Willmar tribune., 1914-09-23
as provided-the record Of the desh

No cry escaped Nelson's lips. The
pgony was keen. But what was such
agony compared to that which would
be his If the man from New York po-
lice headquarters slipped handouts
upon him and took him from his wife,
from the people he had worked with
and for. to be taken away and be bur
led alive?
Molly had started toward her hus-
band. but her woman's nature was not
equal to the horror of the moment.
She fell face downward to the door.
The machinery came to full stop,
but the steel jaws had closed over Mel
sons hands.
Kearney was the nearest man to
him.
"Just move that iron rod to the right
there" he heard Nelson say. Move It
slowly just an inch backward"
Kearney obeyed, and the jaws re-
leased their hold.
'"There is a physician In the Reedy
Mills" called Nelson to one of the
white faced girls. Telephone him
quickly"
He turned to another girl. ignoring
Kearney.
"Quick." he instructed her. "Tie
some Of this material tightly about my
wrists
He held forth his dripping hands.
The sleuth, his mind for q moment
blank with horror at this deliberate
sacrifice, grabbed up piece of knitted
material and made tourniquet, first
for one wrist and then for the other.
The mill physician arrived as this
first aid work was accomplished. He
quickly cleaned and made aseptic the
myriad little wounds In the hands of
Nelson.
1.-THE bones Of four fingers in the right
hand and of three in the left seem to
be broken" he said as he began band
aging. ''They will mend easily; III
month, only the scars will be left"
Molly had come from her swoon and
was holding her husbands bandaged
hands lightly in her own, her tears
wetting them. She was fully cogni
zant Of all that had happened She
knew who the stranger was standing
stupidity, but with an ashen face, near
her.
Kearney slipped back to the office.
picked up the photographs from Mel
sons desk, put on his hat and made
his way furtively from the building.
Inspector Ranscombe was cleaning
out his desk.
The end Of his police career had
come. He had been placed on the re-
tired list, and an order from new
commissioner that morning had broken
the news to him suddenly, victously.
that he was no longer wanted.
Lieutenant Jimmy Dunn, In the big
room outside, had heard the old man
roar. Ranscombe wanted to die In har-
ness. He was old, but he knew his job
and had plenty of virility.
The new commissioner was entirely
a political appointee. The lid had
been kept on New York little too
long, and the gamblers and others who
made their fortunes by violating the
law 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 Of his days.
The scowl that had frightened many
a crooked detective lay heavily on his
forehead, and in his eyes. as Rams
combe selected his personal papers
from those that were departmental.
was CLINT Of bitter protest.
There was tap at the door.
"Who is it? What d'yuh wantY' he
growled angrily.
Kearney showed his face in the door
timidly.
"Come in, boss?" he asked
Ranscombe nodded and returned to
his desk.
II found him, boss" began Kearney.
Found who?" snapped the inspec-
tor. Get it 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
he reached for telegram on his desk.
"Yes. sir, but didn't bring him back
with me-"
"Oh, you didn't? That was consider
ate. I guess you found out that we
had the wrong man In STIR eh?"
"No, sir. 1t wasn't that. found that
be was on the level all these years. He
was just married, and he changed his
measurements so that all could get
to prove he was the man was his finger
prints. When l tried to get them from
him he stuck his hands In some ma.
chinery and
"Whatw
The inspector half rose from his
chair. His heavy Jaws came together
with a snap.
YES, sir. He'd made good name,
and rather than disgrace it and his
wife and the people be lived among"-
"D'yuh mean to say that you let him
make that sacrifice?'
The inspectors face was splotched
with the purple Of mighty wrath.
II didn't know he was going to do
II, boss," Kearney replied in choking
voice. I'D "a thrown down my job
before I'D a stood for that"
Ranscombe brought his right fist
down on his desk and shot out his low
er jaw as he stared at Kearney.
"You bloodhound!' he half screamed.
in nh So hx>ry1 <I<D
the desk and half Gov cred his face with
his big. red paws.
Boss" be groaned. Montgomery