The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-15
Running From a
Fortune
By EDWARD t. STEWART

from party IN LOnuOn asking me TO
discover a man who is hGing not be-
cause he Is a criminal, but because he
is wanted to enter upon the possession
of fine estate"
1t was indeed a singular case. Ralph
Thornton, a son of John Thornton, n
wealthy manufacturer of Birmingham,
England, had come to America in
flight from justice. or, rather, injustice.
A crime had been committed which
had been fixed on him. The circum-
stantial evidence against him was so
strong that his attorney advised him to
vanish. He accepted the advice and,
though absolutely iRnocent, sailed in
disguise for New York and never made
known TO any one in England into
what part of the country he had drift
ed. The real criminal had been tried
and convicted for another offense and
had confessed that he was the guilty
one In the crime of which Ralph Thorn
ton had been accused. Ralph's father
had meanwhile died and left him all
his property.
The trouble in finding Thornton was
that he would naturally suppose that
any one looking for him would arrest
him. Therefore it was necessary to
approach him not by ordinary detective
methods. | was furnished with a de
scription of his person and informed
that he was university graduate and
a scholarly man. l was also given the
letter from London stating that he had
been exonerated.
1 spent a long while in finding out
that he had gone to Colorado and en-
gagged in mining there. On leaving
England his father had given him
1900, so l judged he was in fairly
easy circumstances and expected to find
him, If indeed did find him, operating
a mine.
Proceeding to Denver, went from
there up into the gold mining country
on Clear creek, stopping at Empire,
where there were number of stamp
mills. There l procured a list of all
the men who had invested capital in
mining interests and made inquiries
concerning every one of them, satisfy
among them. However, secured in
formation Of an Englishman who had
been at Georgetown, farther up In the
mountains. about the time Thornton
came to America and who had sunk
all his money In mines. He called
himself Thomas Gregory.
Proceeding to Georgetown, I made
inquiry for Gregory and learned that
the last known Of him he had turned
wandering prospector. There seemed
nothing to do but hunt him up, but 1t
would be like looking for u needle in
had no assurance that he was my
quarry.
While considering what to do l was
sitting one morning on the porch of
the hotel reading a local paper. At
that time the Venezuela matter with
England that was handled so resolute-
ly by President Cleveland was attract
ing attention, and l read In the paper
an article written with view to CIV
ing the British side. There were sew
eral Latin quotations in 1t, and Il
seemed to me rather the work Of a
scholar than q statesman. Without
any definite object in view. l went to
the office of the journal and asked who
| wrote the article. | was told that 1t
] had been sent In from n mining camp
In the vicinity, but that was all the
| editor knew about II. l went to the
camp and found there man working
with pick and shovel whose appear
ance belied bis calling. Ills accent was
that of well bred Englishman. He
called himself Bill Anderson.
| I talked about the article had read
In the Georgetown paper, condemning
it bitterly as British argument against
the Monroe doctrine. watching Ander-
son to observe the effect my TRADE had
upon him. could see that was riling
him, but he maintained silence.
"I've been told" said, that some
one In this camp wrote that article"
Anderson shot a suspicious glance at
me.
man." continued. Miners don't quote
Latin"
Anderson turned and was stalking
away through thick growth of trees
was not sure that he was my man,
but was sure he wished to escape
me- / feared that If let him go
might not get him again. 1t would be
impossible to get In the fact that
wanted him for his advantage. must
take him by proceeding as If he were a
criminal.
"Youl Anderson 1 shouted. 81
want you"
He turned, drew a revolver from his
hip and fired at me, the bullet singing
near my ear, then turned and ran like
deer followed him and saw him 60
into cabin. called to the others who
were following me to help me capture
him without bloodshed. They consent.
ed to surround the cabin on condition
that would make good my claim to
him under the law. promised. When
the circle had been completed / sent
one Of the men to him with the letter
that had been received from England
Then waited to learn II I had the
right or the wrong man
Presently the two came out Of the
cabin, Anderson's, or, rather, Thorn.
toms, face aglow with a pleasurable
excitement. He advanced to me with
"Thank God missed you" extended
his hand and acknowledged himself to
be Ralph Thornton.
l He went east with me and sailed on
the next steamer for England.