The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-06-11
CHAPTER XIII.

items appeared in one of the
W New York newspapers, neither
of which would strike q cas-
ual reader as being important; but, SC
far as this narrative is concerned, they
led to complications The first was
an obviously exaggerated report and
read as follows:
TEXAN FATALLY INJURED.
MIR. Richard Williams, son of the IA
nous millionaire and cattle king of San
Antonio. Tex, was severely injured on
Sunday last in an automobile accident
He was taken to st. Luke's hospital
where our reporter called last evening"
Mr.. Williams was too Frustrated by the
shock to be interviewed but we learn
from one in authority that the young man
Is suffering from conclusion of the brain,
besides sustaining a fracture Of the Shout
der and internal injuries. The accident
was due to the carelessness Of an mex
perienced chauffeur, who gave his name
as Peter Wilson. but whose address had
not been ascertained up to late hour
last night. The police are making in
Quiries.
The above paragraph CHANGED to
catch the eye of certain Mr.. Logger,
who had taken the morning train for
Chicago. He was an intimate friend of
old Bill Williams and would have
gone to look after the son himself ex-
cept that urgent business necessitated
the continuance Of his journey west
Mr.. Logger therefore wired his friend
from Pittsburg stating that Richard
had been hurt and lay at the point of
death in a New York hospital.
On receiving this startling Informal
tfon the father became greatly agi-
tated. He had not heard from Richard
for several days and had begun to
worry even before the receipt of Mr..
Loger's telegram. He wired at once to
the st. Regis, where he knew his son
to be stopping, and received an answer
to the effect that Richard Williams
had not been seen since the previous
Monday morning, though his dress
suit case and other belongings were
still in room No. $685. which had not
been given up.
Bill Williams, who loved his son as
he loved no other being on earth, COM
mitted the deep water harbor and i'm
provement business to his most trust
ed subordinate, although affairs had
reached a critical stage, and started
for New York on special train.
The other newspaper item appeared
IN the social column under the head Of
Gossip" It read as follows:
On Friday evening Of the present week
an entertainment will be given in the
beautiful country home of Mr.. Jacob
ReNwVck Tryip orto -,
Among other features a little one act
play will be presented, entitled 1.-THE Man
and the Bird" in which Miss Imogene
Chlttendon, one of the seasons most
charming debutantes, will take the part
OF the bird, while the charming and
accomplished Miss Renwycl1 will assume
the leading role. wearing a costume or
dered specially for the occasion and tho
famous Renwyck diamonds. The enter
tainment we understand, is given to a
rev Intimate friends in honor of dis
tnguished guest, Lord George Fitz-Clar-
ence de Courcy Howard, earl Of Croyland
The affair promises to be an unusually
brilliant one.
This breezy but otherwise unremark-
able item caught the attention of one
Jack Bibbs, gentleman possessed of
much ingenuity, some varied expert
ence, quite a collection Of aliases and
a passion for acquisition. He had re-
ceived no invitation to the above men,
toned social function, though he hoped
to profit thereby in ways best known
to himself.
MI. Michael Corrigan, returning from
a business meeting in the city, took
the - o'clock train for Irvington and
went into the smoker, where he seated
himself and lighted short black pipe,
the pet aversion Of his refined broth
er-in-law, Jacob Renwyck, who visited
most of his disgust upon his unfortu-
nate wife. His business transactions
In the city evidently pleased Uncle Mi
chael vastly, for that gentleman kept
chuckling to himself and rubbing his
plump white hands in the manner of
one upon whom good fortune has de-
scended suddenly.
After a time his attention was ar
rested by two men on the seat oppo-
site him. They were engaged in
whispered conversation while they ate
their lunch from brown paper parcel.
To a casual observer there was moth
ing unusual in the appearance of the
two passengers. They were roughly
clad, unshaven and apparently poor,
having the air Of workingmen out of
job. Mr.. Corrigan would probably
have not noticed them at all except
that one Of them-the better looking,
who if he had been shaved and we'll
clad might have been called good look
ing-had a slight cast in his eye, a
physical blemish which the old gentle
man. had ever regarded as a sort Of
name plate on the front door of a scala
wag. Hessaw the man only a moment
or two before getting out Of the train,
and in the stress Of far more impor-
tant matters the incident passed out
Of his mind. It was recalled later on.
He was sitting on the front porch Of
Restmore. where he had just taken
luncheon, when a tramp entered the
place and came timidly to the house,
begging for food in the usual profess
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