Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-02
The Sturu Teller.
THE S ACRIFICE

Laura Saboll finished her story and
shaken by the humiliation of it sat
with her beautiful face hidden in her
hands and the tears of bitterness fall
ing from between her jeweled fingers.
He knew the young widow we'll; in
deed he had known all the Ravells
with something Of that knowledge
which comes to an old family physi-
clan through experience. He realized
how her emotional, impulsive nature
in revulsion from the marriage with
Benjamin Saboll, into which her faith
er's ambition had forced her, might
have led her perilously close to sin and
shame. He realized too how in this
supreme hour in suspense and agony
1t might drive her to an act of sac
rifice and ruin. Yes, he was sorry for
her; he would help her against her
self.
II agree with you, Laura" at length
he said, that so good and true a
gentleman as Henry Wander showed
himself to be in his conduct toward
you could not have committed the
cowardly and brutal murder of your
late husband, however black the record
now seems against him. 1 promise
you to do everything in my power to
prove his innocence and save him II
YOU on your part as solemnly promise
to desist from your desperate purpose
until 1 have failed. I will let you
know in time"
Laura Saboll bowed in assent, and
then, even as the judge touched the
button on his desk, she with natural
residence sat erect, her face flushed
and expectant, her tears already oriea,
"Cronkite," began the judge as the
detective entered in response to his
call, this is my friend and client
Mrs. Saboll. 1t is necessary for rea-
sons to which need not refer for you
within the next ten days to establish
the innocence of Henry Wander, now
under conviction for the murder of the
late Benjamin Saboll."
But Mr.. Wander would have plead
ed guilty had he been allowed to do
So" objected Cronkite, "and the for
NAL proof submitted by the district
attorney seemed conclusive to the bar
The charred body found in
the hunting lodge and identified as Mr..
Saboll's remains, the cap in the thicket
known to be Mr. Wander's, the letter
filled with threats sworn to by experts
to be in his very hand"
II know, I know" interrupted the
Judge, waving aside difficulties, but
what l say must be DONE"
DO I understand that Mrs. Saboll
wishes il" asked the detective sud-
denly.
Most emphatically," answered Mrs.
Saboll before the judge could again
interpose.
"Ah! Then, sir, / may as well tell
you at once the only feasible theory
for me to work on. On one side we
have the shortness Of time, Mr.. Wan
der's obstinate silence and the strong
evidence adduced by
the prosecution. On the other side we
have the fact that the corpus delicti,
to attack. True, those charred re-
mains were identified by physicians as
those of Mr.. Saboll, but you know
what such evidence amounts to. True
too there has not been sight or sound
of Mr.. Saboll since"
Don't bubble with yourself, Abe"
II won't, judge. I happen to have
heard of Mr.. Saboll in the speech Of
people, and he was known as hard,
austere man."
"They were perfectly right" declar-
ed Laura Saboll breathlessly.
"Vindictive, unrelenting, prone to
take offence when no offence was
meant, suspicious"
Yes, yes"
Persistent in revenge"
oh
You see, Judge. I shall act on the
theory that he isn't dead at all, but
having prepared trap for the man he
hated without cause is now In hiding
until It springs"
Pure assumption, Abe. Mr.. Saboll
was a most respectable, exemplary
man."
And the head of a big life insur-
ance company, sir. Well, respectable,
exemplary men and all the rest, as
Mrs. Caboll has agreed. have not the
criminal imagination. When impelled
to crime they don't conceive: they
copy. Now this case has reminded me
from the first of notable trial in in
surance annals, with which Mr.. Saboll
must have been perfectly familiar,
where the attempt was made to col
lect insurance on a charred body
found in a house that had been set on
fire."
yes, yes, Abe, don't detail that old
matter. Mr.. Saboll would
never have gone to the pains and cost.
He was prudent, some might say
avaricious, saying, though I must ad-
nit he habitually carried with him a
sum in bills Of large de-
Thank you, judge, that latter point
may prove a valuable clue"
He would have gone to the pains
Laura Saboll passionately. He was
insanely jealous of my poor Harry
without a cause, as Mr.. Cronkite kind
ly says, though"
Hush, Laura!"
"I will hush if this wise man will
start at once on his search, If l may
help him at any sacrifice"
Il will start at once" rejoined Cron-
kite, "and you may help me, madam,
without any sacrifice at all. That is
what we are going to obViate-sacrl-
flee.
Now it is easy enough for any man
with care to change his appearance,
but it is extremely hard for him, un-
less he be a shrewd professional GRIM
inal, to change his habits. Now think;
had not Mr.. Saboll some little pecu-
liarity to which he long had been
habituated. perhaps unconsciously,
which he might resume just as un-
Yes, yes: indeed he did have.
Whenever he answered a question he
would preface and follow it with three
little coughs, little dry coughs, heck.
heck. heck. l can hear him now. He
thought it gave Importance to his
opinions, but it was most annoying.
Expressing my thanks again for
such valuable assistance" said Abe
Cronkite. turning toward the door, Il
will start at once on my quest. Keep
a good heart, my dear madam. there
will be no sacrifice in this case"
II.
THE other way would be easier"