The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-04


we'll nigh desperate To
think that all had seemed so hopeful
but half an hour ago and now there
was absolutely no foundation left TO
build upon
The five thousand dollars with which
Jim had Entrusted h-r had been stolen.
and, worse than hat. the one bit of
evidence she had 10 found her new
theory OF the crime upon was gone.
Luckily she stiT had her purse con-
tainIng her private money. SO she had
sufficient cash to pay expenses. She
secured a room at the hotel and went
30 IL at once,
There she dropped in a heap beside
the bed and lay silent for some time.
At length enough courage returned so
that she opened the substituted bag
again and poured out its contents on the
white spread.
The collection was not large. Evil
IDENTIFY the girl she had encountered on
the train Travelled with little In her bag
so that the loss would not be import
ant TO her If she had to exchange suit
cases to achieve her ends.
Bess sorted over the contents. There
was a comb and brush. collars, a
change OF undertaking. tooth brush.
powder and soap. That was all. except
a little package Of letters under a Thin
rubber band.
Bess looked at these DULY. There
would be little Ia them of interest, she
knew, but possibly there might be some
clue to the girls identity
She opened one letter that Law on ton
and found it was addressed to Miss
jackson IN the city where the girl had
got on 1t proved to be nothing but a
bin for a new hat and Bess threw fl
aside with a shrug of her shoulders as
she realized how she had been taken in
by the young woman
The next envelope that came 10 hand
was addressed in the same manner.
Bess opened it incuri0usly and began
reading mechanically. with slight hope
OF huding anything that might help her
in recovering the lost articles
II was dated, Bess noted with a shocgy.
on the day that Jim had been sem
fenced. The address was repeated. and
the note read.
Man sentenced to chair. Gave one
last wish TO have something sent to
woman iu WickenburE. Ariz Wants
Bess Brown. Georges sister. TO do it.
Think it's money ne wants taken.
Has some property here. May want to
call on you IL the chances are good
enough.
''Wiu let you know further b."
Bess was clearly puzzled by this com
munication. That IL had a close bearing
on the case she was sure.
Instead Of stopping to think I'D its
possibilities, Bess opened a second let
ter bearing a special delivery stamp. adj
dressed I'm the same hand. "a strange
hand % her
This read.
It's money. Five thousand dollars.
II you set it viii give you half If YOU
also get note In evidence. Note is on a
crumpled bit of paper, signed Harvey.
Afraid 10 viii be used ON governor to try
10 get pardon
Think shell carry suit case marked
f. p. Get one marked ike it, It's reg
ulation ladies' size
"PH wire full particular. VIII re-
serve berth for you near hers if possible
You can't miss her Name. Bees
Brown blonde medium sized blue
eyes; quiet, but has q snap.
IF you get the evidence and fifty
huudred-d0IIar bills be careful. She's
got several good hackers that could
make a lot of trouble for us. b.
Bess wondered long ou who 'sE."
could be. The letter had come from
Dewitt Dewitt was so large that Eess
could not possibly think OF anybody
there that might have a. finger FOO the
pie. Who ia Dewitt would possibly
have known about the amount Of mon
- and everything.
Suddenly the interview with Tom
came % her mind. lie had surprised
her by standing In the doorway when
she was tuckiug the money into the
leather pocket But the note had been
ln her waist then. lie might have
guessed that she would put her two
treasures together. Tom was the only
person she could tliHI, OF that had this
knowledge
She scrutiuized the handwriting care
fully. No. ID couldn't be Tom. the
writing was absolutely nothing like his.
and even the form OF expression was
utterly different IL was too terse and
direct Tor Tom
Surely there was no clue lu the
single letter D. Even as this -uIaue
into Bess mind she mad q sudden
thought. IL seemed quite probable that
she was right. Having considered this
new idea. Bess quickly drew herself ID
gether There was uo time 90 -lt think
ing she must act.
Bess knew from the evidence found
in the girls suit case that Miss Jack
son had d ticket 90 WtekeuBura ouTv
gHat was a. good point
In studying up tHr route she was 10
take. Bess had noticed that there was
gr larger city than NlckeuDurg with
iu several hundred miles. Then r. came
ro her that Hiss Jackson would think
that Bess would Dee Inclined 10 believe
size had gone on go the end OF the line
..g- Do
.. the TeEL station and stayed there.
or else returned 90 Wlekeu5ur@ Sine
WAS certaiau that tie girl would feel
Yer right where Erss had seen Deer