Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-03-29

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 Howards right
hand, which was still covered with
blood.
How terrible!" exclaimed a woman
oystander, averting her face. so
young, tool"
It's all mistake, tell you. It's
all a mistake" cried Howard, almost
panic-stricken. I'm a friend of Mr..
Underwood's."
Nice 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 a
fourth.
BY this time the main entrance hall
was crowded with people, tenants
and passersby attracted by the un.
wonted commotion. A scandal in high
life is always caviare to the sensa.
ton seeker. Everybody excitedly in.
quired of his neighbor:
What is it? What's the matter?"
Presently the rattle of wheels was
heard and heavy vehicle driven furi-
ously, drew up at the sidewalk with
jerk. 1t was the police patrol
wagon, and in 1t were the captain of
the precinct and half dozen police
men and detectives. The crowd
pushed forward to get better view
OF the burly representatives of the
law as, full of authority they elbowed
their way unceremoniously through
I the throng. Pointing to the leader, a
big man in plain clothes, with
square, determined jaw and a bulldog
face, they whispered one to another:
That's Capt. Clinton, chief of the
precinct. He's terror. It'll go hard
with any prisoner he gets in his
clutches!"
Followed by his uniformed myr.
midons. the police official pushed his
way to the corner where sat Howard
dazed and trembling, and still guart.
ed by the valet and elevator boys.
Whats the matter here?" demand,
ed the captain gruffly, and looking
from Ferris to the white-faccd How.
ard. The valet eagerly told his story:
Il came home at midnight, sir, and
/ found my master, Mr.. Robert Under
wood, lying dead in the apartment,
shot through the head" Pointing to
Howard, he added: This man was
in the apartment trying to get away.
You see his hand is still covered with
blood"
Capt Clinton chuckled, and expand
ing his mighty chest to its fullest.
licked his chops with satisfaction.
This was the opportunity he had been
looking fora sensational murder in
a big apartment hotel, right in the
very heart of his precinct Nothing
could be more to his liking. 1t was a
rich mans murder, the best kind
to attract attention to himself. The
sensational newspapers would be full
of the case. They would print col
umns of stuff every day, together with
his portrait. That was just the kind
of publicity he needed now that he
was wire-pulling for an inspectorship
They had caught the man with the
goods"-that was very clear He
promised himself to attend to the
rest. Conviction was what he was
after. He'd see that no tricky lawyer
got the best of him. Concealing. as
we'll as he could, his satisfaction, he
drew himself up and. with clustering
show of authority. Immediately took
command of the situation. Turning
to a police sergeant at his side, he
said:
"Maloney, this fellow may have had
an accomplice. Take four officers and
watch every exit from the hotel. Ar
rest anybody attempting to leave the
building. Put two officers to watch |
the fire escapes. Send one man on
the roof. Col"
"Yes, SIR" replied the sergeant, as |
he turned away to execute the order.
Capt. Clinton gave two strides for.
ward, and catching Howard by the col.
lar, jerked MIN to his feet.
Now. young feller, you come with
me! Well go upstairs and have o
look at the dead man."
CTO BE CONTINUED)