Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-07-30

He had not forgotten the testimony
Of Montgomery hat he was an appren-
tice machlnist. and he remembered the
story of the boys anxiety for his kit
of tools. He drifted among the men
who handled the machinery of the cot
on mills with n story that be wanted
to start up a small foundry with u
partner who was an expert. All the
while his keen little eyes studied close
ly the face of every man he met.
After several days of preliminary
scouting be visited the office Of the
United States district attorney for the
Greenville district. He explained his
mission and showed his credentials.
He asked the district attorney to ex-
tend to the police OF New York his aid
in i~ntercepting a letter that would be
mailed in Greenville to a certain ad-
dress in Nyack, N. Y.
Letters from one man had been mail
ed quarterly to Nyack from the noun
tain city. One should be mailed dur
ing the first days of June. If possible
he desired to see the man who mailed
1t. If he could find nothing more than
the point at which the letter vas mail
ed that would help, for it would mar
row his field of inquiry.
The United States district attorney
knew only that a search was being
made for an escaped convict. The po-
lice of the great cities and the United
States secret service generally work IN
harmony, so the district attorney turn
ed over the detective to q postal in
spector.
Kearney determined to give his per-
sonal attention to the people who came
and went from the postofice building.
He was back on the trail after eleven
years. Indeed. el9:sen years were as
pan of life had been seventy decades
R.1tead Of seven he would have been
patient through the whole 700 years.
He had not been able to pick up the
lost tracks of Hawkins, but Hawkins
was skilled in the tricks of the under
world. The real man he was after had
been but n country boy when he was
sent up for life. In lodging the law
he had big chances against him be-
cause Of his ~inexperience. He would
make many mistakes. He had made
one-sending money to Nyack. 1t is a
police axiom that even the most care
ful of criminals sometimes overlooks an
important detail in covering himself.
Kearney watched and waited, keep
ing his ears open all the time to catch
the gossip of a small city. There was
n big topic that seemed to hold the
attention of the people who f1ocked to
the p~ostoffice at intervals during the
day. 1t was the marriage of John Mel
son to Molly Bryan, the daughter of
the president of the Reedy River Cot
ton Mill company.
From fragments of conversation
Kearney learned that these two people
were much beloved, the girl because of
her beauty and her earnest work
among the poor of the mill settlements
and the man because of a sanity life.
At sunset on the evening of the third
day In June, just as the postoffice was
about to close and as the last Of the
idlers began to depart a man of serious
mien. wearing a beard touched with
gray, stepped from an automobile in
front of the building. He entered and
went to one of the mail slots. dropping
a letter therein.
1t had hardly touched the bottom of
the little chute when three distinct
knocks sounded on the glass window
pane behind the detective. 1t was the
signal agreed upon between the clerk
within and the man on watch outside.
A thrill of exultation that was worth
waiting eleven years to experience shot
through Kearney. His hands itched to
close OIL the arm of this person. The
mastering of this one emotion of which
has nature was capable left him aston
ished. for he had not expected to come
upon a man Of the type before him.
There was something SO grave In the
eyes Of his quarry and in the cast of
his c~ountenance that one could easily
have mistaken him for a preacher of
the word of God. His carriage was
digniied, and he was dressed soberly
and without ornament.
The people on the steps of the post
Office had drawn back respectfully be-
fore him, touching their hats. 1t was
evident that he was widely known and
that he was revered.
Kearney had not determined what
step to take next when the mar whose
shadow he was to become was stopped
by another.
ooh, Mr.. Nelson" cried the citizen
accosting him, 81 would like to wish
you all the happiness in the world the
day before your marriage"
Nelson's face broke into q smile of
pleasure.
'@Thank you, SIR" he replied. 81
could never hope to deserve all the
good wishes that have been offered
me-" He looked embarrassed and re-
turned to his machine outside.
Kearney had studied him from the
crown Of his head to his heels. II
that man was Jim Montgomery the
change was remarkable. He made no
attempt to follow him. He felt sure
that Nelson had not seen him. A man
as prominent in the community as
Nelson was could he easily found at
any hour of the day or night, and