The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-07
The Williams
Investigation
BY DONALD CHAMBERLAIN

Ben Williams was queer, but Bel
was genius. and geniuses are usual.
queer. He lived a rowing life till b
was past sixty years old, then bough
an acre of ground commanding a bean
tiful view for $40 and built log cabiI
on it.
How he lived-that is, how he bough
clothing and food. for he raised moth
in-no one knew lie had been some
thing of an artist. newspaper man. {
poet and an author generally. Whether
he HAD made enough money to enable
him to supply his limited wants no one
knew. He occasionally walked to the
store. six miles distant from his cabin
to buy provisions or anything else ht
needed and always had the cash witt
which to pay. No one could solve the
riddle, so it proved an endless source
of gossip for the countryside
But one day a possible clew to how
Williams obtained the necessary funds
presented itself A robbery was com
mitted in the region. and the fact al
once suggested itself to the community
that Williams was the robher. Every
one wondered why that solution of the
problem had not been thought of be
fore. A report was started that the
robbery had been committed by a
masked man just the height and build
of williams. For week this report
circulated. growing more definite as 1t
spread; then 1t occurred to some one to
mount a horse and ride over to the man
who had been robbed and ask him
about it. He said that his store had
been entered in the middle of the night
and he knew nothing about the rob-
berry till the next morning. Neither he
nor anybody else had seen the robber.
But Williams having been suspected
of the robbery Notwithstanding the
correction of this report. the talk went
on. and the more talk the more the
certainty not only that he made his
living my robbery. but that he was
guilty in the case under discussion.
Cy Adams. a man who had the repu-
tation of being the principal talker
thereabout. said that Williams ought
er be investigated 1t wasn't to the
credit of the 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 so to his
cabin. ask him TO explain how he lived
and see if the building contained stolen
goods. No one had ever been there.
and for all any one knew Williams
might have the place full of plumber.
He talked the matter up; but. though
he got number of persons to agree
with him. somehow he couldn't get
anything done. Then he called for
volunteers to serve on the committee.
No one volunteered, so at last he said
that If he were appointed deputy
sheriff he would do the job alone.
There was no objection to his appoint
ment or his going to interrogate Mr..
Williams. The only objection in the
case was by individuals who were not
minded to go with him.
He concluded to go armed only with
the sherlff's badge. His mission was
TO be a peaceful one. therefore he
wouldn't need weapon. He set out
one morning on horseback for VII
liams' cabin and on reaching it dis
tied his horse to a sapling
and appeared in the doorway. VIII.
liams was sitting at table writing
He looked up. saw the man standing
before him and asked what he could
do for him.
Mr. Williams" said Cy. Pm com
missioned by the people of this county
to come to you and ask your business"
My business not being the business
of the county, decline to answer"
"In that event | am commissioned by
the people to explain to you that the
people make it their business to find
out your business, and with that end
In view | am directed to search your
house. You understand that this is
simply legal process, not forcible
one"
Cy threw open his coat and showed
his badge.
Proceed" said williams and resum-
ed his writing.
There was one room and loft in
the cabin. No search was needed for
the room. for there was nothing but
! bunk and washstand and a cooking
stove in 1t. The sheriff saw 1t all and
looked aloft
"Any way to get up there?" he asked.
'Yes. but I'm too busy to get it for
you"
Tell me where it is and I'll go for
It myself"
II keep 1t hidden. I'll go for IT."
Laying down his pen. he went out |
and returned with a ladder. which he |
placed In position. Cy climbed up |
md. finding it dark up there. asked
'or light Williams handed up a
,andle Having satisfied himself that
here was no stolen goods In the loft.
Adams was about to come down when
be saw that the ladder had been re-
moved. Williams was driving a pen
1t the table. The sheriff asked for the
adder.
mot till you settle" was the reply.
uCattia for xuhatgs