Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 218, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1911 — Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Co. [ARTICLE]

Back to issue view

“Who is he?" said Mr. Fenton, with an innocent air, though he was some-' what perturbed. "How much does he know, I wonder?" he said to himself. “And if he does know anything, why does he undertake the defense.?” “I cannot tell you his name for the moment,” replied the financier, “but if you consent to act for him without allowing my name to appear, I will tell you the whole story. To preface, the man is not yet under arrest, and he may never be. But if he should be, there are reasons,” and here he stopped and waited for the lawyer to say something. On his side Mr. Fenton was wondering at the facility with which the Cossetts and their connections engaged lawyers to defend men who were not yet in need of defense. “Why, Mr. Cossett,” he said, finally, “the proposition is a peculiar one, but I think I may safely say that I can undertake your case if it comes within my scope. Is it murder or robbery?” “Robbery at present,” said Mr, Cossett, sourly. 1 “It may be murder eventually.” “You are not serious, surely?” returned the lawyer with pretended severity. “I knew that you were robbed, and I can compel my imagination to picture you engaging a defender for your robber, for I suppose that is your intention, but when you speak of a murder not yet committed—”

“I have Jaeen robbed twice, the second time not nineNiours ago,” cried the visitor fiercely. “The mention of a possible murder. you may consider a pleasantry if you choose. What I want is a lawyer for the man I suspect of both robberies. Will you be that lawyer?” "I will** said Mr. Fenton, after he had expressed his amazement and regret over the second robbery. “Well, then,” said Mr. Cossett, “I will tell you what is on my mind. A year ago I asked Miss Nellie Cossett, the younger of the three who claimed that I took their money, and the only one of my relatives I care a pin for, to make her home with me. I am her first cousin, and practically alone in the world. I offered to make her my heir. “She was fond of me then, and I visited hdr home quite often. She,

was made in the Deener cemetery, southwest of tioodland. Mr. Brennan was past 91 years and leaves two daughters, Mrs. John O’Connor and Mrs Hugh Trainer, both of Remington. ' Warner Elmore, wife and mother autoed to Frankfort last Wednesday, returning Friday after attending a Holiness camp meeting. o Horse Show Next Week. The Remington Horse Show occurs next week on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 20, 21, 22 and 23. A large entry of horses has already been made; street attractions and shows are contracted for, and amusements of a general nature promised the public. o Methodist Home Missionary. < Leaflet by Mrs. Crain.) The Woman’s Home Missionary Society of the M. E. church met with Mrs. Jordfin, Sept. sth, at 2:30 P. M. The meeting opened with singing, alter which Mrs. Gumm read the scripture lesson from Mat. 7:7-12, followed by prayer by Mrs. Fell. Roll call; responding to name with a verse o' scripture. The concert study of August was “Indians and Alaskans." Leader, Mrs Crowder. Responsive readings, “Our Indian Work,” by the society. Interesting articles were then read on the “Navajo’’ and “Yuma” Indians, by Mesc’.ames Washburn, Crain and Johnston, and Miss Lewis followed by reading on our work being done in Alaska. “Jesse Lee Home,” Cnalaska, by Mrs. Fell. ' “Back to Alaska,” by Mrs. Chappel’ “Letters from Sinuk Mission,” Carrie Lewis. The meeting closed with singing and sentence prayers. * The Implicit confidence that many people have in Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy la founded on their knowledge of the many remarkable cures of colic, diarrhoea and dysentery that it has effected. For sale by all dealers. c

however, refused my offer because she did not wish to leave her aunt and uncle alone. The elder Cosset ts whined and cried until she gave me the answer I have just told you of, and after that they laughed at me. “They were never my friends, and complained frequently because I had not settled up the estate and allowed them to get their hands on the money “In a moment of pique with Nellie, and anger against the others, 1/ took, advantage of the strong pqpition I held, and when they forced me" into the courts I defeated them. But I still intend that Nellie shall be my heir, though 1 am hot yet ready to tell her so. “The night I was robbed, two weeks ago, I found on the steps, as I ran down, this," taking from his pocket the card portrait of Miss Cossett, and laying it before the lawyer, who now began to see that the financier’s suspicions were directed toward the man who, as yet, thought himself safe. “That is a portrait of Miss Cossett,' went on the financier. “Today, before I discovered that I was robbed again, the thief gave me this card with an address written on it.” He handed the second card to the lawyer. “You will see, Mr. Fenton,” he continued, “that everything points to the fact that the two robberies were committed by the same man. While there was at first a

