Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-15

new acquaintance, holding out his hand which Oar
rail- clasped cordially, Il have of'en heard of you
uh;-know you by reputation. You have done
good work for us, and judge this terrible
crime will prove of NOR than passin intrest to
you.
'C0l. Stedle 10dS dSSdSSinGted las nightP'
"ASSGSSinGted?-I cannot believe that. Surely
there must be some mistake Who would do so
cowardly a thing?"
''Col. Steale had many enemies sub, and with
the excitement at fever heat right now, over the
Old and the New Cote decisions, one half the
people bankrup already, and the other half threat
ened with bankrup'cy-all dependin on which side
wins-it want impossible sub. A condition like
this breeds cranks.'
That is true Can you tell me the details?"
1T seems sub, he was givin a supper las night
to his friends an while they was all enjoyin'
themselves, Steale left em to speak to his wife,
who was sick, and not able to leave her bed. Just
what happened, nobody seems to know. He didn't
go to his wife's room. She heard his voice talkin'
to somebody in the hall, but he didn't come into
her room: After while, when they was all
watchn the procession passin' by, and stoppin at
the gate to Hurrah,' they heard shot outside.
They didn't think nothin' of that of course. Any
body might have shot off empty pistol. His
wife heard it, and was skeer'd and Judge Arnol'
and Maj. Welinton stepped outside, and they
found him in the shrubbery to one SIDE"
"DeddP'
"Not quite-but mighty nigh it. He did not
live long after they took him inside; just few
minutes The curious part of it is he wasn't shot.
Somebody had taken that chance to dirk him."
did they find clues?"
"It so tramped round where he fell
by the crowd rushing in, that they couldn't tell
anything about the tracks They took the measure
of some that seemed to lead off by vacant lot.
OF course, sub, that didn't mount to much with
such crowd out as there was las night"
did they search we'll for the instrument of
death?"
"The knife? Yes. Every inch of ground was
gone but they didn fin nothin'; they took the
measure of the wound though.
something.
such deed could be committed right here in the
heart of the town, and the perpetrator escape so
easily"
"Well you see the helped; an the fire.
works. an the crowd. Whoever it was couldn a
picked a better time Twas easy sub to hide be-
him the bushes, an jine the crowd when they
rushed in:-an' then in the darkness an the blind
in snow the streets dimly lighted; it was easier
than body would think suh."
Gall you say is true" answered Darrall thought
fully "The excitement must be very great"
so great, that If they had the assassin here they
would lynch him without any help from Old or
New cote. Col Steale, you know Nv course, had
his enemies and bitter ones, but he is dead now
and the whole city is mournin'. Wv course this is
the stronghold of his party but party lines is
wiped out and every body is afeared that it is a
conspiracy; that the whole administration from
the Govnor down is in danger"
"That is nonsense. The Anti Reliefs have not
lost their minds nor would they counsel or ap
prove such an act"
"You know that of course sub and so do l.
and all men of cool judgment but at time like
this people go wild crazy. The public offices is all
closed and I hear he will lay in state. at the
Capitol"
THAT would be i'll advised it seems to me. 1t
might fan the excitement into flame and put
dangerous notions in the heads of cranks" Din
they parted company.
81 am pleased to have met you Mr. -?" said
Darrall holding out his hand.
"Connor. I ask your pardon sub. In the
citenent forgot believe to give you my name
I hope sub we will meet again.