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Till'. -WEEKLY TRIBUNE M. QUAD’S STORY. THE PRETTY MISS TAYLOR. [Copyright, 189*3, by Charles B. Lewis.] The town of Monroeville was the county seat of Ralph county and a place of about 4,000 inhabitants when I was elected sheriff of the county. I had charge of the jail, of course, and though an old bachelor I occupied the apart- | ments set aside for the jailer's family in a wing of the building. My turnkey was also a single man. Floss by name, and ■while we slept at the jail we took our meals outside. Ours was a peaceful com- , o '' - I 1 FOUND MR. TAYLOR A VERY QUIET AND RESERVED MAN. munity, and it was seldom we had a prisoner who had been sentenced for any thing beyond theft or vagrancy. In a town of that size everybody knows ev erybody else, and the arrival of a new family is a matter of public talk. One day about six months after I had become sheriff a new family arrived in Monroeville. It wasn’t much of a family, so far as numbers went, consisting only of father ami daughter, but there was a big ripple of excitement nevertheless. There were several reasons for this. The name of the family was Taylor, and it was reported that Miss Bessie Taylor, the daughter, was going to apply for a position as schoolteacher. She was a young woman of 20, stylish and hand some. It was also said that the father was old and blind, but well off in purse, and that he had lost his sight by acci dent while testing an invention. Again, the gossips had it that Miss Bessie could have been married half a dozen times if she had consented to leave her father, but that her love for him was so great that she had determined not to fall in love till after his death. The story, as a whole, as it passed around the town, was quite romantic, and when the young woman appeared on the streets and was declared to be the handsomest girl in the county, and when it became a settled fact that the gray haired old father couldn’t distinguish day from night, there was more talk about the Taylors than about any 10 other families in town. After three or four weeks it was learned that Miss Bessie was not going to teach i school. The doctor had prescribed coun try air and perfect rest for her father, | who had money enough and to spare. It was further learned that the father was , a great chemist, and that he bad lost his eyesight while seeking the antidote of a subtle poison. They rented a pretty 1 house, put in very stylish furniture, and ; in a few weeks the young woman w.:s ; at the top of the social ladder. This ■ story is a sort of confession, and 1 may < tell you at the outset that 1 fell in love : with Miss Bessie at first sight. As 1 ■ was twice her age and not at all her style of man, it was silly in me of course, but the man who makes a fool of him- ' self seldom realizes it until too late to i save his reputation. Through some rel atives of mine who called on the family as soon as etiquette permitted, I was in troduced and paid my respects, and 1 rpade no great effort to conceal my feel ! ings. 1 found Mr. Taylor a Very quiet and reserved man. Indeed, as lie him self gave me to understand, ha had a horror of strangers and avoided them whenever possible. He had not only lost his sight, but was so lame he could only hobble about. After my first call I did not meet him again, though I sometimes heard him moving about in the bouse. The Taylors had not teen with us over* two mont.is when one of the society la dies gave a party to which all the best people in town were invited. Miss Tay lor was there of course. I had the dis tinguished honor of escorting the fair young lady to and fro, and it is needless to add that the flame of love burning in my bosom increased by several candle pewer. I got homo soon after midnight, to be upset by the news of a burglary in town. Within an hour it was known that the postoffice and a store had been entered and robbed, and two dwellings had been visited and plundered. As sheriff 1 assisted the town marshal to in vestigate. In the postoffice the safe had been blown open and about S6OO secured. In the dry goods store the safe, which was an old fashioned one, had been opened with a false key and plundered of about S9OO. In the other cases the dwellings had been left alone, and the robber had gone in by the window. The money and jewelry secured amounted to nearly $2,000. The two families robbed were at the party, as was also the owner of the store, who was a single man ami slept in a room off his office. None of us could lay any claim to detective ability, but the investigation satisfied us that one man had done the four jobs. The sea son was the last of November, and a lit ht snow had fallen early in the. even ing. In the alley back of tho postbfiici found certain. fool-urints. We found