Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1915-11-10
The MESSAGE
TO A BURGLAR
Strange Adventure of a Young
Woman In a City.

III WUIlidII Ill d O1tys
Winifred Bolles, an unsophisticated
country girl, went to town in search
of employment. Walking from store
to store she at last found herself I'M
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 man
stepped up to her and said:
Would you mind taking this to the
telegraph office over there, my dear?
Here's quarter to pay for it"
Certainly said Winifred, and,
without even asking why the man
Didn't take it himself, she started for
tie telegraph Office. The message was
b'closed in all envelope, and when shaA
reached the window where messages
were received and handed it in the !
Clerk took it out of the envelope and
with it peculiar looking instrument
lnade of steel wire.
mr. 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 l count the words
Winifred obeyed, but had not been
seated five 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:
''The girl tried to send the telegram,
evidently warning a burglar Shed
unintentionally left the skeleton key 4
the envelope and handed both to t. \
clerk at the telegraph Office. -:
did you order the message sent ants
| it's receiver arrested?'' Y
"Yes.''
"All right Take her away
Poor little Winifred was led away to
cell without the slightest knowledge
! WI no ho
found herself behind bars she was in
an agony of distress. After crying
| awhile she bethought herself, what to
do She knew no one in the city. but 6
the face of the kind looking gentlemazs
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 to
introduce into her employers premises
for the purpose of robbery. This opia-
ion he reported to Mr. Knowles, with
the remark Cali depends upon wheth-
er the telegram reaches its destination. 8
Thus far the messenger has not been
able to find the person to whom it was
addressed ,'@s=1e-
'NOr will he." said Mr. Knowles.
THE man who gave her the message
watched her and saw her arrest. He
doubtless found way to a Warming
"How do you account for her having
a skeleton key?''
81 have no theory as to that. Judge
of the girl only from what saw OF
her for g few minutes. and am never
deceived as to an honest face What
is your explanation"
''That the girl put the key which
her lover had given her into the en-
velope and forgot it,
81 do not believe it.
"And you do not consider her applf-
cation to you for work mere blindy'
Certainly not. Please assume that
she is innocent and do the best Won
can for her.
The plan adopted by the police was
to have Winifred held for trial and the
trial put of in hopes of developments
or an implication by the Girl of her
confederate. When Winifred was
brought up for examination there was
really nothing to be said in her favor
One thing and one alone gave her
hope. Among the visitors in the court
room she saw the kindly face of Mr.
Knowles.
The Judge heard the statement of
the prosecution and would have lis
tened to the evidence of the defense If
there had been any. Since there was
not. Winifred's attorney contented
himself with forming improbable the
cries as to how Winifred came into
possession of the discriminating articles
The judge remanded the prisoner for
trial. fixing her bail at $1,000.
Il will furnish that bail" said Mr.