The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-08-30

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 i'll
tending to bury her identity in a for
eign land.
Meanwhile the key to this complete
ton of untruths, for thus far there had
been nothing true developed remained
ia hiding. Had it been endowed with
mind doubtless it would have long ago
come out from a little corner where
it was ensconced 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
something's northeast wind with
downward slant, one of those winds
that may be supposed to blow nobody
any good But at last 1t came and
from corner of a chimney dislodged
a 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 and, seeing the paper on
the floor, picked it up to throw 1t into
a wastebasket; but, seeing writing on
1t, she had the curiosity to read it.
my goodness graciousr 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
it seemed to him that he had fallen
into maelstrom of puzzles. He had
been legally convicted of Cruikshanks
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 flood of joy swept
over him.
"This enables me-" he said, "to 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 you, and you might
at any time have learned it If you had
taken the pains. This is all l 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 If he would call at his attorneys
Office he would meet the person who
had confessed to Cruikshanks murder.
He hastened there and saw, with a
happy smile on her face, his beloved
Florence. The two ran to each others
embrace
"Where have you beenY' asked
Adrian.
I'm prison"
I'm PRISON.
Eyes. 1 had as much motive for
killing that iend 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
his 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, inanimate thing appeared the state
attorney not only proved conclusively
that / murdered Cruikshank, but that
he didn't shoot himself. am told
that in law written evidence is the
best kind. l doubt If any other is Of
any value whatever"