Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-30

in the prison l was rather disappointed
in him. 1 could see nothing of the
sharpness and craftiness which 1 had
concluded would be part and parcel of
his equipment. Before the finish, how
ever, was taught the truth of the pro-
verb concerning the mistake of trust
ing to appearances.
1 am Watson Ward. l pick up the
thread of the narrative at this point
and carry it to the end, My line is
investigation. l may add that when l
drop a line l usually bring up a fish.
That savors of egotism, you think?
Well, people don't get regulations with
out deserving them, as a rule, do they?
Anyway, if there is a knotty criminal
problem knocking about it generally
finds it's way toward me. Why, even
Scotland Yard Itself. But that would
be telling tales out of school.
What Frank Carylon told me in Mix
borough Jail was easy to believe. He
was hotheaded, but there was not
trace of vice in him. 1t became clear
that the only way to prove his inno-
cence was to obtain evidence of some
one else's guilt.
Some one else" wanted finding. The
accused man was unable to furnish as
much of a clew as would have filled a
hollow tooth. My work seemed cut out
with a large pair of scissors. After go
"
servants there l trained back to Lon
don. There l went to the shipping
office of which the dead man had been
the head; asked for and interviewed the
head clerk; had quite a long talk with
him.
He was very sorry for young Master
Frank-so much so, that l thought the
sorrow oVerdone. You can put too much
color on a picture you know. Youth,
he said, had hot blood and was apt to
lose it's head at times.
Then, too, the young man was in love
with the sweetest and prettiest
woman in the world.
| pricked up my ears at that. The
head clerk was not too old to be tar
get for one of Cupid's darts. And the
most honest of men sometimes fall vic
tins to the green-eyed monster.
81 have seen this young man in JAIL"
I said. what do you think-guilty or
not guilty as they say to juries?"
mot guilty"
you speak confidently" I observed.
for the quiet assurance of the negative
has surprised me. Doubtless conf
dence with a foundation. Do you sus-
pect someone else?"
Yes" The affirmative uttered as re-
luctantly as before he had spoken
promptly. Il am sorry to say 1 do. If
| am correct, the muruer was committed
to cover up another crime"
This grows interesting. Tell me?"
For a while the office here has been
in a turmoil. Two checks had been
forged. Suspicion fell on all in the Of
flee. To me was deputed the task of
investigation. At last the inquiry mar
rowed down-to the one person l sus-
pect."
"A clerk here?"
YES Almost a junior-Edgar Lo-
rane."
Lorraine! Surely that is the name
nf pir ri int
to marry?'
"Alas yes. The boy is her brother.
A good enough lad when he first filled
a stool here butt is the old story
bad companions. l have found it all
out Betting, card playing, heavy
losses and then to pay his debts of
honor he dishonored himself by forg-
ing other peoples names to two
checks"
"A bad business"
Bad" AS the head clerk echoed
my words he raised his hands "That
is not a fitting description. His ia
Their is clergyman-this will break
his heart. The sister, too, Mile"
Has the boy bolted?"
mo I sent to verify the statement.
He was found i'll enough"
"At his lodgings? Let us go at once
and see for ourselves"
We did, burrowed from the bank to
Shepherds Bush In that district the
youngster had rooms. We found him
in them right enough He was as pale
as ghost and undoubtedly ill.
Usually when / look into a mans
face I am able to read it, eyes are diff
ficult things to force falsehood into
But this boys expression puzzled me-
He was a fair-haired, blue-eyed slip