Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-11-10
" the face of every man he met.

ly the face of every man he met.
After several days OF preliminary
scouting he 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 bis aid
In intercepting letter that would be
mailed in Greenville to certain ad.
dress in Nyack. N. Y.
Letters from one man had been mall
ed quarterly to Nyack from the noun.
tain city. One should be mailed dur
Ing the first days of June. II possible
| he desired to see the man who mailed
1t. If he could find nothing more than
the point at which the letter was mail
ed that would help, for 1t would mar
row his field Of inquiry.
The United States district attorney
knew only that 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, 80 the district attorney turn
ed over the detective to postal In
spectOr.
Kearney determined to give his per-
sonal attention to the people who came
and went from the postoffice building.
He was buck on the trail after eleven
years. Indeed. eleven years were as
eleven days to him. II his natural
span Of life had been seventy decades
instead 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 II counky boy when be 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
| full 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 small city. There was
one big topic that seemed to hold the
attention Of the people who focked to
the pOstoffice 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 saintly life.
At sunset on the evening Of the third
day In June, just as the postofi1ce 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
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 on the arm of this person. The
mastering Of this one emotion Of which
has nature was capable left him aston
lshed. for he had not expected to come
?On a man Of the type before him.
There was something 80 grave In the
eyes of his quarry and in the cast OF
his countenance that one could easily
have mistaken him for a preacher of
| the word of God. His carriage was
| dignified. and be 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 man whose
shadow he was to become was stopped
by another.
"Oh, Mr.. Nelson" cried the citizen
accosting him. II would like to wish
you all the happiness In the world the
day before your marriage"
Nelson's face broke into smile OF
pleasure.
"Thank you, sir" he replied. II
could never hope to deserve all the
good wishes that have been offered
me-" he looked embarrassed and re.
turned to bis 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 nc
attempt to follow him. He felt sure
that Nelson had not seen him. A mar
as prominent In the community as
Nelson was could be easily found al
any hour of the day or night. and
then. too, the morrow was his wedding
day!
Kearney took the letter from the
postal employee inside and went to his
hotel room.
He asked the clerk for his large en-
velope from the safe. and when bis
door was closed behind him he drew
forth the pictures from the gallery
Of rogues. He studied them carefully
The man hunter felt that there was
some faint intangible hint about the
eyes In the photographs which con
nected them with the man who had
mailed the letter to Nyack.
|
Two weeks Of seclusion In theil
mountain home, two weeks with every
hour Of day and night filed with gold
en- romance, and John Nelson and his
bride brought m end to their honey
moon.
The castle Of the one time hermt
contained his workshop. From 1t hat
gone his latest invention. his i'm
proved knitting machines We're alread!
installed In a plant built for them
His company had been capitalized ant
set In motion. He was its preslden
and chief stockholder.
Scores of women and girls from th'