White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-10-14
Circumstantial
Evidence
BY w. IRVING KING
20 by lecture Newspaper syndicate.)

W. - - ANS"SpaPtA hNiNeNSP
Charlotte Crawford was the daugh-
ter and only child of Squire Crawford,
president of the local bank at Mason
vile. She was pretty enough to be
the heroine of any story and just as
sweet and good as she was pretty.
Moreover she was in love with Addi-
son Douglas, although she had known
him only six months. 1t seemed to
her, and IT seemed to Addison, as If
they had always known each other.
Addison" said Charlotte n night,
II do wish you would trust me a little
more. If you love me as you say you
do, why. will you not tell me why you
came to Masonville. OF course, 1
know that you are not my cousin
father admitted that-but what Is 1t
that you are concealing from meT'
Charlotte, dear" replied Addison,
"for just a little while longer l must
ask you to trust me. / can't tell you
all just now"
But you don't trust me-" said
Charlotte.
Addison sighed. Il can't explain"
he said, 'but will you trust me just
q little IongerT
yes, DEAR said Charlotte. "How
can l help it?" And that little mat
ter was settled for the time being.
We change the scene: 1t was a
dark, rainy night as the enforcement
officers" waited impatiently for the
boat which was to attempt to land q,
cargo of Illicit "booZe" at the end of
the old road which led down to the
long-deserted wharf.
There she comes" said one of the
officers and the sound of a m%otorboat
was heard out on the black rain-swept
water, approaching with all her lights
out.
we've got EN-" chuckleU one of
the watchers. But even as he spoke
from ~neighboring headland a rocket
shot up into the black sky and the
sounds of tile motorboat began to-
recede.
They're on" cried the chief OF the
party: we've been double-crossed.
Into the launch, be lively" Into a
launch which had lain hidden in a
neighboring creek for just such an
emergency, the men tumbled and the
chase was on. Out into the bay and
then up a long. narrow arm which
penetrated far into the land they fof
lowed the rrm-runner; steering by the
,u,, 80 h-r- anr;ruoA-jn tho dnnC0f
darkness anu rain II was impossible
to see the object of their pursuit.
Soon after entering the arm Of the'
bay they lost the sound Of the motor.
boats engines. They stopped and lis
tened intently. Several little creeks
branched off between heavily wooded
banks.
II hear 'em!" cried the chief at last.
Here, give me that wheel" And up
one of the dark, narrow waterways
they sped. Presently close aboard,
they made out the bulk Of the rum
running boat. "Hands UP, we've got
you,' cried the chief, a s he and his
men leaped ashore. But the only re-
ply was the sound OF a motor truck
being madly driven away into the
night. The rum runners had worked
| quickly in transferring their cargo
and themselves. The mot0rboat was
practically empty. So the rum-run-
ners escaped and Addison Douglas was
seen entering the house Of the Widow
Leeds, where he boarded, at five
o'clock that morning with a heavy and
Notwithstanding bundle under his
arm.
Georeiana Macoube, who went out
nursing and was returning from an
all-night vigil, saw him.
When later In the day all Mason
Vile was talking of the rum-running,
episode-curious how quickly such.
matters get abroad in seaside towns
Georgiana contributed to the general
gossip her early morning discovery
Within an hour Addison had been con-
victed at the bar of public opinion as
a rum-runner and a bootlegger.
He was a bright, handsome young
man, but that did not help him. He
had appeared in Masonville just after
the counterfeiting gang had been
rounded up, at the old Philips place,
three miles away in the woods. and
been introduced by Squire Crawford
as his nephew cone to q quiet place
to recover his health. Though old
Ezikel hoffman, who knew everybody
and everything, declared that 1t was
the "fust" time he I've heard .pf the
squire having u nephew, and as to
health Addison did not look as II
he needed much doctoring."~
Now all was explained. The only
question was whether Squire Craw'
ford had been imposed upon or had
succumbed to the lure Of the rum
runners tremendous profits. Every
body knew that the Squire did love
money"
The Widow Leeds was "alf Of 9
flutter." The day before she hac
seen a telegram lying on Addlson's
table, and had, Of course, read 1t. II
was from New York and had said, I'll
Will he tonight" Addison was still