The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1916-01-07
CHAPTER Xxx.
A Cruel Weapon.

CHAPTER Xxx.
A Cruel Weapon.
In the soberly correct Offices Of
Farnsworth & Heathcote, one of New
York's most solid and reputable law
firms, two persons sat talking.
The honest roses in the cheeks of
Miss Poppy Ordway bloomed glorious
ly. Her raiment whispered silkily
when she moved her splendid Shout
ders a bit more comfortably against
the mahogany chair-back.
And now, Mr. Farnsworth," she
was saying, "can you give me the full
particulars of that mysterious rob-
berry,"
The eminent lawyers quiet eyes
were taking pleasurable note of the
woman's beauty the concise handling
of the discussion in hand.
LAS one of the attorneys for the
estate of James B. Whitby, | think
am qualified to do So" he stated
gravely.
Then" said Poppy Ordway. open
ing a. little red morocco notebook at
a page far to the back. "let us pro-
ceed."
Mr.. Farnsworth spread out before
him set Of papers.
'First-Standard Copper and Zinc
company, consolidated he read with
out preface, lone of the most conserva-
tive and entirely solvent concerns in
the country. Under the control and
in the hands of Whitby, Halstead,
Witherspoon & Haste.
"'Suspected of crooked methods.
Twice involved in suits at law, charged
with rate and rebate swindles.
'Second-On the night of June IS,
1899, President Whtby had in his pos
session, for what reason has never
been made known, at his bachelor
100000 in banknotes of high denomi.
nations. He had sent away his man
for the night and was entirely alone.
.Third-He was found at nine
O'Clock the next morning. in his library.
sitting before a table, several hours
dead. Under his hand lay an unfin-
ished letter. This letter follows. YER
batim:
Arcade Place,
New York City. New York.
June 49, 1899.
I, James B. Whitby, president of the
Standard Copper and Zinc company. Con-
solidated, sit down to write what I be-
lieve will be my last word on earth.
The telephone wires have been cut, my
man is away for the night, and l am en-
tirely alone in the grip Of one Of my re-
current attacks of heart trouble but my
brain is abnormally clear l brought out
last evening from business $4,000. for
reasons known to myself-all of 1t in bills
Of high denomination.
At one o'clock this night I looked up to
face a pistol held by man. young man
who was unmasked. You may as we'll
be patient" he said quietly. 'for inteni
having a talk with you"
Then followed what sufficed to heat me
into the greatest rage Of my life-an ac-
cusation of myself. my methods and my
firm, the statistical GOODNESS Of which
was the acme Of studied insolence. He
was q young man, almost boy, just
home from a year in Europe after COL
lege.
He had 1t appears, found his father a
bankrupt. through unwise speculations Of
a partner. and tracing some transactions
to me. laid it all at my door. He de-
manded the money I had in my possess
sion-at the point of the pistol!
Shaking with rage obeyed. and threat
ened to expose him by daylight. He cool
ly told me 1 would not dare because Of
proofs. in his hands, which would states
prison me. and which proofs | positively
know do not exist.
The affair. believe at this writing will!
cost me my life. so vitality did 1t stir my
anger. and here and now before my
strength falls, let me commend him to
the fullest limit Of the law for punish
ment. He Is as truly my murderer as If
he had fired his gu,a to this swear. and
his name is
There" finished the attorney, the
letter ended, signed only by the hand
OF death, leaving the greatest mystery
of the times. There was no trace of
the young man with the pistol.
There has been found no trace of
the immense bundle of banknotes. as
there could be found no record of their
numbers nor any word of where Mr.
Whitby got them. There has been
found nothing. as all the world knows.
The estate has employed the best de-
tective talent Of the country to no
avail. There are no true cluss, opin
ions or theories. All are false when
applied"
With lightning rapidity Miss Ord
way had been following the attorneys
reading in shorthand in the red note
book
All" she said with a breath of
satisfaction, that is excellent! Excel
lent-and it closes the first matter of
which | spoke. Now for the second"
She smiled into Mr. Farnsworth's
eyes in her own bewitching manner as
she told the small lie. for there we're
no two matters upon which she had