The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-07-16
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possibly have fred the shot that killed
Miss Lutan, | was certain that she
still would have trusted me.
Thinking about Barbara l recalled
that 1t was the day of her sisters we'd
ding l had one OF the prison attend
ants get me the evening papers to see
what they had to say about It, for
I WAS fearful lest some breath Of
scandal at the last moment involving
the Brndfords might bring about
postponement. Eagerly | 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 a man she loved gladly would
brave poverty. hardship, everything
sincere, true-hearted woman with
clear vision of the real values OF ex-
istence.
My messenger returned with the
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
any part of my story. my case was
hopeless. desperate. Unquestionably
II would mean that l 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 tragedy.
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 Grunddeck 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 few days and was stay
ing at 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 hnlf-past
twelve there had come telephone
call for him. The girl had been I'M
able to get any response from the
apartment. Knowing that he had not
gone odt. and fearing that he might
have had sudden attack of Illness.
she had become alarmed and notified
Mr.. Wick. the superintendent
The superintendent. the account
continued. had summoned MIR. Henry
Kent, the owner of the Grnnddeck
apartments. Together they had gone
to Mr.. Gaston's rooms. Being unable
to get any reply to repeated rings and
knocks they had finally let themselves
in with puss key in possession OF
the owner of the building.
In his study In the rear of the
apartment they were Mortified to find
old Rufus Castor, fully clad. lying on
the floor. face down, stone dead. A
great wound on the back OF his head
showed that he had been killed. prob
ably Instantly. by a terrific blow from
some sort of blunt instrument A
search of the rooms failed to show
any sort of weapon.
The police theory was thai the crime
was undoubtedly the work of a bur
turn of Mr.. Castor so unexpectedly
TO his apartment. How the murderer
escaped after attacking MIR. Custom
was puzzle to the detectives at work
on the case. The superintendent OF
the building expressed the opinion that
the murderer had gnined access in the
guise of IL meter Inspector. Attend
ants In the hull recalled that there
had been such II man in the building
that morning. AS he wore the usual
uniform and presented the customary
credentials. he had been permitted tf
enter and leave the building unmo
Tested.
There followed long review of Itu
fus Customs business career and M
estimate of some of his extensive hold
ings In stocks. bonds and renl estate
from which ii appeared that his for
tune was likely to run to over ter
million dollars. II was with some sur
prise that | learned that II score OF
more OF years ago the old mnn nppar
entity nnd been powerful figure II
the life of the metropolis. active botl
in its business and social life.
What Interested me most WIS III,
attention paid 10 the remarkable -