tne same unaer tne auey window or tne dry goods store, and the very same around the two private houses. The fel low’s rapid and thorough work proved him a professional, and the town was in a high state of excitement for a week. The robberies took place on a Thurs day evening. On the following Sunday evening 1 called on Miss Taylor, and she almost immediately asked for all infor mation i uiiu secured up to ante u..u then made a confidential communica tion. On that Thursday evening an at tempt had been made to enter her fa ther’s house by a bedroom window, but hearing the prowler at work the father had raised an alarm. Miss Taylor felt, it her duty to tell me this, but she re quested me not to give it publicity, as her father was extremely sensitive, and people might say she was selfish to leave a helpless old man alone in the house as she had. There were marks of a chisel on the window sash, and when I was told that the robber might have secured $3,000 in cash if he had got in I extend ed my heartfelt congratulations. I also offered to speak to one of the town watchmen and have him keep a special watch of the house, but this Miss Tay lor strongly objected to and made me promise not to do. I told you I was in love with the girl, but I wasn’t the only one. Seven or eight young men were badly gone on her and enjoyed the same privilege of calling, but I flattered my self I had the inside track. About three weeks after the robberies Miss Tayloi and other young ladies organized a so cial club. The meeting to perfect the organization was held at her house. Among those present was a young man named Carleton, who was cashier in a private bank in town. He carried a key to the door of the bank, and it being a large key he carried it in his overcoat pocket. Next morning after the meeting at Taylor’s it was discovered that an at tempt had been made to rob the bank. Some one had entered by the front door, using the key, blown out the lock on tho door of the vault, and had begun opera tions on the safe inside when frightened away. He, however, secured a tin box belonging to a depositor, which held stocks and bonds to the value of SIO,OOO. On this occasion a detective was sent for, but he had no better lock than we did in the other case. His conclusions differed from ours, howeviW. He was satisfied that the criminal was no stranger to the town, and that he had entered the bank with one of tho three keys in daily use. I thought he hinted pretty strongly that Carleton’s key was the one used by the robber, but I couldn’t figure out how that could be. The detective had not yet dropped the case when one of the town watchmen came to me with a curi ous story. On three or four occasions, late at night, he had seen a man leave or enter the Taylor premises with great caution and had not been able to over haul him and get sight of his features. He was positive that at 11 o'clock at night on the night the bank was entered he saw a man enter the Taylor house by way of the alley and back yard. Thu watchman knew that Taylor was old and blind and the only man about the house, but nevertheless he was positive as to what he had seen. Under the circum stances I was just as positive that he was mistaken and advised him to say nothing about it. Two special watchmen were put on, and the people were yet highly excited, when the social club of which I have spoken had its first regular meeting in a public hall. Most of tho members were single, but there was one newly married couple named Gleason, who left their house unguarded when they came. When they returned home, they found it ransacked and robbed. When I re turned to my apartments at the jail, 1 met with a surprise. There were no prisoners in jail at that time, and Floss had gone to bed at 10 o’clock. At 11 he had been awakened by some one moving about in his room, and being a man cf great courage he had bounded out of bed and attacked tho intruder. As he clinched the man they fell, and in tho fall the stranger’s head struck a piece of furni- (Joss / AS HE CLINCHED THE MAN THEY FELL, ture, and he was rendered unconscious. When he camo to. Floss had the irons on him and had tab ■■ ■ ~ i'. re volver auu Knife, 1 found in the stranger a man about 25 years of age, well built and evidently a powerful fellow. Ho had a crafty look, and there was a wicked snap to his eyes; but, on tho whole, he was what you would call a gentleman. He had come in by way of a window, and to get tho window open he had cut out a pane of glass. Ho had a chisel and a bunch of false keys with,, him. and being caught dead to KOMKJ A, 16. lawa. ngnts, as tne ponce term it. ne naa no excuses or explanations. He was a per fect stranger to us, and he refused to give his name or any other information. We locked him up in the strongest cell, and next morning