The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-30
TIE EVENING STORY
Pulling Off a Job.
(By Claudine Sisson.)

a stranger met with disaster. The
left-hand runner of the cutter struck
an icy lump and was lifted up until
the cutter was upset. The driver was
pitched out into the snow, but hung to
the lines and stopped the horse after
being dragged a couple of rods.
Miss Nellie neither screamed nor
tainted away. She saw the man get
up, right the cutter and drive away,
and that was all there was to it-for
the moment. Her eye caught some
thing fluttering after he had disap-
peared, and she walked out and pick
ed up a handkerchief. Close to it lay
a letter. These things had been drag
ged from his pockets The handker-
identity but the superscription on the
envelope was in a business hand and
read
Mr.. Joseph Gale, Ferndale."
Ferndale was a country postoffice
a mile away. The letter was post
marked from the city, and had just
been received. As the BENEFITS, moth
er and daughter and brother Jack,
had lately moved into the neighbour
hood, they had heard of no Gales. The
letter inclosed was very brief. 1t read:
Dear Joe-Yours at hand. VIII be
down Wednesday evening to help pun
off the job. Will be a bloody affair,
but L guess we can manage it all
right. FRANK"
1T must refer to a contemplated
murder said the mother, when she
had been shown the letter.
why, of course it does" replied
Miss Nellie. IF bloody affair
doesn't mean cutting some ones
throat, what can it mean?"
IF Jack were here he could tell US
yes but he won't be back from
Buffalo until Friday. Mother, here IS
a matter that must be seen to at once
Murder has been planned, and it may
be our murder. Providence has put
a clew into our hands. There's a con-
toll ,I1 wi in "a a
down the road, and I'm going down
there
But I may be murdered while you
are gone!"
ssThis letter says Wednesday night.
Murders never come off before the
date set. Say, I won't have to go at
all There's the constable coming up
the road now. Jack told him to keep
an eye out for us. He'll be right on
to the case in no time
When the constable had entered the
house he got the story and the clew,
and he patted the girl on the back and
chuckled.
1--WE have got 'em dead to rights at
the very first go-offi It's my idea that
they mean to murder old Sheppard,
the miSer. He lives alone and is sup
posed to have barrel of money.
Joseph Gale? Joseph CALEB There's
a family named Gale living about
three miles along the road and I be-
lieve there is a son. Was this a young
MANI"
yes. 1 think So"
Have a reckless look about him %
why, I can't say as to that
iii note it down that he had He
must have, to plan a cold-blooded
murder. Did he put the CAD on the
horse otter righting the cutter and
jumping in p
He surely did that"
"a murderer always does something
like that to give himself away We
are coming on, girl-we are coming
on. Did he glance at the house in a
furtive way?"
81 didn't see him.
But I'll note it down here that he
did. Yes; he must have done SO.
Murderers are always glancing about
in a furtive way. Did his face wear
startled look when the cutter upset.
''It was too far for me to see.''
But it must have said NeIlie's
mother.
Right you are, marin. He thought
for a moment that 1 had hold of him.
Anything startles a man when he has
planned a murder. He hasn't come
driving back to look for the letter,
has hep"
mot that 1 have seen"
Another evidence of his guilt All
honest men would have missed the
right back. oh, he has left clews
enough to hang a dozen men"
And do you think you will get
them?" asked the girl.
case l ever had. Wednesday night
will see both of them in limbo, and
I'll give EN- the third degree and get
full confession. Now. then, not
be silent as the dead. Not hint
not a look. I want to take them red
handed
After repeated and other warnings
the constable walked away, bearing
the handkerchief and the letter with
him. This was on a Monday after
noon. On Tuesday he called to say
that he had hunted up the Gale fam
lily. and that there was a Joe Gale
Not much could be learned about him,
and for this very reason he might be
suspected of almost any crime. he
could not deny the letter, and the LETT
ter spoke of a bloody affair When
confronted with it he must break
down and confess everything.
Wedl- esday afternoon the constable
called to say that his plans were all
laid and that there was no possible
escape for the wretches- He had an
other constable to assist in the ar
rest. and if there was any resistance
some one would be killed. He hoped
to make the arrests before O'Clock.
but might not find time to return
and give the particulars before next
morning.
noon when the constable drove up
again. With him there was young
man. the same who had been upset in
the snow me Constable OlU not seem
to be in bounding spirits, and the
young man hung back a little, though
there was a grin on his face
Ladies, both,'' said the officer.
when the house had been entered.
this young gent is Mr. Joe Gale. I
am sorry to say that I can't arrest
him for murder. because he didn't kill
old Shep- He never meant to kill
him He stands here an innocent
Young man-just as innocent as-as
that fireplace over there"
Joe Gale b1ushed and bowed and
while mother and daughter looked at
the constable in wonder
Yes ladies ALL continued the con-