The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-19

was expected by hi. nsnces. and hi
popappsaranes would trouble her ~
count against him Nevertheless "
both agreed sAat we had better ge
together such evidence as would con
vince her-if It were possible to con
vince her-thnt her lover WAS Whist b
pretended to be and Bis arrest was
mistake.
The only evsdsnce sought which m,
client did not furnish was at tho hotel
! I Questioned the clerks there, but nom
/ Of them had any special memory as T.
Mr. Posndexters arrival, and It woult
not have counted for much II they had
Having made this Investigation I re
turned to my once, where I found my
ciisnt, who presented his credentials
which were as follows; Arthur Potn
dexter was a gentleman OF means, CIV
en- to travel He suggested my tele
phontng his bankers. which did, and
they vouched for him. also telephon
cd several Of his friends TN his home
city. whose stories all agreed. / be
came convinced that he was what he
purported TO be and that some trick
had been played upon him, by whom
or for what purpose I could only con
lecture
Having made UP my mind to this, l
proposed to him that should call upon
Miss Macdonald and explain the sit
uation. l could plead her hance' s
cause to better advantage under the
circumstances than he could himself
He agreed with me, and set forth on
my quest
l have pleaded many causes before a
jury, but never one requiring such care
as this. l was obliged to keep con-
stantly IN mind that. with the excep-
ton OF a season at a water resort, my
client was a stranger to the lady.
proceeded with the utmost caution.
stating the case from the reverse Of
which 1t has been stated here. pic
tured her lover coming to town, buoy
ed with expectation Of seeing her the
day after his arrival; his being obliged
to spend a night At a strange hotel; his
going to bed and being awakened to
find that n mistake had been made; his
establishment at seeing a clergyman's
clothes where he had placed his own;
his horror at being led away to a police
station. Then gave her the informa
ton | had elected concerning her low
er's identity and the excellent charac-
ter that had been given him by bis
friends
The young lady heard me through
without word, then astonished me by
her marvellous penetration into the In
tricacies of the case
II would not think" she said, "of
introducing to my family as my fance
q man under such a charge. Some one,
for some unknown purpose, has turned
him over TO the police as criminal.
He suffers from a misfortune which Is
as much mine as his. You may prove
that he Is Arthur Poindexter, but
don't see how you can prove that Ar
thur roindexter Is not a confidence
man. In other words. | see no hope
for him. AS to my action 10 the mat
ter his misfortune only draws me
closer to him. What do you propose p
What propose Is made much easier
for me and for my client and for you
by your remarkable appreciation for
the conditions. Two courses are open
TO him: Either TO stand trial, pleading
not guilty, or to jump his bail. which
h. hnD ne
means, and disappear"
which do you recommend she
asked after some thought
THE latter course"
She sat thinking. I arose from my
seat. went to a window and stood look
ing ont, giving her time TO consider
Presently she said
''Tell him. please, that II be decides
to follow your advice l will marry him
and go with him But on no account
will inform my family OF what in
tend to do. IT would only make trou
BILE for all Of Us without changing my
resolution"
/ returned to my ONCE, where found
Poindexter and reported with enthus
asm what I considered his fancee's no
BILE sacrifice. I was some time In con
vincing him that the best thing h<
could do for both parties was 70 accept
II. A marriage wss arranged for the
next day at my Office, and immediate
IL after the ceremony the bridal couple
went on board steamer sailing thai
p}yht for a fovrAgr mort
In due time an article appeared in a
newspaper stating that Arthur Digby
alias Jimmie Whiffies, alias the Rev
Miles Staples, sneak thief and conf
dence man, had jumped his bail, TAX
ing with, him AZ his wife young LADY
well known In the highest social cir
cles
Naturally the marriage made q grea
stir In the social world and, for tina
matter. among those who did not know
the parties.
Two years In ter Mr. and Mrs. Poin
dexter returned to America indicated
The real Jimmie Whites. Rev. Mile
Staples. etc, was captured and mad,
ma following confession: One evcninl
tn the Ackley hotel he saw a man VIII
reeemblsd himself Jimmie was 4
canonicals at the time. and after tn
man Poindexter) had gone to bed b
stole up to bis room. unlocked the doc
with a pair Of pfiers, stole the inmate
! rlothea want "a a hsfhvooro tab ~