The Southern herald., 1914-06-12

IDENTIFY a blind; Robertson was an
adept at covering his tracks. But why
had he selected Haynes name as an
alias? Evidently the safe would fur
nish valuable information, possibly
embracing this fact. But Haynes ex-
amined it with increasing dismay.
Nothing short of an electric drill and
matchmaking apparatus would force
it. It was controlled by combination
word-lock, but what word Robertson
alone knew. If Haynes chose to re-
main until his enemy arrived in the
morning he would undoubtedly hold
him at his mercy But Haynes did
not intend to murder Robertson; his
scheme was far more subtle-and be-
sides, he must force him to confess
where his wife was to be found.
There was nothing but to acknowl-
edge defeat and go. Yet the man
could not tear himself away, but
kneeled before the safe and pulled
now this way and now that, watching
the letters pass across the lock. His
fingers moved automatically, for his
mind was elsewhere, and he did not
know that he was making words IN
answer to the stimulus of the mental
images. Suddenly he became aware,
with awe and something almost ap-
preaching terror, that the safe door
was open.
He looked at the word. 1T was
MARY" HIS wife's name-for his
thoughts had been Of her; and that
was the name Robertson had selected! 4!
A sudden flush of anger made his lips
quiver and his face grew hot; then,
swinging back the door, he reached in
and drew out bundle Of papers.
They were letters, mostly, and as he
read them he learned for the first time
the full extent and ramifications Of the
plot which had been formed and put
into execution against him; he un-
derstood, too, why Robertson, guilty
as he was, dared not destroy this evi-
dence which kept him secure against
betrayal by the power that it gave
him over his confederates.
When the conspirators, having Sc
cured John Haynes within the peni
tentiary at Nokomis Falls, spread the
report that he had accepted one mil.
lion dollars in settlement Of his claim
to an estate worth more than ten
times that amount, this sum was de-
tached from the total capital and be-
came the spoil of Robertson, the lying
lawyer who had betrayed Haynes to
his enemies. Resolved to obviate all
possibility of retribution, Robertson
had removed to Benderville, where he
took up his residence. But his un-
easy fears would not leave him. At
length, finding that life under his own
name was intolerable, he hit upon the
scheme of taking the name of his vic
tim. He settled in Omaha as John
Haynes, and lived upon the proceeds
Of the plunder, which brought him
substantial income. The house at
Benderville he had not sold, partly
because he feared to show himself
there, partly because his avarice i'm
PEELED him to hold on to property
which yearly appreciated in value. He
also left a thousand dollars in the
bank there, undisturbed OF late,
however, he had come to the resolu-
ton to cut the last connection with
his past, and had employed an agent,
who had been minor member in the
conspiracy, to visit the house by
stealth and receive communications
from him there addressed under his
own name. He had rented the real
estate Office to cover his tracks in
Omaha; when the sale was effected it
was his plan to withdraw to Europe,
there to dwell in security.
But the letters-to which he had
clung in order to hold evidence against
the rest of the gang in case he need
ed it-these afforded the reader for
the first time complete understand
ing Of the scheme. Haynes learned to
his amazement that no less a person
than the governor of the state was
implicated. He had then been a no
toriously corrupt Senator; now he was
Governor, and Robertson had not al
lowed the wretched man to forget his
past. One letter, written in despair
by Governor Harding himself, al
though not signed, implored Robert
sons leniency in not insisting upon the
vetoing of certain bill. Another hint
ed at the place where Mary Haynes
was concealed. And, as he read this,
Haynes heart leaped; now he knew
that he could discover her abode at
any time without the necessity Of
bargaining with Robertson. On him
he could wreak vengeance to the full.
And she still lived thank God!
John Haynes placed the Governors
letters in his breast pocket, replacing
the remaining papers in the safe
closed it, stole out, and locked the door
again. There was now no sign that
any HhuAl6HI NlSitOI udu euISISu Iue
real estate Office. At four o'clock he
stood upon the streets of Omaha. At
six he was once more in Benderville;
and ten minutes later he was back
in Robertson's house.
That morning he took up his resi-
dence at the most fashionable hotel,
signing his name as Chauncey E. Rob
ertson upon the register. By nightfall
all the town knew that Mr.. Robertson
had returned To live in the community