Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-30


man. tell me some way to ind her."
II give ii up
Several weeks passed in misery FOR
me. when In a Philadelphia newspaper
/ read OF the trial of Miss Octavfa
Merton which was soon TO come OF in
that city. She was accused of having
stolen some valuable gems while one
Of house party at a lady's country
seat What was my establishment to
see in description OF Miss Merton the
following words:
In her corssge she wears 4 bow of
orange or corn colored ribbon
1 sprang to my feet / had found
my love. But. alas, Calkins was
right. She was an adventures Her
personal. taken together with this
charge. was conclusive proof of this.
And yet the item said that she was
q member OF the house party. This
indicated that If she were q thief she
must be lady. and lady of the up
per classes would not be likely to ad-
vertise for the address OF q man she
had met on the street
1 hurriediy wrote a note to an at
torney in Philadelphia whom I knew,
W hCSR POStC0 - ~
the coming of Of the trial in which 1
was so deeply interested. In reply I
received q telegram stating that it was
down on the calendar for the next
day. I went to Philadelphia that night
and the next morning appeared among
the spectators In a back seat where I
would not be observed
When the accused was led into court
I recognized her at once for the girl I
had been seeking. She was very pale
and appeared to have suffered much.
I could not see II she wore the ribbon.
for an outside coat was buttoned over
her chest
listened eagerfy to a statement OF
the case made by the prosecuting at
torney. The girl was a member OF q
house party; the jewels were missed.
and she afterward wore one of them
that the owner claimed was hers. Miss
Merton's counsel claimed that 1t had
for years been his clients property.
He also said that on the day the jew
els were stolen she had taken a flying
trip to Washington, but since her OBJ
Ject in going there was secret she had
kept a knowledge of her trip from
every one who knew her. Were it
not for this secrecy, your honor" con-
Guided the attorney. I'VE could easily
have proved an allbi."
Jumping from my seat I hurried
down to the rail-, called for the attcr-
ney and in an undertone gave him
the points of my meeting with the
accused In Washington. He at once
put me on the stand and in series
of questions drew out my evidence.
When he asked me for the date OF this
/ was puzzled, but finally re
called IL as the day of an important
TO which 1 was going when
1 met Miss Merton.
Did anything pass between you and
the accused ?" he asked.
Eyes, something passed between US
that Will corroborate my story If she
stin possesses 1t. / gave her bit Of
corn colored ribbon"
With that Miss Merton threw open
her coat and displayed the token.
There was suppressed applause
among the spectators. The attorney
put his client on the stand
"Why do you wear that ribbon" he
asked.
81 have worn IT ever since l have
been accused, hoping that the gentle
man who gave II to me might see it
and by proving that | was In Washing
ton on the day the jewels were stolen
me. / also advertised for
bis address, but received no reply"
OF course there was an acquittal
without the jury leaving the box 1 |
20 n tn
his client and introduced to her. ,
had been mistaken in her object in 7
wearing the token, but If she had done
10 for the reason 1 had supposed she
,ould not have given me a warmer
PRESSURE of the hand or a look with
more heart I'm 1t.
"Just think" she said, had 1t not
,een for you 1 would have been con-
'ictedw
'It was a close CALI" said the attor-
ley, who seemed as much relieved as
lis client
Fate" / said, had a purpose in
ringing about the very commonplace
ccident that occurred just at the mo-
nent we met"
If my words referred to her vindica-
ion the look / gave her In speaking
hem referred 10 something beyond.
hat she understood my meaning was
vident from blush.
And now I am back to what l said
j the beginning OF this story with re-
ard to those slight happenings which
Ill at times turn the whole course of
ur lives. When Miss Merton's skirt
anne unfastened l was a clerk in the
'easury department in Washington.
ow am that lady's husband and the
ather of her children. reside in
and am a banker there.
THAT would / have been had not that
ccident changed the course of my
fe? Doubtless lone old bach and
government clerk.