The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-19
PULLING OFF A JOB
by CI4AUDINE STSSON.
Copyright. 1912, by the Associated
Literary Press.)


Miss Nellie Bennett looking out OF
one of the parlor windows on the
highway. the horse and cutter being
driven by a stranger met with dis
aster. The left hand runner of the
cutter struck an icy lump and was
lifted up until the cutter was upset.
The driver was pitched out into the
snow. but hung to the dimes and
stopped the horse after being dragged
a couple OF rods
Miss Nellie neither screamed nor
tainted away She saw the man get
up, right the cutter and drive away,
and that was all there was to it-for
the moment Her eye caught some
ning futtering litter he had disap
jared, and she walked out and
picked up a handkerchief Close to 1t
lay a letter These things had been
dragged from his pockets. The hand
kerchief gave her no c1ew to the
mans identity. but the superscription
on the envelope was In business
hand and read:
Mr.. Joseph Gale. Ferndaie."
Ferndale was country postofnce
a mile away. The letter was post
marked from the city. and had just
been received. Az the BENEFITS.
mother and daughter and brother
Jack, had lately moved into the
neighborhood. they had heard Of no
Gales The letter Enclosed was very
brief. 1t read.
Dear Joe.-Yours at hand. VIII be
down Wednesday evening to help
null off the lob. Will be a bloody
4F.-Ati. guess we-eaH- manage u
all right. Frank.
1T must refer TO q contemplated
murder" said the mother. when she
had been shown the letter.
"why. of course It does" replied
Miss Nelly. IF a bloody affair
doesn't mean cutting some ones
throat, what can it meane"
II Jack were here he could tel!
US"
Yes, but he won't be back from,
Buffalo until Friday. Mother, here
is a matter that must be seen to at
once Murder has been planned. and
II may be our murder Providence
There's a constable living in that red
house a mile down the road, and I'm
going down there"
But l may be murdered while you
are gone."
This letter says wednesday night
Murders never come of before the
date set Say. won't have to go al
all There's the constable coming ur
the road now. Jack told him to keep
an eye for us. He'll be right on te
the case in no time"
When the constable had entered
the house he got the story and the
clew. and he patted the girl on the
back and chuckled.
I'VE have got EN- dead to rights
at the very f7rst go-off, It's my idea
that they mean to murder old Shep-
hard, the miser. He lives alone and
is supposed to have a parrel full oil
money. Joseph Gale Joseph Gale
There's a family named Gale living
about three miles along the road, and
believe there is a son. Was this q
young man."
Yes, think So"
Have a reckless look about him p
why, can't say az to that"
''I'll note 1t down that he had. He
must have. to plan a cold FLOODED
murder. Did he put the CAD on the
horse after Fighting the cutter and
jumping INF"
HE surely did that"
"A murderer always does something
like that to give himself away. We
arc coming on, giri--we are coming
on. Did he glance at the horse in q
furtive way?"
~ didn't see him"
But Til note 1t down here that he
did. Yes: he must have done so
Murderers are always glancing ahou,
in furtive way. Did his face wear
startled look when the cutter up
set.s
1T was too far for me to see"
But 1t must have" said Nellie,
neither
Right you are, marin. He thought
for moment that HAD mold OF him
Anything startles a man when he ha.
planned q murder. He hasn't come
driving back TO look for the letter
has her
NNot that have seem"
another evidence OF his guilt. Ar
honest man would have missed thu
letter within ave minutes and come
right back. Oh. he has left clues
enough to hang q dozen men,"
And do you think you will gel
them - asked the girl.
AS sure a. you sit there. Piaines'
case I ever had. Wednesday nigh
will sec both OF them In limbo. and
q full confession. Now. then. not I
word from either of you. You mus
be silent AZ the dead. Not hint
not look. want to take them red
handed"
After repeated and other warning,
the constable walked away. bearing
tho handkerchief and the letter with
him. This was on = Monday after
noon. On Tuesday he called to "a,
that he had hunted up the Gale fam
II, and that there was 4 Joe Gale
Not much could be learned about him
and for this very reason he might b
suspected Of almost any crime, HI
could not deny the letter. and the let
TOR epaikA Of = bloody affair. Whex
Oonffontad with Il ~ must break