Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-09-28

man! Stop that mani"
There was a rush Of feet and hum
of voices, which made Howard u
all the faster. He leaped down four
steps at a time in his anxiety tc get
away But 1t was no easy matter de-
scending so many flights of stairs. II
took him several minutes to reach the
main floor.
By this time tho whole hotel was
aroused. Telephone calls had quick
ly warned the attendants, who had
promptly sent for the police. By the
time Howard reached the main en-
trance he was intercepted by q mob
too numerous to resist.
Things certainly looked black for
him. AS he sat, white and trembling,
under guard in a corner of the ell
trance hall, waiting for the arrival Of
the police, the valet breathlessly gave
the sensational particulars to the rap
idly growing crowd of curious on
lockers. He had taken his usual Sun
day out and on returning home at
midnight, as was his custom, he had
let himself in with his latchkey. TO
his establishment he had found this
man, the prisoner, about to leave the
premises. His n and remarks
we're SO peculiar that they at once
aroused his suspicion. He hurried into
the apartment and found his master
lying dead on the floor in a pool OS
blood. In his hurry the assassin had
dropped his revolver, which was lying
near the corpse. AS far as he could
see, nothing had been taken from the
apartment. Evidently the man was
disturbed at his work and, when sud
denly surprised, had made the bluff
that he was calling on Mr.. Under
wood. They had got the right man,
that was certain. He was caught red
handed, and in proof Of what he said,
the valet pointed to Towards righE
hand, which was still covered with
blood.
How terrible!" exclaimed a woman
bystander, averting her face. 80
young, tool"
Its all a mistake, l tell you. It's
all a mistake" cried Howard, almost
panic-stricken. I'm a friend Of MF,
Underwood's."
Mice friend!" sneered an onlooker
Tell that to the police" laughed
another.
"Or to the marines!" cried a third,
ITS the chair for his'n!" opined .
fourth.
By this time the main entrance hall
was crowded with people, tenants
and passersby attracted by the In-
wonted commotion. A scandal In high
life is always caviare to the sensa-
ton seeker. Everybody excitedly in
quired of his n~eighbor:
What is it? What's the mattOrT'
Presently the rattle of wheels WA
heard and a heavy vehicle driven furi-
ously, drew up at the sidewalk with
a jerk. 1t was the police patrol
wagon, and in 1t were the captain Oi
the precinct and a half dozen police
men and detectives. The crowd
pushed forward to get a better view
of the burly representatives Of the
law as, full Of authority, they elbowed
their way unceremoniously through
the throng. Pointing to the leader, a
big man IN plain clothes, with a
square, determined Jaw and a bulldog
face, they whispered one to anotherr
That's Capt. Clinton, chief Of the
precinct. He's a terror. It'll go hard
with any prisoner he gets in hiV
clutches!"
Followed by his uniformed myr
midons, the police official pushed hiH
way to the corner where sat Howard,
dazed and trembling, and still guard
ed by the valet and elevator boys.
Whats the matter here?" demand
ed the captain grufly, and looking
T from Ferris to the white-faced How
ard. The valet eagerly told his story
Il came home at midnight, sir, and
found my master, Mr.. Robert Under
l wood, lying dead in the apartment
l shot through the head" Pointing u
Howard, he added: This man wal
> in the apartment trying to get away
! You see his hand is still covered witt
i blood"
4 Capt. Clinton chuckled, and expand
= ing his mighty chest to its fullest
4 licked his chops with satisfaction
| This was the opportunity he had beer
looking fora sensational murder IL
a big apartment hotel, right in the
d very heart of his precinct! Nothini
5 could be more to his liking. 1t wal {
. rich mans murder, the best kind
5 to attract attention to himself. Thu
o sensational newspapers would be full
of the case. They would print col
umns Of stuff every day, together will
= his portrait. That was just the kint
g of publicity he needed now that b,
l. was wire-pulling for an inspectorship
They had caught the man with tn
goods"-that was very clear. HI
e promised himself to attend to tn,
rest. Conviction was what he wa
after. He'd see that no tricky lawye
e got the best of him. Concealing, a
we'll as he could, his satisfaction, b.
/ drew himself up and, with blusterinI
d show of authority, Immediately too
command of the situation. Turnln,
D. to a police sergeant at his side, h
said:
"Maloney, this fellow may have hA'