Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-11-01
BY SPECIAL
DEL livery
(copyright. 1917, western Newspaper Union.
By ELIZABETH s. COBB

ii
Copyright. 1917, Western Newspaper union)
am John Bevins, detective. You
will not find my name on the police
roster, however, for am not listed in
my professional capacity outside of the
lay Office which employs me-.Walton,
Burlingame & Evans. But, il you
search back, you will find me In the po-
lice records under my alias, Lee Can
drin. x;
There will ever. remain with me the
memory OF a wicked, misspent year. /
came to Chicago from peaceful coun-
try home with several hundred dollars
inherited from my only relative, an.
uncle. was caught with the white
lights glareand royalty / scattered my
money. Ny sliberality brought me in
contact with men who were bad at
heart. When ny last dollar was gone,
leaving eInadebt, they coolly Invited
me to replenish my resources by join
ing them their criminal career.
My instructions were simple, The
boss Of the gang had given me whis-
tie .anda revolver. I was to signal with
the former II a policeman OF a watch
man came along. sat back far in the
shadow. =:
Just then from the mansion there
rang forth shrill cry, followed by the
echo Of a pistol shot; With shrek,
as though pursued by haunting demons,
I dashed to the mouth Of the alley. One
way Was clear, but I didsnot seek it.
Approaching from the opposite direc-
ton was policeman. ran straight
way up to him. seized his arm fran
tlcally, shouting into his ear:
Oh, come into this housed Muir
der is being done!"
We got inside to find family and.
servants rushing about in bewilder-
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
Iall my activity in Fastening him to the
scene, placed me under arrest. &.
II was one of the crowd" I con-
,fessed instantly and told my story,
At the trial the Judge appointed i
young lawyer to defend me-, He was
Wayne Milton. "You are incriminat-
'ing Yourself" whispered the youns
Smap as / told my, story.
II deserve and expect punishment"
II replied definitely, and then, listening
lintently to the minutest detail Of my
experience, the Judge motioned my
attorney to his side. They held low
toned consultation and Mr.. Milton
came back to me, took my arm and
He'd 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 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-
lcacies Of cases Where my knowledge
of criminals developed an instructive
detective ability. Mr.. Milton at the
-jend Of the year removed to Clyde, a
little town 200 miles distant from the
city. was living respectfully, earn.
Ing good money and never forgetting
the kindness and friendship of my pa
tron. It was during his second year
: of his practice at Clyde that re
ceived an urgent telegram.
sect leave Of absence for weel
and come on" it read. Important
I was at Clyde by first train. Hat
Wayne Milton asked me to give W
my position to assist him would hav,
willingly done so. I went at once t,
the Office of Mr.. Milton. I found hin
troubled, restless, serious.
He locked the door and placed ,
chair close to his side for myself.
He drew photograph of a Lowell.
girl from desk drawer and held
towards me.
"She is beautiful" said, simply.
"And as good as beautiful. She
Miss Ruby Ashton, the daughter of
wealthy widower who up to q mont
tago sanctioned our union. Then sue
denly he forbade me the house an
announced that he was getting hi
business affairs here adjusted, and il
tended to remove permanently to
distant country. To be brief, Rub
discovered that he was being harasse
by soulless blackmailer, receivin
letters mailed locally. She manage
to get hold of one mailed two day
since. There it is"
I read the missive. 1t was brief an
ito the point. 81 shall not write yo
again, unless you notify me by 81
O'clock Tuesday evening next that 70
are willing to. hand me over S1O,0f
for the three notes.
AS j studied over this letter in n
room at the hotel that night, notice
an odor emanating from its envelop