Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-15
The Argus Daily Short Story
Vindicated.-By Donald Chamberlin.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Press

orier, Thomas Nolan. got away. Mrs.
Nolan was very grateful to John and
offered to assist him in an effort for
his escape. But John declined to do
anything that would look like a con-
fession Of guilt.
One day John was released. On in
Quiry he learned that Coulter had
made good the money the assistant
was charged with having stolen and
had been admitted as q member of
the firm. 1t was at his request that
John had been released. The boy
found his mother in pitiful condition.
And, worst of all. after the charge that
had been brought against him there
was little hope of his procuring posi-
ton. During the evening Mrs. Nolan.
who had heard of his release, came to
see him.
81 am an honest woman" she said,
but l am sorry to confess that my
husband is not an honest man. At
least he has not been honest. though ]
have secured his promise to live a bet
ter life in future. Had we not imposed
upon you and thus secured your as
sistance he would have been tried.
couvicted and sentenced to long term
OF Imprisonment. AS 1T is we are go
ing to a new country to begin life
anew. Before going we wish to re-
ward you for what you have done for
US. and fortunately we are able to put
you in the way of such reward.
about a year ago the crown jewels
Of a European kingdom were stolen.
The government has sought for them
high and low and used every effort to
trace the thief. My husband and
man named Taggart were the robbers
Of the treasure. My husband came to
America to make arrangements for its
transfer to this country. He was to
brlbe a customs official to pass the
box containing the jewels without ex-
animation. He was also to provide
place for their concealment But on
reaching New York he was recognized
as one wanted for q former offense
and was arrested This has spoiled
the game. Taggart was to have sailed
on the ship Pequot on a date that
should bring him into this harbor with
in a few days. The European govern
ment has offered a reward of $50, 900
for the recovery Of the jewels. Inter
cept Taggart and you will have been
repaid for your kindness to me and
my husband"
On the receipt of this information
John Brainard suddenly became new
man. If he could secure this reward
he would be able to lift those de-
pendent on him from suffering to com
fort.
That was day when ocean liners
came over under canvas and required
some thirty days to make the transit.
Had the matter occurred today John
Brainard might have feared that some
one acting under Information received
by cablegram would get ahead of him.
But there were no cablegrams in those
days. and if a criminal secured an en-
barkation he was pretty sure that no
one had been warned of his arrival.
What Brainard had to consider was
to make good his capture without CIV
ing away his information to any one.
He succeeded in getting himself ap-
pointed a deputy constable. then went
down New York bay to quarantine
and waited for the arrival of the man
and the jewels. In a few days the
Pequot was sighted. Her appearance
confirmed Mrs. Nolan's story. Still.
John had been twice duped by Grim
inals. and he was not yet sure but that
a new trap had been laid for him.
Brainard made the acquaintance of
the health officer whose business it
was to board incoming vessels and
secured his permission to go with him
when he made his inspection of the
Pequot. His informant had given him
a description of Taggart. He was
small. thickset and an especial mark
on him was the absence of a part of
one ear. which he had lost in a fight
with the French police. When the
Pequot neared the quarantine station
a boat bearing a yellow flag. the doc
tor and John seated in the stern. was
pulled out to her and the two climbed
a ladder that had been placed for
them over the ships side. Then the
former made his medical inspection.
while John began to inspect the pas
sengers.
The work was not as arduous then as
1t would be among the several thousand
persons coming In on an ocean liner