I had half the town in to see him. It was generally believed that he was' the man who robbed Glea son’s house, but we could get no trace of the plunder. Neither could we ascer tain when or how the stranger had come to town. He was charged with burglary and held for trial, but nothing could be learned about him. On the day of his examination the courtroom was packed, and among the ladies present I saw Miss Taylor. The detective who had worked on the bank case came down to get a look at the prisoner and warn us to look out for him. as he was evidentlv a siirewu, cool nano wnovvouictuo ms nest to escape the law. We had carefully measured the tracks in the snow, and when we came to measure the burglar's boots we were satisfied that he was tho one who had committed all the robberies. I did not see Miss Taylor to speak to her until the day after the prisoner had been remanded. Then I found that she was considerably interested in the case, and she particularly mentioned the great relief her blind father felt that the bad man had been safely caged. She had seen the burglar in the courtroom and had al most concluded that in him she recog nized a man who was formerly a respect able citizen of Milwaukee. She had no great curiosity about it, but if not against the rules would call at the jail and get a closer view of him. The jail was open to all during certain hours, but I arranged with Miss Taylor to call after hours, when she would meet with no one to ask questions. The prison part of the jail contained eight cells fronting on a corridor. There were two barred win dows in this corridor, and prisoners were seldom locked in the cells. In the case of the burglar we gave him the range of the corridor by day, but locked him in a cell at night. When Miss Taylor called, I went with her to the wicket myself. Floss was just lighting up, and the bur glar stood at the wicket. Miss Taylor exhibited considerable reluctance to ap proach, but I began explaining about the cells, as if we had no particular interest in the man, and she finally drew close up to the door. I remembered afterward of her calling my attention to the lamp a few feet away, and of my going over to it and turning the wick down a bit. When I returned, she was ready to go, saying that she was undecided as to whether it was the man or not. When she was ready to go, she permitted me to hold her hand for a moment, and from the tender look in her eyes I realized that I had awakened tho flame of love in her heart. Before going to bed that night I poured out my soul to her to the extent of six pages of note paper, and when I fell asleep it was to dream that she had con sented to be my darling forevermore. On the next day at noon Miss Taylor took the train for Chicago, saying to seme of her friends that she had to run down on business for her father and would re turn next day. She took a large and heavy trunk with her, but no significance was attached to that circumstance until later on. On the morning of the suc ceeding day Floss called to our burglar to come to the wicket for his breakfast, and he did not respond. Five minutes later we found we had no prisoner. By the use of fine saws he had cut his way out of his cell and out of the corridor as easily as a man saws wood. You see through the case, of course, and so did I; but, dolt that I was, it took me four or five days to get my eyes open. Miss Tay lor was that burglar’s wife. He was also her “father.” When we came to search tho house, we found his gray hair -and other disguises. He was her blind father I >y day and her burglar husband by night. As no one had ever seen him except when disguised as her father, he could not be identified when Floss captured him in the jail. The woman visited the jail in his interest, of course, and she no doubt passed tho saws through the wicket while my back was turned. Outside of the parlor there was scarcely any furniture in tho house, and it was found that what there was had been hired by the month in Chicago. We found none of the plun der, but we did find my love letter. She had called at the postoffice before she went. She had read that letter and writ ten across the envelope: “Owing to previous engagements your offer is respectfully declined.” IT MAY BE MURDER. A Rather Queer Story that Comes from El berton, Special to The Tribune. Elberton, Ga., Nov. 11.—John Koh nalge, an employee of the Elberton cot ton seed oil mills was shot ard killed here last night. William Mayfield, the bookkeeper said that he did it. The cor oner held an inquest and acquitted May field. After the jury disbanded a witnets turned up who stated that he saw May field and his brother shoot Kohnalge. The jury was summoned and held an other inquest. At a late hour tonight the jury had not agreed. The evidence seems to make it a murder. AN ELEPHANT. The Stale s S One ia the N. E. E. B—Atkinson Will Stick. Special to tho Tribune. Atlanta, Nov. 11.