The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1913-06-19
Mr. CORAN'S ELECTION

A~fsy HctbuptI ne lAbl btIOkt tuul
dered out as climbed the stairs ths
led to the modest; lodging OF 1nspectc
Addington Peace. and silence ha
fallen as knocked at his door. / wa
: alone that night and in the moo
when a man escapes from himself t
seek a friend.
I l found the little detective at hi
open window. staring across the tun
bled roofs to where the abbey tower
rose under the summer moon. III
evening breeze that came creeping u
with the tide blew gratefully ate
the heat OF the July day. He glance'
at me over his shoulder with a shor
nod OF welcome.
Even the police grow sentimental
on such a night" suggested.
"Or phiIosophic"
THE reflections OF Diogenes tn,
detective, or the Aristotle OF Scotland
Yard" I laughed. May l inquire al
to the cause OF such profound
thought?"
He held out slip OF paper, which
took and carried to the central lamp
1t was an old newspaper clipping
stained and blurred. relating in SIX
lines how James Coran, described as
student, had been charged at the
Bow street police court with drunken.
Ness, followed by an aggravated as
sault on the constable who arrested
him. He was fined three pounds or
seven days. That was all.
mot a subject OF earth-shaking i'm
portance," said.
mo; but 1t has proved a sufficient
excuse for blackmail"
Then the victim is fool" l an
swered hotly. why, from the look OF
the paper the affair must have taken
place q dozen years ago."
"Thirty-two years this month"
Which means that the riotous stu
dent is now man of over fifty. II
James Coran has gone down the hill,
the past can't hurt him now; II he has
led respectable life. surely he can
AFFORD to neglect the scamp who
threatens to rake up so mild a scan
DIAL. Blackmail for spree back in
the seventies-it's ridiculous, inspec-
tor"
The little man stood with his hands
behind him and his head on one side.
watching me with benevolent amuse-
ment. When he spoke 1t was in the
ponderous manner which he some
times assumed. manner that always
me OF a university profes-
sor explaining their deplorable errors
10 his class.
"Mr. James Coran is a respectable
niodle-class widower who lives with
lis sister Rebecca and two daughters
n the little town of Brendon, twenty
our miles from London. He arrives
It the Fashionable Clothing company
his London establishment in Oxford
'treet-at ten O'Clock in the morning.
eaving for home by the 5:1S. In his
pare time he performs a variety OF
public duties at Brendon. He is
authority on drains. and
has produced pamphlet on dust
,arts. AS a temperance orator his To-
ssl reputation is great. and his labors
n the cause OF various benevolent as
have been suitably commem-
,rated by q presentation clock, three
nkstands, and a silver tankard. His
interests are limited to Brendon and
Oxford street; OF world movements he |
kinks no more than the caterpillar on |
leaf considers the general welfare
II the cabbage patch. Please remem-
yer the facts. Mr.. Phillips. In consid- |
'ration OF his case.
six months ago an envelope ar
ived at his house with two Enclosures.
)ne was the newspaper clipping you
lold; the other letter denouncing
I'm as hypocrite. and warning him
hat unless the sum OF twenty pounds
vas placed In the locker OF a little
ummer house at the end OF his gar
len the writer would expose him 10
III Brendon In his true character as
convicted drunkard.
"Coran was in despair. He had ina
med his unfortunate spree long for
often. Not even his own relatives
'ere aware of II. He was trying for
seat on the county council: the alec
lon was due In a month. and he re-
ed for his success on the support OF
he temperance party. AS an election
'eapon the old scandal could be used
nth striking effect. So he paid-as
lany better man has been fool
nough TO do under like circumstan-
as.
In three days-on Saturday, that is
the election taxes place. This
corning he received letter similar
} the first. save that the demand was
II hundred pounds. He had tust
'nse enough TO see that II he al
wed himself to be blackmailed again
would merely encourage further at.
mpt at extortion. So when he ar
we'd In town. he took a cab TO Scot
nd Yard. heard his story ana
'usht the next train down to Bren- !
IN. did not call at the house but
'thered few details concerning
IN and his family. In all particulars
seems to have spoken the truth
Must the hundred pounds be placed
the summer house tonightY'
mo. The blackmailer gave him a :
y to collect the money. II must ba }.
the locker tomorrow night by eleven : :
,lock"
Which means that you will watch
Q place and pull out the fish as he =
kes the bait II seems slmpIe !,
ough. anyhow" y
"oh. yes" he said But II Ia tho b