The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-06-17
THE MESSAGE
TO A BURGLAR
Strange Adventure Of a Young
Woman In a City.

Winifred Bolles, an unsophisticated
country girl. went to town in search
Of employment Walking from store
to store she at last found herself UNI
Willingly in the private Office Of
benevolent looking old gentleman, Mr..
Herman Knowles, who, though she did |
not know it, was the head Of the firm.
"What is it, little grip he asked |
kindly.
Winifred asked for work and was
sent to the proper person with Mr..
Knowles order that she be employed.
She was directed to begin her labor
the next morning.
As she was leaving the store a man
stepped up to her and said:
"Would you mind taking this to the
telegraph office over there, my dear?
Here's a quarter to pay for it."
Certainly" said Winifred, and.
without even asking why the man
didn't take 1t himself. she started for
the telegraph office. The message was
Enclosed in an envelope, and when she
reached the window where messages
were received and handed 1t in the
clerk took It out of the envelope and
with 1t a peculiar looking instrument
made Of steel wire.
"H'mP he said, looking at the girl
suspiciously. Then he read the mes
sage.
Ben-Don't come tonight We are
watched. ROSE.
Again the clerk looked at the girl,
scanned her features closely and said:
''Sit down while count the words"
Winifred obeyed, but had not been
seated Ave minutes when a policeman
entered and went to the window, where
the clerk handed him the message and
the wire instrument Then the police
man turned to Winifred and told her
to come with him. She was taken to
police station and led up before an in
spector, the policeman at the same
time producing the articles he had re-
ceived from the clerk, saying:
'4The girl tried to send the telegram,
evidently warning a burglar. She'd
unintentionally left the skeleton key in
the envelope and handed both to the
clerk at the telegraph Office"
Ibid you order the message sent and
its receiver arrested"
eyes"
"All right. Take her away"
Poor little Winifred was led away to
a cell without the slightest knowledge
of where she was going When she
found herself behind bars she was in
an agony of distress. After crying
awhile she bethought herself what to
-, kho al U hut
the face of the kind looking gentleman
who had employed her kept coming up
to her, and she determined If possible
to send word to him of her misfor-
tune. Her message was delivered. and
the firms lawyer was instructed to at
tend to her case. He called to see
Winifred, listened suspiciously to her
story, then heard the statement of the
inspector, forming the opinion that
Winifred was in service and had Q
lover whom she had been intending t.
introduce into her employers premise:
for the purpose of robbery. This opin
ion he reported to Mr. Knowles. witt
the remark. Cali depends upon wheth
err the telegram reaches its destination
Thus far the messenger has not beer
able to find the person to whom it wal
addressed"
Nor will he" said Mr.. Knowles
"The man who gave her the message
watched her and saw her arrest. H
doubtless found way to warning"
"How do You account for her having
a skeleton key?"
'T have no theory as to that judg
of the girl only from what saw o
her for few minutes. and am neve
deceived as to an honest face. Wha
is your explanation?"
"That the girl put the key whic
her lover had given her into the er
velope and forgot It,"
II do not believe It,"
"And you do not consider her appl
cation 10 you for work a mere blind
Certainly not Please assume this
she is innocent and do the best 20
can for her"
The plan adopted by the police wa
to have Winifred held for trial and tn
trial put of in hopes Of development
or an implication by the girl OF h'
confederate. When Winifred we
brought up for examination there WI
really nothing to be said in her favo
One thing and one alone gave h'
hope. Among the visitors in the cOur
room she saw the kindly face OF M
Knowles.
The judge heard the statement
the prosecution and would have II
tened to the evidence of the defense
there had been any. Since there WI
not Winifred's attorney contents
himself with forming improbable tn
cries as to how WinIfred came In
possession of. the discriminating article
The judge remanded the prisoner 4
trial, fixing her bail at $1,000,
II win furnish that ball." said N
Knowles, rising. and, the paper bell
signed, Winifred, was discharged H
benefactor told her to go to work
his store the next morning.
Before the trial came off, by N
Knowles orders. Winifred's histo
from fha time of her birth was q.