Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-11-09
Circurnstantial
Evidence
BY W. IRVING KING
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ter and only child Of Squire Crawford,
president Of the local bank dt Mason
vile She was pretty enough to be
the heroine Of any story and just az
sweet and good as she was pretty.
Moreover she was In love with Add
son Douglas, although she had known
him only six months. It seemed to
her, and 1t seemed to Addison, as II
they had always known each other
Addison" said Charlotte one night
81 do wish you would trust me little
more. If you love me as YOU say you
do, why will you not tell me why you
came to Masonville. OF course, I
know that you are not my cousin
father admitted that--but what is 1t
that you are conceailng from me3"
charlotte, dear" replied Addison,
"for just little While longer I must
ask you to trust me. 1 CAN'T tell you
all just now"
"But you don't trust me-" said
Charlotte.
Addison sighed. 81 can't explain"
he said, "but will you trust me just
a little longer2"
Eyes, dear" said Charlotte. How
can I help itT And that little mat
ter was settled for the time being.
We change the scene; It was a
dark, rainy night as the enforcement
officers" waited impatiently for the
boat which was to attempt to land a
cargo of illicit "booze" at the end of
the old road which led down to the
long wharf.
There she comes" said one Of the
officers and the sound Of a rnotorboat
was heard out on the black rain-swept
water, approaching with all her lights
out.
We've got EN-" chuckled one of
the watchers. But even as he spoke
from neighboring headland rocket
shot up into the black sky and the
sounds Of the motorboat began to
recede.
They're on" cried the chief of the
party; we've been double-crOssed.
Into the launch, be lively" Into
launch which had lain hidden in n
neighborlng 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 fol
lowed the rum-runner, steering by the
sound of her engine-in the dense
darkness and rain 1t 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.
81 hear 'eml" cried the chief at last
Here, give me that wheel" And w
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, as he and his
men leaped ashore. But the only re-
ply was the sound of motor truck
being madly driven away into the
night. The ruin runners had worked
quickly in transferring their cargo
and themselves. The motorbOat 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 heavy and
susplcIous-looking bundle under his
arm.
Georgiana Macombe, 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 0um-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-
vlcted at the bar Of public opinion as
rum-runner and bootlegger.
He was a bright, handsome young
man, but that did not help him. He
had appeared in Masonville just after
the counterfeting 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 come ~ quiet place
to recover his health. Though old
Ezikel Hoffman, vino knew everybody
and everything declared that 1t was
the "fust" time he ever heard Of the
squire having a nephew, and as to
health Addison "did not look as II
he needed much doctOrlng."
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 "dld love
money"
The Widow Leeds was "all Of Il
nutter." The day before she had
seen telegram lying on Addison's
table. and had Of course, read II. II
was from New York and had said, ut
will be tonight" Addison was still
asleep upstairs when the widow heard
the news. Out she went bursting with
information.
shortly before noon Addison APP
peared on the street boldly carrying
the discriminating bundle which Geor-
glana had seen him with. His passage
caused a sensation. small crowd
gathered behind him and saw him en-
ter the bank and disappear into Squire
Crnwford's private office.
"Get itT asked the squire.
ayes" replied Addison. "Here II is."
The squire took the bundle and
Iorlsed It 80 In the safe. Then, chuck