Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1914-02-06
THE MAN WITH
THE WOODEN LEG
b. M. QUAD
Copyright, 1913. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
b M. QUAD,

from the stagecoach at the Acorn inn,
in Blissheld. one April evening, one
was a man with q wooden leg. The
stranger registered as John Gordon of
Chicago, and. when he gave out that
he might remain in Blissfeld for sew
eral weeks, every body wondered what
business could have brought him there.
After three or four days it leaked out
that the man was a government agent,
who had come to watch the men who
had been stealing timber or certain
lands. That gave him increased re-
spect, and yet even l, schoolboy, no.
tlcing the mans steel gray eyes, firm
set jaw and thin lips, could have told
that he was cruel, if not bad hearted.
He had lost his left leg at the knee.
and the substitute was not cork leg,
but a crotch and stick-the plainest
and cheapest sort Of an affair. His
dress was also very plain, his speech
that of the common order.
''The man with the wooden Leg" as
he came to be generally spoken Of, had
been in town about a week when one
OF the leading merchants was robbed
of about a thousand dollars in cash.
The local constable did great deal of
talking, but struck no clew, and in his
desperation he asked Gordon to assist
him. believing no doubt that govern
ment officer Of any sort ought to be
more or less posted in detective work.
Gordon seemed to think the matter
over for awhile and then replied
'"The case is as plain as the nose on
your face. The merchants son took
the money, and after this thing quiets
down he will go off to st. Louis to
have a good time. I'd stake my life
he's got every dollar Of the missing
cash securely hidden away some
where"
Ten or twelve days passed, and til. II
came a terrible tragedy.
The richest man in Blissfield was
Squire Higgins. He owned the wooden
mills, store and several houses and
had money to lend. He was a widow
er, but lived with his son and wife.
His room was on the ground floor,
while all others slept upstairs. He
had no safe, but kept his money in a
tin box on a shelf in closet. He had
bank account over at Medina, ten
miles away, but often had 81 ZOO or
more in the house. One evening when
the others were ready. to go to bed he
announced that he had some business
to attend to and was seated at his
desk in the sitting room when the 9th.
ers retired About midnight the daugh-
ter-in-laW heard a fall and groan
downstairs. and when her husband
went down to investigate the squire
was found dead on the floor, having
been stabbed no less than five times
in the body.
I House and grounds were searched
but the murderer had escaped, and be
had also taken with him the cash box.
which contained about 500.
Gordon seemed to- take lively inter
est in the murder. No outside help
would have been called in and the
murderer might have gone his way
but for the arrival Of another stranger
He was, as it happened, a first class
detective, who was just then employed
in tracing a missing man. The crime
was day old when he reached Bliss
field. He heard all the particulars
from the loungers at the inn and then
volunteered to look the ground over.
This was courtesy on his part
which the sheriff could not refuse, and
after supper he was taken to the
house.
The tracks in the garden were still
fresh when the detective took hold OF
the work. and in three minutes he had
made up his mind to something. He
had little to say to any Of the men
explaining that he had not yet com.
pleted his Investigations, but as he left
| the house to return to the inn, while
followed at respectful distance, he
turned down a quiet lane, beckoned
me to follow, and when we were alone
he lighted his pipe and asked:
Boy, do you know any man in town
who is lame in the left leg?"
answered in the negative, but add
| ed that there was man with wood
| en- leg at the inn. He at once began
to question me about this man. not yet
having seen him himself, and | tolG
him all knew and all l had heard
OF course he told me nothing in re
turn, though heard him chuckling tC
himself, and his face betrayed the fact
that he was pleased about something
1 acted as his guide to the Jail, and
when in the presence Of the sheriff he
said:
II want you to go with me to over
haul the man with the wooden leg al
the tavern"
The sheriff, detective and constable
with two or three other citizens, pro
ceeded to the inn and to Gordon's
room He was cool and quiet and of
fered cigars all around, but those who
were watching him saw him grow palt
as the sheriff began by begging hi:
pardon and hoped no offense would b.
taken. but would he let them look al
his wooden leg.
Gordon faltered and bluffed and was
reaching for his pistol under his pilloW