La Junta tribune., 1907-06-08

HE MADE A srDDES PASS AT WERNER.
well have occurred in the mind of any
burglarlous visitor that he would bet
ter screen the window. His shaded
lamp would indeed prevent light from
showing through the glass over the
tr;nsou of til" door 10 any watchman
who might pass by night along the
hall. but the glory must shine toward
the window II in the other direction.
II trust you have better evidence
than this" said l.
Very mscl better" answered Wer-
ner. "Mr. Aston. will take your hand
now
NO. thank you" said Aston. with
snecr.
".Ah. you begin to see the trap in
which you are taken" rcjoined Wer-
ner. You are shrcwsl. sir. but you are
caught just the same. You cannot take
my mark from your hand"
He turned TO me.
Il had observed already" said he.
this match holder on your desk. be-
lieved that with match from 1t our
burglar lighted his lamp each time that
| saw him. Yesterday afternoon pre-
pared some matches of the same ap-
pearauce as these. but burning more
slowly, SO that our friend would have
to hold them longer In his fingers. The
wood soaked In a caustic solution. not
enough to burn the flesh. wager that
you felt no pain. Mr. Aston, but your
forciingcr and thumb are now discolor-
ell with that substance that employed
for the purpose. and short OF skinning
them. my dear sir. there's no way to
get 1t Off. Obligc lis by showing your
right hnnd."'
Alston's face. which is very pale at
all times. became white as paper. but
with rage, not fenr. He made sud
den pass mt Werner. who cleverly
caught his wrist and held it firmly
despite the others efforts. stepped
forward and took hold Of Alston's
hand. Dull brown stains upon the
thumb and finger revealed beyond pos
sibllity OF doubt the action of Wer-
ner's magic.
I'VE were here last" said Werner.
I'VE came here first this morning. II
this man did not get these stains here
during the night. let him tell where he
did get them
This wns n question without an nm
swer. When mans fingers are STAIN
ed by chemical selected by his ad-
versary, its name unknown to the VIC
tim, a mighty good lie Is necessary to
explain the circumstance. Alston sur
rendered. He admitted that he had
seen the I.assell contract among some
letters taken from an old file box on
the afternoon OF its disappearance.
When the loss became known to him
he guessed that I had accidentally put
away the contract with the letters. but
be had not been able to find out what
file box ! had been using. He dared
not ask me lest the question should
convey suggestion to my own mind.
and so. after debating the question
with himself for some time. lie had
decided TO search NIL the file boxes.
most lnborious task and one that he
dared not openly undertake.
He declared that lie had Intended to
give me the contract when he should
find 1t and depend upon my gratitude
for his reward. but Investigation prov
ell that he was in negotiation with the
I.assells The contract was found in
tile file box. and I won my case. for
which fortunate event owe deep graf
itude to Lucius Werner. who refuses
to be rewarded. but II ever he or any
person whom he cares for is In need of
help will go a long way to render it.
Undoubtedly Aston would soon have
found the contract and have sold IT to
the enemy for good round sum. No
legal punishment was attempted. bnt
Aston wrecked his career by this
treachery and has gone steadily GOWN
hill ever since.