—The news of the default of the Richmond and Danville on the Northeastern bonds, has created quite a sensation at thecapitoL Telegrams from Athens 1 st. night told of the default and explained tha status of tho state in the matter. Tbe state, it will be nmember d, is indorser on these bonds to the extent of $260 000. Today an Athens delegation cameover to see the governor, and suggests that in ease the road was taken by the state, as will prnbibly be necessary, that. Mr. Rufus ££. Reev. s, president of the North eastern Railroad company, be appointed as the state’s agent. The ro-id is from Athena to Lula, and has bee i leased to the Richmond and Danville for a number of years. The general opinion is that the default is intentional on the part of the latter company, i being the desire of the Rich mond and D uivi-le to get ridof its lease. If the state takes charge it will of course sell the road, and secure itself for the amount of itsendorsemen ,the state’s lien being fiisr of all. An interes'ing ques ion is what would the road bring and who would buy it? 1 asked the governor this question today, but he didn’t care to talk, saying that he has not yet invesiigated the matter, and the state’s position will be defined clearly when the matter comes up in the courts. The fact of the matter is, that the road, never very valuable, has depreciated unquestionably since the Georgia, Caro lina and Northern tapped its territory, and in view of the crippled condition of the roads of Georgia, it will probably be a pretty hard matter to effect a sale at this time. All of which means that the state may have an elephant on its hands. Will They Adjourn Early? Mr. Grady’s resolution looking for early adjournment, has created a good deal of talk, and while the assembly will not get thiough by December 3, it is pob ible matters will be rushed. Both President Clay and Speaker Atkinson are anxious this should be done, Ihere i.« no trouble at the senate end of the shop—there never is; and Speaker Atkin son is working to fix it at his end, so there will be no responsibility or delay there. You see an early adjournment might perhaps cut some figure in the gu bernatorial race. Atkinson Will Stick. Speaking of the go^onursbiprecalls the fact that General Evans is a freq ient caller at the capitol these days and that ad the politicians who drop in have some taing to say-on the subject—l hear that Clay’s friends of Atkinson retiring, though There -has been a strenuous effort on their part to induce him to do So. They have told “Bill” thct “Steve” was the stronger in all parts of the state—that Steve could be elected while hecoukin’t. Billie credu lous. He has a great deal of faith in his own fighting powers and he believes this campaign n quires vfi bter. He will be in it to the death. Clay is yet doubtful whether he will run, but the chances are he will. COOSA VALLEY EXPOSITION It Opened at Gadsden Wednesday in Great Shape Gadsden, Ala., Nov. 10.—The third annual fair of the Coosa Valley exposi tion was opened Wednesday in a w hirl of glory. A large crowd wt-s present and ail et j iycd themselves. Tho racing was good. Tho fair continues three days, | but Friday, the 10th, Will be the biggest day of all. Her. W. H. Denson, member of con gress, and Co). Chas. Rattray will deliver speeches that day on the leading ques tions of the dav. Co). Denson expects to open up his campaign that day for re election, and a big crowd will be out to hear him. A PROHIBITION MOVEMENT Being Started in Gordon County—Petitions Being Circulated. Special to The Tribune. Calhoun, Ga., N-v. 10. —A petition signid by several persons to Hon. W. R. Rankin yesterday; asking him to get a bill through the legislature to submit the question of liquor traffic to a vote. vVbisky has not been legally sold here in about two years, t ' Today another petition is being circu lated opposing whiiky traffic. Many citizen and all the ladies will sign it. During the time of prohibition here, tiotwithstanding the persistent violation of the law to some extent by its enemies, the morals of the town have taken a much Stronger tone; RAILROAD MAGNATES. Two Prominent Officials Spent Yesterday in the City. General Manager C. H. Hudson, of the E. T. V. & G. R. R., spent yesterday in Rome, and dined at the Aimstrong with Messrs. Land and Clark, of the advertis ing car. He appreciates the opportunity and his road will do all in its power to help along the scheme. Mr. Hudson was pleased with the ap pearance Roma made, and left for Chat tanooga believing more than ever in tho city. He has always been a friend to this section. Giuiial Piipciiiilcndent Ti.todcie Kline, cf the Centra), was also in the city yesterday. Both be and Mr. Hud son were returning from the railway meeting in Atlanta. They say nothing was done. Mr. Kline went south on the Central, and Mr. Hudson we nt to Chattanooga on the same road, having never teen over this route. AT THE CAPITAL. MANY BILLS INTRODUCED. Special to the Tribune. Atlanta, Nov. 13.