New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-07-07
CHAPTER XII,
SizzIino Metal.

ne said. Hunter n1mSel1,
Lightfoot from Plattsburg and
Merely here in town. Well, Mr..
Knox, are you willing now to put your
self on record that Fleming committed
suicideT"
NO." said firmly. 1T Is my belief
that he was murdered"
And that the secretary fellow.
what's his neutrality-suspicious. he
killed HING"
Possibly"
In reply Burton fumbled in his pock-
ct and brought up pasteboard box
filed with jewelers. cotton. Under
meath was a small object, which he
passed to me with care.
Il got it from the coroner's physi-
clan. who performed the autopsy" he
said casually. you will notice that it
is thirty-two, and that the revolver
they took from Wardrop was a thirty
eight. Question. Where's the other
gum"
l gave him back the bullet. and he
rolled it around on the palm of his
hand.
Little thing. isn't it?'' he said. I'VE
think we're lords Of creation until we
see quarter inch bichloride tablet or
a bit of lead like this. Look here" He
dived into his pocket again and drew
out roll of ordinary brown paper.
When he opened it bit of white chalk
fell Oh the desk.
Look at that" he said dramatical-
ly. Kill an army with it, and they'd
never know what struck them. Cya-
hide of potassium-and the druggist
that sold it ought to be choked."
where did it come from?" l asked
curiously. Burton smiled his cheerful
smile.
Its beautiful case all around" he
said as he got his hat II haven't had
any Sunday dinner yet, and it's
o'clock. Oh-the cyanide? Clarkson.
the cashier Of the bank Fleming ruin
ed. took bite off that corner right
there this morning."
"Clarkson" I exclaimed. "How is
he?"
gravely, from which took it Clarkson
was dead.
Burton listened while he ate, and his
cheerful comments were welcome
enough after the depression of the last
few days. l told him. after some hes
1tation, the whole thing. beginning with
the Maitland pearls and ending with
my drop down the dumbwa1ter. I
knew 1 was absolutely safe in doing
so. There is no person to whom I
would rather tell secret than news
paper man. he will go out OF his way
to keep it. he will lock it in the
depths of his bosom and keep it until
seventy times seven. Also. you may
threaten the rack or offer larger sal
airy. the seal does not come of his lips
until the word IS given If then be
makes scarehead of it. and gets in
three columns of space and as many
photographs. it is his just reward.
Burton ate enough beefsteak for two
men and missed not word.
THE money Wardrop had in the grip
that's easy enough explained" he
said Fleming used the Borough
bank to deposit state funds in. He
must have known it was rotten; he
and Clarkson were as thick as thieves.
According to time honored custom
in our land of the brave and home Of
the free state treasurer who is crook.
ed can, in such case. draw on such
bank without security on his personal
note. which usually is wosth its value
by the pound as old paper"
"And Fleming did that?"
He did. Then things got bad at
the Borough bank. Fleming had had
to divide with Schwartz and the Lord
only knows who all but it was Elem.
ing who had to put in the money to
avert q crash. the word crash being
synonymous with scandal in this case.
He scrapes together a paltry hundred
thousand. which Wardrop gets at the
capital and brings on. Wardrop ID
robbed, or says he Is; the bank col
lapses and Garrison. driven to the wan.
kills himself just after Fleming Is muir.
dered. What does that sound likeY'
Like ClarksonF' exclaimed. .And
Clarkson knew Fleming was hiding at
the White Cat!"