The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-08-02


She carried the infant In a small
shopping bag. which nhe guarded
carefully. Even tho nhe was faint
and wan. tho 2o.year-old giri--too
modest TO admit her shame--oarried
tho baby with her.
What should she dor
Finally ehe went 10 the Merritt
home. secured her little trunk and
letters. and two pictures-ono OF
herself. the other OF tho man whom
she loved and who ruined her life.
With the haby-the last remnant OF
her affection-she buried the pho
tographs. and-ehe thought-her
love, forever.
II was one Of those gloomy
mornings-Aprii Is--when the
sun seems Ia hide it, face be-
hind the clouds. v. .. Mullins
OF The A. u. &. Transfer com.
pany noticed peculiar odor
around his place Of business. lie
finally traced II 10 tho trunk
that the peculiar girl who gave
her name ms Erie Muliicane"
had stored there ON February
2s.
Detectives werr called. II was
the uneovcring Of Erie's tragic
love affair.
They found small. lace .boricrcd
handkerchief tied tightly about the
neck OF an infant II was a pathetic
little trunk. hardly more than doll
sized.
In addition. the letters Belonging
TO tho girl-hcr ahame-hers bliEhted
love-all came 10 light with the dis.
covery Of the tiny trunk
Erie was arrested that evening In
Sawtelle and brought 10 the city
jail.
She had little TO say for herself.
and steadfastiy refused TO blame the
man responsible for her condition.
She did not want 20 tmplicate any.
one nor would she confess her guilt.
until Il came 90 the point OF invoiv.
Ing her Innocent brother, Abner.
Then Erie. siaunch and true TO ideals
and honor. made a confession.
Erie Muliicane collapsed. following
the alleged confession. She cried.
and said she didn't want 20 live. She
stcadfastiy refused 10 tell who the
father OF the child was. and would
! not cat.
Erie Muiiicane ga, weeping In her
cell
| A vision OF maternal ioveiIness
stepped over the cell threshold.
II arm Mrs Angela Kaufman" ihe
4 81 e.
help you. dear"
AIRS. Kaufman put her arms about
Erie. talked TO her in a low voice
for few moments. and Erie be
iievcd. Eric believed that a new
alliance had been forrned--that great
fraternity OF women who viii help
other women In time OF troubled
Mrs Kaufman did everything that
money and love and sympathy could
do 10 help the orrtng Erie She hired
attorneys 10 defend her.
sho bought Erie beautiful clothes
She visited Eric every day In the
county hospital.
But during the long weeks that
Mrs. kaufman loved. watched and
waited on Erie. the girl kept the Ne.
eret ~ her love affair locked In her
heart
But Erie rave up hope-she refus.
ed 10 live. Thoughts OF the little one
buried In the tiny trunk haunted her;
the ghosts 81 her dead love would
clutch at her heart during the long
watches OF the night Everyone gave
her up for lost--cveryonc except Mrs.
Kaufman.
Mrs. Kaufman walked into the 1T
tie room where Erie Muliicanc was
lying. sat on the edge OF her cot. and
said: Erie. I believe you will be
freed. because | am working day and
night for your interests ! am trying
to help you-you mus, help me-
Tho girl lay silent for a few mo.
mcnis. then she said:
II have not todd you every.
thing. but ! shall.
Tho man I loved and trusted
was William Elmer McComb. a
rich banker Of Lebanon, Ieslcslr
county. Missouri. and he deceived
me.
when was 10 years old
wvsa Ia work at his big home for
his father and mother. I washed.
ironcsi. baked and scrubbed. They
paid me 81 wrk.
In October. 1918. The son Of
these folls--a man Of so years
told me no loved me and wanted
10 marry me. lie said his father
was about 81 years old and his
mother as. and AS soon as one Of
them died we could get married.
"NHheu he fusfrd mt thai \ uaS