—The most import ant w.ii km the senate today was the pas sage of Mr. Wuo'eu’s military bills. Those were drafted by Lieutenant Satei lee after conference with the military au thorities of the state, and are designed to pur the military on a more substantial footing all around. One of these pro vides for the re-organization of the gov ernor’s staff, making no material changes except in the separation of the offices of a jutant-general a d the inspector-gen eral, which are now held bv the same man. It makes the number of aides-de-campstoi.be governor four, or as many as he m y deem necessary. The other, providing for the re organi zation of the military service of the s ate is very lengthy. The bill pro vines that the volunteer forces of the state, in time of peace, shall consist of not more than 72 white companies and twenty colored; two batteries of white artillery and one colored; not more than six machine gun platoons, one to bea'- tach d to each regiment of infantrj ; one medical department and hospital amha lance corps, a signal corps ano a baud of music with each regiment. These shall be not exceeding six regiments of white infantry aud two regiments of white cavalry. Eich regiment is to have three battalions. One important point in tbe bill is that the companies composing the regiment, shall be selected from the same general geograph ical section of the state. The on.y changes in the composition of the com panies is the cutting < ff of the i x ra sec ond lieutenant, and miking two fiist lieutenants in each ’ battery of artillery. Nothing in the act wi'l defeat or impair the existing charters of any regiment, company or battalion now organized, except where inconsist ent with tl e terms of this act. A special feature is the medic*' department, which is made a distinct department of the force, and consists of one surgeon gen eral, one assistant sui geon-genera), one medical inspector—these < ffi sers with -he rank of colonel, lieutenant-colonel and major, respectively: also, a surgeon with the rank of captain, and an assist ant surgeon with the rank of first lieut enant to each regiment. Each unas signed or separate battalion shall have one assistant surgeon. Mr. Corput’s bill for the corporation of Haynie, Floyd county, passed the Sen ate. A joint committee will be appointed under resolution of Mr. Wright to inves tigate aud see under what terms the state cm secure the library of the late C. C. Jones. la the house a good deal of work was transacted. nmong tho bills passed were two by Mr. < umming. Ono of these provides tiiat shares in bank stock and stock in other corporations rhall be regarded as personalty. The other permits foreign exeunt irs and administrators to transfer bank stock and draw dividends The bill of Mr. West, making the crime of def ilcatioa by county treasurers a fi 1- ouy instead of a misdemeanor, was passed. Quite a little discussion was elicited by the bill of Mr. Lewis, of Milton, fixing the time of residence in divorce cases. Tbe bill provides for one year’s residence in tbe state. Thu committi e had recommended an amendment making it six months, but this was opposed on the grounds that it would make Georgia a second South Da kota. Finally the bill passed with the one year requirement. The house took up Mr. Fleming’s bill providing that the defendants in misde meanor cases in the city court of Rich mond county, shall not have the right to demand indictments by the grand jury. The question of constitutionality was raised, and after some discussion the bill was tabled. The house passed a bi'.l changing the time of holding court in the Rome cir cuit. Among the new bills in tha house was one by Mr. Bennett of Wayne, to sus pend the the collection of taxes of Wayne county on account of yellow fever at Jesup. Mr. Giddeon, the third party member from Whitfield, introduced a bill to ex tend the time of paying state taxes o Febiuary 20, 1894. Among the other bills was one by Mr. Fleming to amend tbe appropriation act of ’93 and ’94 so as to designate the fund from which tbe interest on the public debt shall he paid This is on the line cf Ham’s bill. j M . Moseley had three bills: One to make life insurance policies subject to ' t?x i; another to aiiii u any to ihe statutory laws for divorce, ihe third makes it petal f< r a man h ving mar ried a wile to slop prosi cution for se duction, to desert his wife aud fixes tho penalty to two years in prison. Corput's Bill Special to the Tribune. Atlanta, Nov. 4.