chance that Nellie’s portrait found its way to my steps by accident, the possession of its other half by today's thief proves that it was dropped there by the man who ran away. “Who was that man? I don't know definitely, but I suspect. You will remember the man in gray? Certain of our newspapers were of the opinion that he was either the thief or an accomplice. “The only man answering his description who would be likely to have Nellie Cossett's portrait is Mr. Henry Linden, a distant relative of ours, who is thought to be Miss Nellie’s affianced.” Mr. Cossett arose and walked up and down the room for a few moments. When he resumed his chair he continued: “I have discovered that Mr. Linden not only is of the general build of the man in gray* but he usually wears gray. In build and height he is also like my latest thief, who is a devilish good actor, for today he looked very unlike the man of two weeks ago. I haven't seen Mr. Linden nor do I want to see him or recognize him. If iie is robbing me he ought to be punished, if only to prove to Nellie that he is a villain, and unworthy of her. “But I cannot bear to think of her being made unhappy through any move of mine” l —(“He did not think of that when he took the property,” thought Mr. Fenton) —“and though I will not publicly press the matter if he is caught by some skillful member of the police, I will not help him publicly. But I empower you to do the best you can for him—for Nellie's sake. - “He is young, he may be worth saving, and—well, I simply cannot bear to have Nellie hurt too deeply. If you can get him off, there will be no stain on his character perhaps, and he will have had his lesson.” When Mr. Cossett had finished, Mr. Fenton asked: "Why don’t you warn him, if you feel so positively that he is the guilty person?” v “How can I warn a man that I am not supposed to know, even by sight?” said Mr. Cossett, with some asperity. “That would-be exactly the way to give the Cossetts a chance to say that I am persecuting them through their newly found relative.” "Pardon me,” said the lawyer. “And now,” said Mr. Cossett, “I believe that I have not mentioned a retainer—”

“We will postpone that until later,” said the lawyer. “There may be no real ground for your suspicions, you know. There are coincidences that make Mr. Linden's guilt probable,* this was said judiciously, for effect, “but I have known stranger things than this to prove explicable. “I must say I commend your resolve not to see Mr. Linden. Your intentions, If you will pardon me, are so unfixed at present that even an apparent confirmation of your suspicions might work undeserved harm. “But for the present let the whole matter rest with me. And about today's robbery,” he went on, “do the police know of it ” “No,” replied Mr. Cossett, shortly, “and they never will. Even my clerks do not know of it.” When the financier had gone Mr. Fenton threw himself into his chair. “What a strange character,” he mused. “He takes his relatives’ money, and he is naturally furious because some one is taking his money. “But he will not try to punish the thief—for Nellie’s sake. How many men fail to get their deserts under the law because of a pretty Nellie somewhere. But our young man is not safe yet We utill have the police to reckon with.”

by Lucero, D. S. Makeever, owner— Jesse Beecher, first; Alf Hoover, second. v Best 1911 mule colt, any sex. sired; by Henry Clay, Omar Kenton, owner —E. E. Garriott, first and second. LIGHT HARNESS HORSES AND SADDLERS. Best stallion, 3 years old and over, June Henkle, first; Chas. Steele, second. Best mare br gelding, 3 years old or over—Frank King, first; Chas Steele, second. Best colt, any sex, 2 years old a id under 3 —Chauncey Wood, first. Best colt, any sex, 1 year old and under 2—lsaac Glazebrook, first; Ray Parks, second. Best suckling colt—John R. Lewis, first; F. M. Snyder, second.

lie, indignantly. “You never saw him, and cannot know anything so terrible as your suggestions would imply. You will break down all the affection and confidence that I still hold for you if you are trying to mislead me for some purpose of your owa-” “I am not tricking you, Nellie, and 1 believe what I say.” “Then tell me plainly what you mean,” flamed Nellie. “A girl cannot be expected to jilt the man she loves on a mere suspicion. You cannot think so meanly of me as to suppose I would do so unheard of a thing.” “But I don’t ask you to go that far, Nellie!” cried the financier, somewhat alarmed. “I thought it my duty to warn you. After all, I may be wrong, my child, and only time will tell.”

“But you ought to tell me what you have heard,” persisted Nellie. “You -have made me unhappy without giving the slightest reason for jour action. I know you are wrong when you insinuate such terrible things. You would never have known him,” with some little scorn she said this, “if he had not happened to come at first to the side which is opposed to you. “I think it perfectly natural that he has never come to you, for he could not help being influenced by the opinions of uncle and aunt. But he has told me often that there was still a chance that the old trouble could be remedied. He thought he had a beautiful scheme for righting what uncle called his wrongs.” Now Mr. Simon Cossett had the reputation of being an astute man. His success in life was one bit of evidence, and his management of the Cossett suit was another.

To be sure, he had been fooled by thieves on two occasions, but that was no sign that his astutesness had completely failed him. He caught at the phrase Nellie had used. (To be continued.)