Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-05-19


the police had got the wrong man, an
event which alone was calculated to
enlist his sympathies. Second, the
crime was one which, lacking all ap-
parent motive, once Pickett and his
supposititious jealousy were elm
mated, promised to tax his detective
ability to the utmost, and this also was
condition full of attraction for him.
And now this woman with her mys-
FERROUS trouble which she would not
name! It certainly was beautiful
combination of possibilities. Yes, he
would straighten the affair out if only
for the Joy of the hunt. But he must
start right with his present visitor.
MADAM" he said, II will not ask
who you are-it does not concern me.
But I am obliged to inform you that
in all probability you will become
known, unavoidably, through the very
efforts you wish me to put forth for
young Pickett. And I warn you now
that if there is any step which, taken
by you beforehand, would save you,
you would better take it at once"
He arose with business-like air as
| if to close the interview. She stood
silent, her eyes on the floor. AS he
passed to open the door for her she
! grasped his arm.
Zone moment" she said in a
| strained voice. lis there any need Of
others beside yourself being present
| when you question Fickett?"
1T is impossible to say. That is
why I warn you It will depend on
whether his evidence is Of Importance
IN the murder case. I may see him
first alone, and need not call in others
| unless it should prove necessary. But
at lcsast I, if 10 other, shall hear your
name and learn your secret
She gazad at him earnestly. He
could not see her face with any dis
tictness through the heavy veil, but he
knew she was sorely frightened. Final
y she save him her hand, saying al
most inaudibly:
Very well, sir. You are a gentle
man, and in that case will know how
tc act" Then she went cut hurriedly.
The next morning the doctor pro,
| ceeded to the jail and was shown to
Fiokett's cell. The prisoner was a
youth OF "a, with fresh cheeks, light,
honest eyes and g naturally mild eE-
preston Of countenance, though now
he appeared thoroughly scared and dis
tres8ed. He frightened somewhat as
DR.. Furnivall came in, and advanced
q step to meet him; but as the doctor
removed his spectacles and looked him
in the eye he grew deathly pale and
| retreated.
why do you act like that, Fickett?''
the doctor inquired. you know
wouldn't hurt you, don't you?"
But you took Off your glasses, and
know what that MEANS" he an.
swered. 81 never saw you without them
before, and I never expected to- ]
don't want to be pumped can't BET
81! The doctor hesitated a moment over
the young fellows evident Distress
Then he replaced his spectacles over
his eyes.
II won't do it, he soliloquized
unless there is absolute need of it
Let the mysterious lady keep her Sc
cret, whatever it is" Then he re-
garded Pickett, who saw the glasses
go on again with lively show of re-
lief.
"Have you any suspicion of anybody
in connection with the Patrick girls
death?" he asked.
The young fellow gulped down the
sob which suddenly rose in his throat
No. he answered, huskily, II haven't
the least idea who could do it,"
Were you engaged to marry the
girl?"
yes, sir"
"Was the engagement ever broken o.
| mo, sir, but she asked me to say
that it was the other night, just fol
the fun of it. But we were going to
get married just the same, some
time"
WAS there any other lover in the
case?"
NO."
did you know that she was about
to change her placer"
Eyes, but she told me not to tell
anyone"
did she give you any reasons fol
wishing the change kept secret?"
'She said she wanted to surprise
her friends; that's ALL"
"How long have you known herr"
/! about year."
Where was she employed when you
first became acquainted with herr"
AT Mrs. Bufleld's, on Hite street,
did you know that she feared some
body, and wished to go away in orde,
to escape this somebody"
!. mo-"
"Well, that is sufficient" DR.. Furni
vail said. Two things he had learned:
!, That this lover was not in the girls
confidence, and that therefore it was
; some former lover that she was afraiG
, of. Anything else she would confide
I in him. The next step was to find Out
who this lover was. He hurried tt
Mrs. Bufield's, but that lady was sure
the girl never had any men callers OF
intimate friends. Whenever she went
anywhere she always told her whom
she was going with, and it was al
} ways some girl chum.
/ did you see these girl chums or
those occasions?" the doctor asked.
/ ''Why, no." she answered. But
oh, Sadie would not fib about it,
Two other women who had EN-
"Why, you'se got yuh fngah on de