Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-11-10

A08x0oy uuppo0 DoSA W seS S-~'
picked up the photographs from Mel
sons desk, put on his hat and made
bis way furtively from the building.
80
INSPECTOR Ranscombe was cleaning
ont bis desk.
The end Of bis police career had
come. BE had been placed on the re-
tired list, and an order from q new
commissioner that morning had broken
the news to him suddenly. viciously.
thut he was no longer wanted.
Lieutenant Jimmy Dunn. In the Dig
room outside. had heard the old man
roar. Ranscombe wanted to die In har.
ness. he was old. but he knew bis 1oo
and had plenty of virility.
The new commissioner was entirely
a political appointee. The sid had
been kept on New York q little too
long. and the gamblers and others who
made their fortunes BY violating the
lew had squeezed down on the mayor.
An election was at hand. and the may
or had to obey or retire to private life
for the rest II his days.
The scowl that had frightened many
a crooked detective lay heavily on his
forehead. and IN bis eyes. as Rams
combe selected his personal papers
from those that were departmental
was q CLINT of>bitter protest.
There was tap at the door.
"Who Is It? What d'yuh wantT be
growled angrily.
Kearney showed his face In the door
timidly.
"Come In, bossT he asked.
Ranscombe nodded and returned to
bis desk.
II found him. boss" began Kearney
"Found whoT snapped the tnspec.
tor Get 1t out of your system and
beat It."
"Jim Montgomery, who escaped from
Sing Sing" explained Kearney. twist
ing felt hat nervously in his hands.
The Inspector looked up in surprise.
"Jim Montgomery he repeated. as
be reached for telegram on his desk.
ayes. sir, but didn't bring him back
with me-"
"Oh. you didnr2 That was consider
ate. guess you found out that We
had the wrong man In stir, chr
"No. sir 1t wasn't that found that
he was on the level all these years. He
was Just married. and be changed his
measurements so that nll ! could get
to prove he was the man was bis finger
prints. When I tried to get them from
him he stuck bis hands In some ma
chinery and
What
The inspector half rose from bis
chair. His heavy jaws came together
with a snap.
"Yes, sir. He'd made good name.
and rather than disgrace 1t and bis
wife and the people be lived among
"D'yuh mean to say that you let him
make that sucritice?"
The inspectors face was splotched
with the purple Of mighty wrath.
II didn't know he was going to do
It. boss" Kearney replied In choking
voice. I'D "a thrown down my JOB
before Id "a stood for that"
Ranscombe brought his right fist
down on his desk and shot out bis low
er Jaw as he stared at Kearney.
"You bloodhoundw be half screamed.
Kearney sat down In a chair beside
the desk and half covered bis face with
his big. red paws.
Boss" he groaned. Montgomery
was the kind Of man who would be-
crucifed for those he loved"
"How did you trail himT
~ went to his home town and found
hat bis mother was dead" explained
the man hunter. 81 looked up the
cemetery and found that the keeper
was being paid for caring for the
grave. traced the letters inclosing
the money and found that the SON
Didn't you have heart enough or
brains enough to stop?
"When | reached him wanted to
stop. I wanted to stop. boss. But you
trained me never to let up"
Ranscombe kicked back bis chair
and paced the room. holding IN his
hands the telegram he had taken from
his desk. He shuddered when he paus'
ed before his sleutb whom he had
trained SO we'll.
Read that" he said. banding him
the telegram.
Kearney scratched bis head as be
read the words Of this message:
Tucson. Arizona
Ranscombe, Chief Detectives. New YORK
Harry CUTLER. old yegg. dying here o
consumption, confesses murder OF True
blood, bank watchman. New YORK, clever
years ago. Ex-convict named Hawkini
found him In bad lands and brought hin
in. ALSOP. Chief.
The inspector had gone to window
and was staring out OF II abstractedly
Kearney read the telegram second
and then n third time He looked uE
at the broad back Of his chief. placed
the telegram on his desk and moved
gingerly from the room. He did moi
lift his eyes or speak word as ht
passed Jimmy Dunn. perched rounC
and cherulp-lik OH a chair at the biz
desk Of the assembly room. His travel
Ing bag Iay outside. He picked II VI
without stopping and departed from
headquarters.
Eenrney took trolley TO Duane
street and transferred to horse cal
to the farther east side.
The dust and CRIME OF long traye
were still ON him. In the return froI
the last lap In the long man hunt tina
had taken eleven years he had had tot
many things to think over to bother
about wash basins and combs ant
brushes. On the stoop Of the old fash
ioned house In Oliver street he fount
group OF old Irish women OF th'
neighb0rhoOd. He knew their face:
and nodded to them.
They huddled In tighter knot o.
worried humanity.
"What's the matter?" be demanded.
aYe're none too soOn." said one o.
them.
The Others begun 10 Groom softly Il
themselves He knew what tina
meant
The grip fell from his hand. but h'
steadied himself and entered the house
mounting the stairs slowly. He walk