—Mel Branch furn ished tli<i money in the Hoiiso t day, or 11 I'her Moi and S i e-q ’he r.rrro member from Libewy. The special order of tha day w is the state bank bill by Mr. Calvin. Tbe mitre: oorass up under a substitute for the urivihal bill. Everybody knew that MSI was loaded for an attack on the democratic party, and he whs unn of tbe first speakers * n the measure. His speech was in nisuu-i i-cr'pc aud ctmaisteu principally of an attack on rh« bill, which he said he cob-. sidered i n vise, unjust aud worse than useless. The bill was taken up by irctions, and ’ in the secund si ctii.n Branch sprang bis speech. Tbe poiut was raised that he 7 must confine htms"lf to the discussion: of tbe sec ion under consideration, and the chair sustained the point of older,, but b> unanimous ci nsent be was allowed to dedver his speeches as written out. Now, Mel seems to have hard luck.’ Every time he speaks the first member to call him down is the gentleman from’ Liberiy. That was the caa today. The gentleman ■ from Co umbia dislikes tx ceediugly to have the colored member to argue w th him, and the boys, knowing this, are c ireful to see that Stiles is loaded for a reply. His speech today was brief, but in comparing provisions of tbe bill with some tenets of the ihird party, he created Several hrarty laughs and greatly disdomfiud the number from Columbia. Tbe house didn’t finish consideration of the bill this moruiug, as it is a very lengthy oils, aud is being taken up by sections. Ids very probable that the bill iii its pieseut, shape will not pass. In the senate this morning a joint res olution providing for the appointment of a committee of five from tbe senate,and eight fiom the house to meet and prepare aud present a proper bill for theofgaui zrttonof a system of state banks was passed. This was transmitted to t'>e bouse, Lut on account of the opening discussion was not acted upon until the close, when it was adopted. The friends of sta e bauks are taking active interestiu this matter. They are anxt us that Geoigia should go ahead preparing a banking law, aud they be lieve rbinrtkis will n fluence congress in repealing the ten tax. lu tbe bouss the bill" of MrrNeel, Floyd, providing that nou nesses shall b« pai 1 actual traveling ex- * pense, not exceeding four cents a mile, 1 was discussed and finally tabled. Mr. Gravess’ bill, regulating the sale of wine in Catoosa county, was passed. Mr. O’NtiH’s bill amending the in surance bill so as to do away with the July report passed. Th ', house passed the bill of Mr. Allen of Upson, to enforce the rules of the railroad ci mmission and make its liea superior to every other except liens for taxes. There was a discu sinu over tha bill of Mr. Harrison, of Qn raati, providing for t e return to the keepers of the peniten tiary the money they hnvu paid in as p mal y for tho esoap-- i f prisouurs when these prisoners should have been recap tured without cost to the state, eltcbed a good deal of discussion. I. was finally tabled to permit certain changes. Among the new bills in the bouse was one by Stiles, of Liberty, to rt quire so licitor generals to prosecute all railroads m all cases of failure to provide tqual accommodations for all passengers. Mr. Hall introduced a bill providing ( for a public school system in Warrenton. j Among the new bills in the senate was '■ -J one by Mr. Corput to amend the regis tration law of Floyd county. The bill is designed to prevens anybody register ing who has not paid taxes as now required bylaw. It takes the reg istration out of the bards of the tax col lectors and puts it in the hands of tho registrars in each militia district. In speaking of it today Senator Cor put said : “I am not wedded to tbe bill, but it seems to me to be a big improve ment on the present s’ stem. I under stand there is some opposition to it in the county. The bill has been referred to tbe special judiciary committee, and I hope those who are opposed to it will come before that committee and state their reasons. If they are good reasons why it should not be adopted I will gladly support any measure which will bring about the undesired. Mr. Reese introduced a bill to amend the general road law, so as to give grand juries the right to regulate the rates of taxation for working roads. ' A numbei' of house bills were parsed, most of them being local bills. Among them was a bill to incorporate the town of Nellaville, introduced by Mr. Cum ming. 1 ' 11 A bill by V !< mir -'r, Tyrrell, to amend the act .o estab.isb a board of pharmaceutical examiners so. as to per mit applicants by paying sls to receive a per manent licence was pat sed. , 'I he governor has gone to Augusta'tO* take part in tbe opening exercises of tho exposition. .... ... M' s. i dra'l: in > • r ’ Laiehfield, Minn.