The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1917-12-29
BY SPECIAL
DELIVERY

By ELIZABETH S. COBB

ACHNNA " -
professional capacity outside Of the
law office which employs me-Walton,
Burlingame & Evans. But, If you
search back, you will find me in the po-
lice records under my alias, Lee Can
drin.
There will ever remain with me the
memory Of a wicked, misspent year.. I
came to Chicago from a peaceful coun-
try home with several hundred dollars
inherited from my only relative, an
uncle. I was caught with the white
lights glare and royalty 1 scattered my
money. My liberality brought me in
contact with men who were bad at
heart. When my last dollar was gone,
leaving me in debt, they coolly invited
me to %replenish my resources by join
ing them in their criminal career.
My instructions were simple. The
boss Of the gang had given me a whis-
tie and a revolver. I was to signal with
the former IL a policeman or q watch
man anne along. I sat back far in the
shadow.
Just then from the mansion there
rang forth a shrill cry, followed by the
echo of a pistol shot. With a shrek,
as though pursued by haunting demons,
] dashed to the mouth of the alley. One
way was clear, but l did not seek 1t.
Approaching from the opposite direc-
ton was q policeman. I ran straight
way up to him. / seized his arm fran
tically, shouting into his ear:
"Oh, come into this house! MUIR
der is being done"
We got inside to find family and
servants rushing about in bewllder-
ment and terror. The butler had dis
covered my evil companions making
way with the silver. They had fred
at him and escaped with their booty.
AS we came outside the policeman, for
oil my activity in Fastening him to the
scene. placed me under arrest.
II was n of the crowd" I con
fessed instantly and told my story.
At the trial the judge appointed a
young lawyer to defend me. He was
Wayne Milton. "You are incriminat-
ing yourself" whispered the young
man as I told my story.
II deserve and expect punishment"
l replied definitely. and then, listening
intently to the minutest detail of my
experience. the judge motioned my
attorney to his side. They held a low
toned consultation and Mr.. Milton
came back to me, took my arm and
led me from the court room.
II have pledged my word that you
will never appear here again." he
said. my man, truth has saved you.
Wayne Milton, he with the frank,
,fathoming eyes, and a golden smile
and tender heart for all humanity
Oh! how much he did for me. His
firm gave me work, at first serving le-
gal papers and watching cases in
court, and later working into the intri-
cacies Of cases where my knowledge
of criminals developed an instructive
detective ability. Mr.. Milton at the
end Of the year removed to Clyde, a
little town 200 miles distant from the
city. I was living respectfully, earn
ing good money and never forgetting
the kindness and friendship of my pa
tron. 1t was during his second year
Of his practice at Clyde that I re-
ceived an urgent telegram.
"Get leave Of absence for a week
and come on" it read. Important"
I was at Clyde by first train. Had
Wayne Milton asked me to give up
willingly done so. I went at once to
the office Of Mr.. Milton. I found him
troubled, restless, serious.
He locked the door. and placed a
chair close to his side for myself.
He drew a photograph Of a lovely
girl from a desk drawer and held it
towards me.
"She Is beautiful" I said, simply.
"And as good as beautiful. She is
Miss Ruby Ashton. the daughter Of a
wealthy widower who, up to a month
ago, sanctioned our union. Then sud
denly he forbade me the house and
announced that he was getting his
business affairs here adjusted, and in
tended to remove permanently to a
distant country. To be brief, Ruby
discovered that he was being harassed
by a soulless blackmailer. receiving
letters mailed locally. She managed
to get hold Of one mailed two days
since. There it IS"
I read the missive. 1t was brief and
to the point. 81 shall not write you
again, unless you notify me by six
o'clock Tuesday evening next that you
are willing to hand me over $1,000
for the three notes.
AS I studied over this letter in my
room at the hotel that night. l noticed
an Odor emanating from its envelope.
Frying the pasted flap I found a num-
Der of small particles evidently at
tached to the tongue Of the sealer
when he closed the envelope. The
particles were tiny, but Enthusiastically
bits Of cloves.
Next day I made several important
I, IA&o- hn1 hnnn xurif-