The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-03-01
down the first staircase when y

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.Murderl Stop thief! Stop thai
man! Stop that mani"
There was rush OF feet and hum
Of voices, which made Howard run
ali the faster. He leaped down four
steps at q time in his anxiety to get
away. But It was no easy matter de-
scendirg so many flights OF stairs. =
took him several minutes to reach the
main floor.
BY this time the whole hotel was
aroused. Telephone calls had quick
" warned the attendants, who had
promptly sent for the police. BY the
time Howard reached the main en-
trance he was intercepted by a mob
too numerous to resist.
Things certainly looked black for
him. AS he sat. white and trembling.
under guard In a 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
let himself in with his latchkey. To
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 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 blum
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 RICH
hand, which was still covered with
blood.
How terrible!" exclaimed woman
bystander, averting her face. $50
young, tool"
Its all a mistake, l tell you. It's
all mistake" cried Howard. almost
panic-stricken. I'm friend of Mr.
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 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
CURED 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. It was the police patrol
wagon, and in it 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
the throng. Pointing to the leader. a
big man in plain clothes, with 3
square, determined jaw and a BULLDOG
face, they whispered one to another:
That's Capt. Clinton, chief of the
precinct. He's a 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 guard.
ed by the valet and elevator boys
Whats the matter here?" demand
ed the captain gruf1y, and looking
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
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
q big apartment hotel. right in the
very heart of his precinct! Nothing
could be more to his liking. It 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 stun 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
well as he could. his satisfaction. he
$500