The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-10-21
MusiratioAs
~
IrwiNNyens


still would have trusted me.
Thinking about Barbara l recalled
that 1t was the day of her sisters we'd
ding. had one of the prison attend
ants get me the evening papers to see
what they had to say about It, for
was fearful lest some breath Of
scandal at the last moment involving
the Bradfords might bring about a
pOstponement. Eagerly I was hoping
that nothing had happened to prevent
the marriage taking place. With the
fortunes Of her sister assured and
her mothers future safe, realized
that the course of my relations with
Barbara would be likely to be much
smoother sailing, provided of course
that / was acquitted. In the few
chats l had had with her, had real
lied that wealth and luxury and social
position meant nothing to Barbara's
happiness. She was the sort of girl
who for man she loved gladly would
brave poverty, hardship, everything
a sincere, true-hearted woman with q
clear vision of the real values Of ex-
istence.
. NlY ueSSGHktE IGNuIHCu WAlh NAi0
newspapers, and as l picked them up,
everything went black. millionaire
Castor Found Murdered" was the
startling headline that flashed before
me, right there In the column next to
the account of the Bradford wedding.
The sinister effect of this terrible
news dawned on me instantly. With
my great-uncle Rufus dead, without
the possibility of his corroborating
any part of my story, my case was
hopeless, desperate. Unquestionably
It would mean that would be found
guilty Of murder and sentenced to
death in the electric chair. AS soon
as could sufficiently compose myself
read every word there was In the
newspapers about this new trngedy,
: smiling grimly at the thought that at
least they could not blame this MUIR
der on me.
Mr.. CASTOR, 1t appeared. had come
to the Granddeck about ten o'clock In
!, the morning and had gone at once to
his apartment. On his arrival he had
been greeted by the telephone girl and
had informed her that he was only In
the city for a few days and was stay
: ing at a hotel. He had added that he
: would not be occupying the apartment
for several weeks until his wife's re-
!, turn to the city. About half-past
twelve there had come a telephone
call for him. The girl had been I'M
able to get any response from the
. apartment. Knowing that he had not
!, gone out, and fearing that he might
= have had a sudden attack Of illness
she had become alarmed and notified
, Mr.. Wick, the superintendent.
The superintendent, the account
: continued, had summoned Mr.. Henry
, Kent, the owner of the Granddech
y apartments. Together they had gone
to Mr.. Gaston's rooms. Being unable
, to get any reply to repeated rings ant
!, knocks they had finally let themselves
i in with a pass key In possession o.
the owner of the building.
IS In his study In the rear OF thu
q apartment they were Mortified to fnC
IT old Rufus CASTOR, fully clad, lying oil
E the floor, face down, stone dead.
v great wound on the back Of his heat
Is showed that he had been killed, prob
y ably instantly, by terrific blow from
ID some sort of q blunt instrument. 4
/! search of the rooms failed to shoV
" any sort of a weapon.
s. The police theory was that the crlm'
/ was undoubtedly the work Of a bur
ly glar who had been trapped by the re
Of turn of Mr.. CASTOR so unexpectedl
j. to his apartment. How the. murdere
to escaped after attacking Mr.. Gasto
Id was q puzzle to the detectives at worl
ne on the case. The superintendent o
s- the building expressed the opinion tha
r. the murderer had gained access in tn
&c gulse of a meter inspector. ATTEND
DO ants in the hall recalled that ther
IN had been such a man In the buIldIn
ne that morning. AS he wore the usuf
ed uniform and presented the customar
w credentials, he had been permitted
n enter and leave the building unmt
en- Tested.
IL There followed long review of RI
,Iv fus Gaston's business career and q
w. estimate of some of his extensive hol'
in ings In stocks, bonds and real estnt
us from which 1t appeared that his 10
Id tune was likely to run to over te
nv million dollars. 1t was with some sn
~ prise that learned that a score {
20 more of years ago the old man appa
ro emily had been a powerful figure
NJ the life Of the metropolis, active bot
- In its business and social life.
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