The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, August 15, 1928, Page 6

bebsbetl eis: peace 988 Fe. ie ae ma aT TTT: he JOSEPH FAUS VERY small town usually has_ its “character” and Caleb Saunders oc- cupied this exalted position in Pine- crest. Caleb Saunders was small, slender, about thirty years of age. He had curly black hair, smooth white complexion and enigmatic bluc eyes. In his speech he used good diction, and to young girls quoted poetry. A fine living he earned by selling women’s hose in house-to-house canvass. Caleb Saunders had been in Pinecrest threc years, and no one knew from where he had come. His cityfied manners led some to believe he had resided in Jacksonville. When ques- tioned as to previous occupations he replied eva- sively, “Oh, I've done various things.” Young fellows, not as handsome %r as pro- ficient in raciting amorous verse, became jealous and darkly hinted that Caleb Saunders had left behind him a wife and, probably, some children. In time the merchants of the town, mildly en- vious of the energetic salesman, advanced the theory he had been run out of some city because of shady deals. Then a story went the. rounds that Caleb Saunders had absconded with $50,- 000 from a Tallahassee bank, and was now out on bail awaiting trial. The salesman denied this, but with such a furtive air few believed him. One day some idlers in front of the general store were discussing a sordid murder case, and Caleb Saunders, happening by, joined the group. He narrated a case he “personally knew of,” and the details were very harrowing, indeed. After the fellow departed one of the loafers spoke up: “That man’s no fool! He's seen more'n he dare tell, too! Life in the raw! I wouldn't be surprised but he’s been right in prison himself! He knows too much about mur- ders and trials to be just a common guy!” IHEN a new placard was tacked up in the postoffice—"$1000 Reward for Bigamist!”’ It announced that one Jerry Thompson, a handsome devil of many aliases and addresses, had met, wooed and married several girls, de- camping with their money. The photograph bore a startling resemblance to Caleb Saunders. Excitement ran high in the village; wild con- yectures were made; the constable was urged to do his duty. So this officer hung around till, at his usual hour, the salesman came in for his mail. After an awkward grecting, the constable, motioning to the placard, said: ‘Locks kind of like you, don’t it?” “Sure does!" agreed Caleb Saunders. after a glance. “But it can't be me, officer.’ It says he’s married five times and I married only four. He laughed. a shot with red. Man “That Iets you out, thet,” opined the cone stable, grinning, too. But naturally the anxious onlookers weren't satisfied; and after the suspect left they deluged the representative of the law with sharp criti- cisms. One wise youth said: “Why, constable, that’s the very way the cleverest criminals escape arrest! While‘the police are hunting them down in the underworld they are innecently walking past headquarters and the jails! See? Abso- lutely no suspicion! It takes nerve, but that's what gets ‘em by safe. You seen’this fellow was sel as a cucumber, and he’s cunning, too— cunning as the devil! It’s my idea you'd better investigate this closer.” And so it grew. Rumors bred speculation and speculation hatched facts. Caleb Saunders was a man with a past—a dark, mysterious and sinful past. He had been an absconder, a biga- mist, a pal of murderers, thieves and white- slavers. Proof? Of course there was no abso- lute proof, the townsfolks said, but they had sense enough to see that two and two made four. If he was innocent, then why didn’t he come right out and say so? Mark the words: Caleb Saunders and his diabolical schemes would be heard from, and in this very same town, too! The salesman seemed to enjoy his naughty reputation. His happiest smile was when some sixteen-year-old girl would in embarrassment turn from his quizzical gaze, when old men and old women scuttled out of his pathway, when the merchants glared in hostility at him, when young men exhibited their tempers and jealousy, when a mature housewife fashed guiltily if-he auixotically kissed her han2. And, paradoxically enough, he grew extreme- ly popular; for his purported crimes lent a glamour and a fascination to him. Everybody agreed that Caleb Saunders knew Life not only wisely but too well. UT in the fourth year of