The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-01-18
Two Thousand
Dollars Reward
BY C. 3. LIE WIS
Copyright, 1906, by P. C. Eastment
Copyright, 1906, by P. c. EASEMENT

village OF Glendale over ten years OF
age about the widow Clifton and her
daughter Bessie you would have re-
ccived the following summary:
Been Il widow several years; huS-
band didn't leave her much; house and
lot are mortgaged for $500, and how
they are ever going to pay 1t off can't
see. They used to be stuck up, but
have had TO come down; widow scws
and Bessie gives painting and music
lessons. Some folks say that the girl
expects to marry Il rich man, but she'll
die of old age first. She may be good
looking but what does a rich man
want with poor girl?
1t was true that Bessie gave les
SONS, as stated, and that dresses were
made in the house. There were no
relatives to come to their financial as
sistance when the husband and father
died, and the mother and daughter had
to work or Starve. But for the mort
gage they could have pulled along
fairly well. 1t was their horror They
knew they never could pay it. 1t 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 above.
Bessie had an artistic nature and
had taken some lessons in drawing
and painting, but she knew that her
work would not stand criticism be-
yond a certain point She had been
going into the city twice a week to
Il
her harassments this was discourag-
ing work. 1t meant, with other things,
pinching of the family purse until
mother and daughter We're 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 trolley after rather discouraging
day she read in the evening paper an
account of 4 robbery at a first class
hotel. The robber had got away with
considerable money and large
amount of jcwclry, and the victims
had combined and offered reward of
$1,000 for his arrest. What purported
to be Il good description Of the man
was given.
IF 1 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
gage, and the other five hundred would
surely put me on the road to success.
l am sure I'd know him from this de-
scription, and if got eyes on him he
should not escape. ID
And then she began to wonder
whether he would surrender at dis
erection or make a fight for 1t. She
was almost oblivious to her surround
ings when voice at her elbow said:
Excuse me, miss" And man sat
down beside her He was privileged
to, as the car was crowded, but she
felt a little nettled that he had broken
in on her thoughts 1t 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 look, blue eyes, prominent
nose, scar of an old burn on the left
cheek, large hands, two front teeth fill
ed 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 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 be-
nevolent look. Miss Bessie Clifton had
her man! Fate had walked him right
into the car in which she sat.
1t was q 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 face
with the problem things were differ
ent. He looked like Il strong man, and
Notwithstanding his benevolent look
he might not submit to capture with
out bloodshed.
There were about dozen people on
the car, men and women. Some were
getting off at intervals and others get
ting on. Miss Bessie sized up all the
males from motorman to the little
country tailor with bundle, and she
couldn't say that any of them looked
heroic. On the contrary, if menaced
with a revolver and warned to keep
hands off they would probably sit still
and let the man escape. She looked
at the conductor second time to see
if she had missed anything heroic in
his looks, and he grinned in reply and
started to start Irritation. She real
lied that there was only one way to
do, and after Il long breath and a
bracing of her feet she started In to
do it. She sought to make her voice
very determined as she said:
Sir, l know who you are, and it
will be useless for you to try to eS
cape. You had better submit quietly"
"Yes?" replied the stranger as he
turned to her with look of surprise
on his face You know me thenY'
"Your description is right here in
this paper, and you answer to it ex-
actly."
He took the paper from her hand
and read the article, or, rather, skim
med it over like one who had read be-
fore. Then he handed it back with
smile and queried:
80 | am caught eh, and that by
grip
you are the robber mentioned, and
when we get to Glendale l shall call
IN officer to arrest you. If you try to
leave the car before that l shall de-
nOunce you and call for help"
Il see. 1t 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 l saw you," she
faltered, wondering when his desper-