Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-07-18
cam / to consider myself under ar

L
rest, SIR.
Il wouldn't go SO far as to say that.
You just stick around here, that's all
i got to say. If you're all right, we'll
soon find it out. What's more if you
are all right you'll be willin' to stay.
Do you get me?'
Il certainly do. And I can now as
sure you, Mr.. Sheriff, that I'd like
nothing better than to stick around
here, as you put it. I'd like to help
clear this matter up. In the mean
time, you may readily find out who I
am and why l am here by telegraph
ing to the mayor of New York city.
This document, which experience has
taught me to carry for just such an
emergency as this, may have some
weight with YOU" He opened his bill
folder and drew forth neatly creased
sheet of paper. "Read it, please, and
note the date, the signature, the Off
cial seal of the New York police de-
partment, and also the rather interest
ing silver print pasted in the lower
left hand corner / think you will
agree that it is good likeness of me.
Each year / take the precaution of
having myself certified by the police
department at home before venturing
into unknown and perhaps unfriendly
communities"
eyes," said the sheriff obviously;
"but how do know it amt forgery?"
"You don't know, of course. But in
case it shouldn't be forgery and l
am subjected to the indignity of ar
rest or even detention, you would have
a nasty time defending yourself in
civil suit for damages I shall remain
here, as you suggest, but only for the
purpose Of aiding you in getting to
the bottom Of this affair.""
Standing on Jim Conley's front
porch little after sunrise, Barnes
made the following declaration:
Everything goes to show that these
men were up here for one of two rea-
sons. They were either trying to pre-
vent or to enact q crime. The latter is
my belief. They were afraid of me.
Why? Because they believed I was
trailing them and likely to spoil their
game. Gentlemen, those fellows were
here for the purpose of robbing the
place you call Green Fancy"
whats thatY' came rich, mellow
voice from the outskirts of the crowd.
A man pushed his way through and
confronted Barnes. He was a tall,
good-looking fellow of thirty-five, and
it was apparent that he had dressed in
haste. "My name is O'Dowd, and 1 am
a guest of Mr.. Curtis at Green Fancy.
Why do you think they meant to rob
his placer"
SWELL" began Barnes dryly, "it
would seem that his place is the only
one in the neighborhood that would
bear robbing. My name is Barnes. OF
course, Mr.. O'Dowd, it is mere specu-
lation on my part"
'But who shot the man." demanded
the Irishman. "He certainly wasn't
winged by anyone from our place.
Why, Lord love YOU sir, there isn't
soul at Green Fancy who could shoot
a thief If he saw one. This is Mr.. De
Soto, also a guest at Green Fancy. He
will, think, bear me out in upsetting
your theory"
A second man approached, shaking
his head vigorously. He was a thin,
pale man with a singularly scholastic
face. Quite an unprepossessing I'M
ganguinary person, thought Barnes.
"Mr. Curtis chauffeur, I think it
was, said the killing occurred just
above this house." said he, visibly ex-
cited. "Green Fancy is at least a mile
from here, isn't it? You don't shoot
burglars a mile from the place they
are planning to rob, do your"
9TH admit it's a bit out of reason"
said Barnes. 'The second man could
only have been shot by some one who
was lying in wait for him.
"Bedad," said O'DOwd, sit beats the
devil. There's something big in this
thing, Mr.. Barnes-something long
shot bigger than any of us suspects"
you'll find that it resolves itself
into a problem for Washington to
solve" said De Soto darkly. Nothing
local about it, take my word for it.
These men were up to some interna-
tiOnal devilment. There'll be stir In
Washington over this, sure as any
thing"
"What time was it that you heard
the shots up at Green Fancyw ven-
tured Barnes.
Lord love you," cried O'Dowd, 1--WE
didn't hear a sound. Mr.. Curtis, who
has insomnia the worst way, poor
devil, heard them and sent some one
out to see what all the racket was
about. The man, it seems. made such
q devil of a racket when he came
home with the news that the whole
house was up in pajamas and peig-
noirs.''
81 think have slight acquaintance
with the chauffeur" said Barnes. "He
gave me the most thrilling motor ride
I've ever experienced. Cad, I'll never
forget it."
Tho two ,,ony, 1ooEod of him y,1oip1yy