his reign as the mystery man of Pinecrest a catastrophic thing happened to the salesman. A stranger, a “drummer,” had come to town and was in the general store conversing with some loafers when Caleb Saunders entered to buy a collar. The stranger stared in surprise at Saunders, then grinned, and, going up to him, slapped him resoundingly on the back. “Cale Saunders, you old son-of-a-gun!”” he ejaculated jovially. “So this is where you moved to! Shake, old sober-sides! I’m darn glad to see you again!" Caleb Saunders turned about, his pale face “Why—why, hello, Ben Slo- cum,” he stammered; and feebly he extended a hand. ‘'Glad to see you, I’m sure.” “*You don’t act like it!" grinned the stranger. Caleb Saunders drew his handkerchief across his perspiring countenance. “Well, I got to be going,” he muttered. ‘‘Sce you later,” and like a frightened rabbit he scurried out. STII LULL With a Illustrated by JOE KING The spectators crowded about the stranger. “You know Caleb Saunders?” they exclaime eagerly. ‘“‘Where's he from and what'd he do? Is he really a jail-bird and a bigamist? Tell us all about him!"* “Jail-bird!" = The stranger rocked with hilarious laughter. ‘‘Cale Saunders a jail-bird! Ha! Ha! And a bigamist! Ho! Ho! That's the best joke I’ve heard in a coon’s age! Why, up til} three years ago Cale Saunders lived all his life on my uncle's farm over in Gadsen county, not more n a hundred miles from here! Honest and hard-working as they make “em, and simple- minded as a turtle. -'Fraid to death of girls, and wouldn't harm a fly. Went to church reg'lar, too. Only fault I knew he had was .reading these poetry books.” IHE next morning when Caleb Saunders went to the postoffice he passed Parks, the seedy old drayman, and that unworthy looked at him and deliberately laughed. A boy hollered: “Hey, Mr. Saunders, how’s the ‘tater’ crop over to Gadsen county?” Two young ladies acknowl- edged his timorous nod with giggles. In the postofhice the idlers loudly guffawed. Caleb Saunders’ sun was in descension; the king had been dethroned. 5 It affected him to such extent that, humiliated and chagrined, he stayed all day in his room at the boarding-house. His night was sleepless: and the next day, when timidly he ventured forth, many jibes caustic and crude were hurle at him. From a lord Caleb Saunders had turned to a liar, from a business man to a bum, from a gallant to a gawk, from a lion to a lamb. That night Jasper Terwilliger, grasping pro- prietor of the hardware store, awoke to see a masked man bending over his bedside. “‘Keep still or I'll kill, you!" viciously hissed the in- truder; and when Mr. Terwilliger croaked in fear a harsh butt struck his head and promptly he lapsed into unconsciousness. In the early morning the village was aroused by the burning of Amos Randall's big barn. The barber hurried to get his car to go to the fire, but the machine had vanished. Mrs. Ter- williger, awakened, discovered her husband moaning, and, at his behest, looked into the bu- reau drawer to find some of his cash savings gone. 5 The boarding-house keeper reported that red- letter day that Caleb Saunders had mysteriously disappeared during the preceding night. Very evidently he had taken Mr. Terwilliger’s money, the barber's flivver, and, in a last dehant ges- ture, set fire to Amos Randall's barp. It was just like him! they all calhusisstically agreed. Yes, sir, the rascal had probably been planning the crimes for months. A sly fellow he was, and crafty as a fox! That stranger— he was a sap, the applesauce! They knew-a villain when they saw one, you bet! & nae Mr, Saunders, over in Gadsen cou! AUTEURS the ‘tater cro QW = SoM iTTUT TUTTO NU UTOTU TUTTO TTT UT Pa Loos KIND OF LUKE YOu. “DONT ITP VER in a small town in another state six months later George Reynolds, alias Caleb Saunders, was selling toilet articles, quoting love lyrics, and arousing curiosity in all. Cryptically he evaded divulging his late resi- dence, his former business. His reserve shroud» ed him in mystery, his silence spoke volumes. Soon he was the town’s foremost character, usurping an old hermit who claimed he could talk to ghosts. Even though he was vaguely disappointed . that he never saw his picture in the postoffice. George Reynolds, alias Caleb Saunders, smiled in perfect happiness. Squarely, honestly, un-, flinchingly, he looked the world in the face. He, was a man with a past! if ALAA A < i = = L TO |