The daily Alaskan., 1913-05-14
The Williams
 Investigation By DONALD CHAMBERLAIN

was a genius. and gGDiuse8 arc usually queer. uo lived Q rowing life till he was past sixty years old, then bought an acre of ground commanding a beau ufu view for SlO and built a los cabin on lt
 How be lived-thot Is, how be bought clothing and food for be raised noth- lu-no one knew. Be had been some thing of an artist, a newspaper man, a poet aud un author generally. Whether be had made enough money to enable hIm to supply his limited wants no one knew He occasionally walked Go the store. six miles distant from his cabin, to buy provisions or anything else he needed and always had the cash with which to puy No one could solve the riddle. so IJ proved an endless source or gossip for thp countryside.
 But one day a possible clew to how Williams obtained Che necessary funds presented Itself A robbery was cOm- mItted ln the region, and the fact at once suggested Itself to the community that Williams was the robbcr. Every one wondered why chat solution of the problem had not been thought of be. fore. A report was started that the robbery had been committed by O masked man just the height and build of Williams. For a week thls report circulated. growing more definite as it spread: then It occurred to some one to mount horse and ride over to the man who had been robbed and ask hlm about lt Hc said thot his store hnd been entered ln the middle of the night and be knew nothing Ub0ut the rob- bery tIII the next morning Neither be nor anybody else had seen the rObber.
 But Williams having been suspected of the robbery notwithstanding Che correction Of this report. the talk went on. and the more talk the more tue certainty not only th0t he made hl8 living my robbery but that be wa8 guilty In Che ease under discussion.
 Cy Adams. a man who had the repu. aton Of being the principal talker thcreabout. said that Williams ought. CT be investigated" It wasn't to thc credit of Che community that man could live In it without any visible means of support and robberies going on without giving some account Of himself A committee should go t0 bis cabin. usk hlm Co explain how he lived and see lf Che building contained stolen goods. No one bad ever been there, and for an any one knew Williams might have the place tulI Of pIunder
 He talked tle matter up; but, though he got a number of persons to agree with him. somehow he couldn't get anything done Then he called for volunteers Co serve on the committee. No one volunteered SO ut last be said thut lr be were appointed a deputy shcriG be would do Che job alone There wus no objection to bis appoint meut or his going to interrogaie Mr. Williams The only objection in the ease was by individuals who were not minded to go with him.
 He concluded Co so armed only with che shcrITs badge His mission was to be a peacefu. one, therefore be wouldn't need a weapon He set out one morning on horseback for VII Hams cabin and on reaching it dis mounted. tied bis horse Co a sapllng and appeared in the doorway. W.T. Hams was sitting at a table writing He looked up saw the man standing before him and asked what he could do for him.
 "Mr Williams" said Cy "rm com. mlssIoucd by the people Of this county to come Co you and ask your business '
 My business not being the business Of Che county, ! decline to answer
 "In that event | om commissioned by Che people to explain to you that the people make it their business Co dud out your business, and with that end In view l am directed 10 search your house You understand that this ls simply a legal process, not a forcIble one"
 Cy threw open hIs coat and showed hIs badge
 Proceed" said Williams and resum- ed his writing
 There was one room and a lOtt in Che cabin. No search was needed for Che room. for there was nothing but a bunk and a washstond and a cooking stove In it The sheriff saw lt an and looked 0l0ft
 "Any way to get up thcrcT he asked.
 "Ycs. but I'm too busy to set It for you."
 "Ten me where it Is and I'n SO for It myself"
 "I keep lt hidden. plI so for It,"
 Laying down bis pen, he went out and returned with a ladder which be placed In position Cy climbed up land. finding lt dark up there, asked for a light Williams handed up a candle Having satisfied himself that there was no stolen goods In the loft Adams was about to come down when he saw that the ladder had been re- moved. Williams was driving a pen .at the table. The sherlT asked for tho ladder
 Not tIIl you settle" was the reply.