Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-07-27

~ more compact, Blindly, was
stumbling up against it here and
there most Unexpectedly. Augusta
Waldron, beyond doubt, was Ivan Wal
drOn's wife. No wonder her house
was designated the meeting place for
those people9
/ returned to the hotel. Only as
stood before the door did / realize
that the newsboys were calling out,
Extra All about the murderr' l
felt that my face was white, and that
ny hand shook,l yet l hastily bought
copies of half dozen sheets. showing
them into my pockets.
The reports We're mostly alike, ex-
cecdingiy brief and unsatisfactory ex-
cepi that they conveyed the impress
sion that thus far the police possessed
no real clue as to the perpetrator OF
the crime. No one connected with
the meeting the night before was men.
toned in any article, nor was any sus-
picion of such meeting mentioned.
read the last line with a distinct feel
ing of relief, dropping the paper on
the floor.
They had discovered no clue, moth
ing whatever 90 work upon. The in
terror of the car had yielded no evil
dence Of its former occupant, the only
reference being to mud on the floor
Outside all footprints had been OBJ
liberated by the falling rain. No one
in the neiehborhood had heard
sound, or witnessed any movement.
The whole affair was shrouded in mys-
terry.
What, under these conditions, was
my duty? What could I either do, or
say, to clarity this tragedy, and bring
the guilty to justice? | sat there for
an hour thinking and smoking, en-
deavoring to answer these queries.
could study out no clear way to any
confession, which would not directly
involve myself in the tolls OF the po-
lice, or else implicate Marie Gessler.
so as TO make any defense on her part
almost impossible No doubt she was
guilty. yet could not drive myself to
openly charge her with the crime.
There must be some extenuating cir
cumstances, some unknown cause,
which had led TO the act. ! could not
forget her face, her manner, the clear,
womanly look of her eye-she was no
murderess, and Ii was not in my heart
to denounce her as such. Besides, II
took this responsibility it would
only serve to shield other crimes of
more importance than the violent
death Of this Chilean revolutionary
the murder perhaps of many innocent
victims, and the destruction Of much
valuable property. For Alva's death
would hardly stop the plotting already
on foot. The money was still here In
New York ready to be used; the propa-
gandists at Washington would never
permit it to long lie idle. They would
find somewhere another leader. and !
alone seemed TO be In a position to
balk their helish purpose. Perhaps
1t was even by their orders that Alva
had thus been put out of the way.
He had acted too slowly, and sus-
RANAOi AAAiEhl Dttu hFOuSNu MS W
his real purpose On every side was
assaied with doubts.
Yet, even if | held silent, l knew
not in which direction to turn. | had
apparently lost all touch with the
girl She had failed me completely
either by accident, or design. Her APP
pointment with me had served to re-
veal only one fact which might prove
of importanee-247 lie Compile street
was undoubtedly link in the chain
of the conspiracy: 1t was the home of
Ivan Waldron. Once / told this dis
covery TO Harris the way might be
opened to closer investigation. But
what had become of Harris? 1t was
already approaching six O'Clock, and
the mas had not telephoned me Sure
ly he must be aware by this time of
the murder of Alya; the uselessness
of seeking longer to find him alive.
Was he also endeavoring to avoid me?
was his purpose deceit? or had some
suspicion arisen in his mind as to my
really being Harry DAILY?
Aroused by this possibility. and I'M
able TO remain quiet longer, slipped
revolver from the depths Of my bag
into coat pocket, and departed again