. Some were
getting off at intervals and others
getting on. Miss Bessie sized up all
the males, from motorman to the lit
tie country tailor with a bundle and
she couldn't say that any of them
to keep hands off, they would prob
ably sit still and let the man escape.
She looked at the conductor a second
time to see if she had missed any
~ nd he
grinned in reply and started to start
Irritation. She realized that there
was only one way to do, and after
long breath and a bracing Of her feet
she started in to do 1t. She sought
to make her voice very determined as
sir I know who you are. and it viii
be useless for you to try to escape. You
had better submit quietly"
.'Yes7" replied the stranger as he
turned to her with look of surprise on
his face You know me then?'
Your description is right here in this
paper, and you answer to it exactly"
He took the paper from her hand and
read the article, or rather. SKINNED it
over like one who had read before. Then
he handed it back with a smile and
queried:
so I am caught. en-, and that by
girl?"
when we get to Glendale sail call an
officer to arrest you. If you try to leave
the car before that shall denounce you
and call for help
Il see. It appears that you are very
determined young lady. May ask how
long you have followed the detective
business. and whether you are a private
officer or attached to some regular
force?"
II just saw your description in the
paper, and then saw you" she faltered,
would begin.
And you wanted the reward, of
course. II this is your first detective
work let me compliment you on your
perspicacity. The plumber is, Of course,
in this satche1 ?">
..It is si- rnr,,t tall- 70 M Il, Ill.