Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-10-21


ser could not understand how this
could be done in private. but his coun-
sci finally convinced him that the state |
had found a way by which it had been
accomplished.
As soon as the prisoner was freed
he sought the girl he loved, confident
that his vindication would restore the
status that had existed between them
before his conviction. What was his
distress to learn that she had gone
away, leaving word that her action
was to escape. so far as possible, the
horrors under which she had suffered.
She had left no address, stating that
she did not wish to be followed by any
communications. In short, she was in
tending to bury her identity in for
eign land.
Meanwhile the key to this complica-
ton of untruths, for thus far there had
been nothing true developed. remained
in hiding. Had it been endowed with
mind doubtless it would have long ago
come out from little corner where
it was cnsconced and show that,
though very insignificant in itself, it
was really of far more Importance than
the brilliant juggling Of the state pros
ecutor or the diagrams of counsel for
the defense. But it was waiting for
somethins-a northeast wind With a
downward slant, one of those winds
that may be supposed to blow nobody
any good But at last it came and
from Il corner OF chimney dislodged
bit Of paper and sent it whirling over
the floor. 1t had been blown up into
that chimney by a north wind on the
day Cruikshank died and in the very
room in which he was supposed to
have been murdered. A maid came
into the room aud. seeing the paper on
the floor. picked 1t up to throw it into
wastebasket; but, seeing writing on
it, she had the curiosity to read It.
my goodness gracious!' she ex.
claimed and rushed out of the room
with her find. which she showed sue.
cessively to every one in the house.
1t was a communication written and
signed by Roger Cruikshank stating
that he was about to take his own life.
He gave no reason for the deed
When this paper was shown Dresser
1t seemed to him that he had fallen
into a maelstrom of puzzles. He had
been legally convicted Of Cruikshank's
murder, another person had confessed
the crime. and here was indisputable
proof that Cruikshank had killed him.
self.
Hurrying to his counsel, he showed
him the new bit Of evidence proving
conclusively that the person who had
confessed the crime had done so false.
ly. AS soon as the lawyer read the
missive a sudden food Of Joy swept
over him.
This enables me-" he said, ito make
confession. told you that the con-
viction of the person who is serving a
term in prison in your stead was OBJ
tanned without publicity. This would
have been impossible. 1t has simply
been unknown to sou, and you might
at any time have learned 1t IL you had
taken the pains. This is all have to
tell you at present AS soon as this
falsely confessed murderer is released
you shall know the rest"
One morning Dresser received word
that II he would call at his attorneys
Office he would meet the person who
had confessed to Cruikshank's murder
He fastened there and saw. with
happy smile on her face. his beloved
Florence The two ran to each others
embrace.
"Where have you been" asked
Adrian.
I'm prison."
I'm PRISON.
"Yes. had as much motive for
killing that fiend as you. But" she
added. pointing to the lawyer. had he
not helped me to perpetrate the decep
ton it would not have succeeded. He
manufactured at my request sufficient
supporting evidence to convict me-"
Too much crowded at once upon
Adrian's brain to enable him to grasp
this assumption of his sufferings. But
when he did he did not know whether
to fall at the feet Of the girl who had
taken his place and worship her.
whether to be angry with her for hav.
ing done so or whether to take her in |
bis arms and love her infinitely. He
decided upon the latter
Adrian Dresser and his wife have
hanging framed in their house the note
Cruikshank wrote before destroying
himself. Dresser in showing it says:
Before the contemplate SCOT cover.
ed. inanilnate thing appeared the state
attorney not only proved conclusively
that murdered Cruikshank, but that
he didn't shoot himself | am told
that in lay written evidence is the
best kind. doubt if any other Is Of
any value whatever"