Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-01-22
CHAPTER XIII,


at all. Many objections occurred to
me. saw that the whole elaborate
structure was built upon quicksand.
There was no proof that any of the
clippings referred to Tremaine or
Thompson. There was no proof that
Thompson had gathered them with
elaborate care and of set purpose.
There was no proof
Yes. There was one point susceptible
of proof. By it the whole structure
would stand or fall.
Mr.. Royce" said to our Junior, in
the course Of the morning, 81 wonder If
could be spared this afternoon? I've
some business of my own which I'd
very much like to attend to-
why, certainly" he answered in
stantly. So when I left the office at
noon, took the elevated to the Grand
Central station and bought a ticket to
Ossining. Once there, went direct to
the gray old prison and stated my err
rand to Mr.. Jones, the subwarden,
whom found In charge.
"I've come up from New York." I
began, after giving him my card, Ito
see If you can identify this man." and
handed him the photograph of
Thompson.
He looked at 1t long and searchingly,
seemingly for n time in doubt, but at
last he shook his head.
NO, l don't believe 1 can" he said.
There's something familiar about the
face, but can't place it."
"How long have you been connected
with the prison, Mr.. Jones?" asked.
II began thirty years ago rs guard.
But what made you think could iden-
tify this fellow?"
We've rather imagined" I answer
ed chat his real name was Johnson
and that he served term here for
robbery, beginning in 1885,"
He looked at the photograph again,
with sudden flush of excitement in
his face.
II believe you're right" he said.
Lets look at Johnson's photo"
He consulted the index, then turned
to one Of the wall cases.
Here he is" he said, opening u COM
partment and pointing to photograph
Its the same man sure, only changed
lot. 1t would be easy to prove 1t.
suppose they took his Bertillon meas
urements at the morgue, and we've
only to compare them with ours.
They'd be the same, no matter how
much he'd changed"
And he had changed, indeed! The
Johnson of the prison photograph was
of course, smooth shaven; his face was
alert, intelligent; there was no scar
upon the temple, nor did the features
show that subtle bloating of long con-
tinued dissipation. But 1T was the
same-undoubtedly it was the same.
There was no need to apply any finer
tests.
II remember him now," said Jones,
looking from one photograph to the
other, very we'll. He was a quiet,
well behaved chap; had been captain
of little tramp steamer believe. He
had perfect mania for cutting pieces
out Of newspapers and FASTING them
In scrapbook. He spent all his lei
sure time that way. Oh, yes; remem-
Der, too, lie tried to escape, but his
pal went back on him and left him lay
In out yonder by the wall. His pal
was bad one, he was; he got away
and I've often wondered what become
Of him. Here he is"
He swung open another compart-
ment, and 1 found myself staring at
Tremaine!
Not until was quite near New York
did ! recover sufficiently from the
effects of this discovery to heed the
cry Of the train boy as he went through
the coaches with the evening papers.
"All about TIL Edgemere murder"
he was crying, and the name caught
my ear.
"Edgemere," 1 repeated to myself.
"Edgemere. I've heard that name
somewhere
Then in flash remembered, and in
moment more the whole story of the
tragedy of the night before-the muir
der of Graham and the theft of Mrs.
Delroy's necklace-lay before me.
With what intensity Of interest read
1t can be easily imagined. I was
shaken, nervous, horror stricken. That
there was some connection between
this second tragedy and the one in
suit fourteen 1 did not doubt, and |
read and reread the details with the
greatest care, in the effort to find
where that connection lay.
But it was impossible to see how
Tremaine could be implicated in the
Edgemere mystery even in the least
degree-his alibi was perfect. On the
other hand, the evidence against young
Drysdale seemed complete in every
link. Certainly none Of the papers
doubted his guilt. and they handled his
past career and his family history with
a mlnuteness and freedom which must
have been most trying to his friends.
Coroner Heffelbower came In for the
lions share of praise-eyery one agreed
that he had conducted the case with
rare skill and acumen. OF course the
Record had his photograph, as well as
| those of his wife and six children, and
| as looked at his round face fancied
him strutting back and forth in his
saloon. inflated with pride and listening
approvingly to the constant ringing
of the cash register. It's an i'll wind
but certainly there was no denying
that he had handled the case adroitly.
Drysdale, it appeared, had been lodg-
ed in the Jail at Babylon and stead
| faStlY refused to mako any stntam ont