The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-02-23

heard shouts behind him.
Murder! Stop thief! Stop that
man! Stop that mani"
There was a rush of feet and hum |
| of voices, which made Howard run |
all the faster. He leaped down four |
! steps at a time in his anxiety to get |
| away. But it was no easy matter de- |
scending so many flights of stairs. 1t
took him several minutes to reach the |
main floor.
By this time the 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 mob
too numerous to resist.
Things certainly looked black for
him. AS he sat- white and trembling,
under guard in corner of the en-
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
ICL hllhSCAl III Will HIS LdLNhhCJs ~
his establishment he had found this
man, the prisoner, about to leave the
premises. His manner and remarks
were 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 of
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 right
, hand, which was still covered with
blood.
How terribIe!" exclaimed woman
: bystander, averting her face. sc
young, too"
IT'S all a mistake, I tell you. It's
all mistake" cried Howard, almost
panic-stricken. Pm a friend of Mr.
y Underwood's."
- Nice friend!" sneered an onlooker
Tell that to the police laughed
{ another
, "Or to the marines!" cried third
= IT'S the chair for his'n!" opined q
, fourth.
. By this time the main entrance hall
u was crowded with people, tenants
10 and passersby attracted by the un
e wonted commotion. A scandal in high
Ii life is always caviare to the sensa,
ton seeker. Everybody excitedly in
y quired of his neighbor:
- What is it? What's the matter?'
Presently the rattle of wheels wa!
AZ heard and heavy vehicle driven furi
n !, ously, drew up at the sidewalk wit
NC a jerk. 1t was the police patrc
h wagon, and in it were the captain o
~ the precinct and half dozen police
d men and detectives. The Grove
VI pushed forward to get better view
&c of the burly representatives of the
law as, full of authority, they elboweC
Is their way unceremoniously through
d. the throng. Pointing to the leader, q
81 big man in plain clothes, with q
Is square, determined jaw and a bulldog
er face, they whispered one to another:
c. That's Capt. Clinton, chief of the
,e precinct. He's a terror. tn go hard
n with any prisoner he gets in his
Oh clutches!"
u Followed by his uniformed mgr
. midons. the police official pushed his
u way to the corner where sat Howard
! dazed and trembling, and still guard
=. ~ lot al
re What's the matter here?" demand
e. ed the captain gruf1y, and looking
Of from Ferris to the white-faced How
N ard. The valet eagerly told his story:
"a Il came home at midnight, sir, and
lie found my master, Mr.. Robert Under
"a wood, lying dead in the apartment
M shot through the head" Pointing tt
d. Howard, he added: This man was
H. in the apartment trying to get away
IA You see his hand is still covered witt
III blood"
- Capt. Clinton chuckled, and expand
~ ing his mighty chest to it's fullest
~ licked his chops with satisfaction
VI This was the opportunity he had beer
looking fora sensational murder il
a big apartment hotel, right in the
III very heart of his precinct! Nothing
as could be more to his liking. It was &
re rich mans murder, the best kind
US to attract attention to himself. The
10 sensational newspapers would be full
e. of the case. They would print col
q. umns of stuff every day, together will
v" his portrait. That was just the kline
1e of publicity he needed now that h'
o. was wire-pulling for an inspectorship
is They had caught the man with the
" goods'-that was very clear. HI
re promised himself to attend to the
l. rest. Conviction was what he wa!
after. He'd see that no tricky lawyer
ne got the best Of him. Concealing, al
or we'll as he could. his satisfaction, h'
u drew himself up and. with clustering
ID show of authority, Immediately tool
command of the situation. Turning
D. to a police sergeant at his side, ht
re said: