morning’s edition. That should settle anybody’s doubt about you. So let me ask you something.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Since everybody in Philadelphia will know by noon tomorrow about Jake Wilson’s confession, will you stay on the force and forget the deputy U.S. marshal idea?”
Seth didn’t reply immediately, then he said, “Chief, I very much appreciate that you want me to stay, but I really want to go ahead with those plans. I just feel it’s what I’m cut out for.”
“Well, I sure hate to lose you, but I understand, son. A man has to do what a man has to do.”
“I’m glad you understand, sir.”
“But if for some unforeseen reason you should be turned down by the U.S. marshal’s office, will you consider staying?”
“You’re persistent, sir. I’ll say that for you.”
“I know a good lawman when I see him. If you were in my shoes you’d feel the same way about Officer Seth Coleman.”
“Thank you, sir. If I get turned down, I’ll make my decision then. If by then I still think I should leave Philadelphia, I might ask you to recommend me to a police department in another city. But, sir, please know that I deeply appreciate your wanting me to stay.”
When Seth Coleman arrived home that afternoon, he found a letter in his mailbox from the Chief U.S. marshal’s office in Washington, D.C. Its contents thrilled him, and he wanted to share the news with someone. He had thought of his friend Adam Burke earlier, wanting to let Adam know about Jake Wilson’s confession. He would go to Adam’s apartment and share both bits of news with him.
Seth pulled his buggy up in front of Adam Burke’s apartment and climbed down, then saw Adam coming down the street in his open buggy.
“Hello, Seth!” Adam said with a wave. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I have some good news to share with you.”
“All right. I’ll put away my horse and buggy and be right back.”
Moments later they entered the apartment, and Adam directed his friend to sit down in the parlor. “All right. Let’s hear this good news.”
Seth scooted to the edge of his chair. “I know you keep up with what’s in the newspapers, Adam, so I’m sure you’re aware that Jake Wilson was hanged at the state prison this morning.”
“Wilson’s hanging has something to do with your good news?”
“Yes, as strange as that sounds. Before they took him to the gallows this morning, he confessed to the warden that it was he who stabbed Lawrence Sheldon to death!”
“What? Really?”
“Really. It’ll be in tomorrow morning’s
Enquirer
, but I wanted you to hear it from me before you read about it in the paper.”
“Seth, this is great news! I can’t tell you how happy I am for you! This will shut the mouths of all those doubters. You can finally have some peace about this thing.”
“Believe me, that’s going to feel good. I … ah … I have some othernews to share with you. I’m going to leave Philadelphia.”
“To do what?”
“I’m going to become a deputy U.S. marshal. I sent an application to the office in Washington, and I’ve been accepted. Just got my acceptance letter in the mail today. I’m to report in at the Washington office on September 3 to begin my training.”
“So tell me, was this application sent in because you wanted to get away from the doubters here who still thought you killed Sheldon?”
“Well, it helped to put it in motion, yes. But actually I’ve wanted to get into that branch of law enforcement for some time. I’m really happy about it.”
Adam smiled. “Then I’m glad for you. Guess I should fill you in on what’s happening with me.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, Philipa and I are going to move our wedding date up about a month because we’re moving to North Platte, Nebraska.”
“Nebraska!”
“Yes, sir. I took a trip out west right after I graduated from Harvard. Those wide open spaces have beckoned to me ever since. It’s been my dream to go out
“Yes, sir?”
“Since everybody in Philadelphia will know by noon tomorrow about Jake Wilson’s confession, will you stay on the force and forget the deputy U.S. marshal idea?”
Seth didn’t reply immediately, then he said, “Chief, I very much appreciate that you want me to stay, but I really want to go ahead with those plans. I just feel it’s what I’m cut out for.”
“Well, I sure hate to lose you, but I understand, son. A man has to do what a man has to do.”
“I’m glad you understand, sir.”
“But if for some unforeseen reason you should be turned down by the U.S. marshal’s office, will you consider staying?”
“You’re persistent, sir. I’ll say that for you.”
“I know a good lawman when I see him. If you were in my shoes you’d feel the same way about Officer Seth Coleman.”
“Thank you, sir. If I get turned down, I’ll make my decision then. If by then I still think I should leave Philadelphia, I might ask you to recommend me to a police department in another city. But, sir, please know that I deeply appreciate your wanting me to stay.”
When Seth Coleman arrived home that afternoon, he found a letter in his mailbox from the Chief U.S. marshal’s office in Washington, D.C. Its contents thrilled him, and he wanted to share the news with someone. He had thought of his friend Adam Burke earlier, wanting to let Adam know about Jake Wilson’s confession. He would go to Adam’s apartment and share both bits of news with him.
Seth pulled his buggy up in front of Adam Burke’s apartment and climbed down, then saw Adam coming down the street in his open buggy.
“Hello, Seth!” Adam said with a wave. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I have some good news to share with you.”
“All right. I’ll put away my horse and buggy and be right back.”
Moments later they entered the apartment, and Adam directed his friend to sit down in the parlor. “All right. Let’s hear this good news.”
Seth scooted to the edge of his chair. “I know you keep up with what’s in the newspapers, Adam, so I’m sure you’re aware that Jake Wilson was hanged at the state prison this morning.”
“Wilson’s hanging has something to do with your good news?”
“Yes, as strange as that sounds. Before they took him to the gallows this morning, he confessed to the warden that it was he who stabbed Lawrence Sheldon to death!”
“What? Really?”
“Really. It’ll be in tomorrow morning’s
Enquirer
, but I wanted you to hear it from me before you read about it in the paper.”
“Seth, this is great news! I can’t tell you how happy I am for you! This will shut the mouths of all those doubters. You can finally have some peace about this thing.”
“Believe me, that’s going to feel good. I … ah … I have some othernews to share with you. I’m going to leave Philadelphia.”
“To do what?”
“I’m going to become a deputy U.S. marshal. I sent an application to the office in Washington, and I’ve been accepted. Just got my acceptance letter in the mail today. I’m to report in at the Washington office on September 3 to begin my training.”
“So tell me, was this application sent in because you wanted to get away from the doubters here who still thought you killed Sheldon?”
“Well, it helped to put it in motion, yes. But actually I’ve wanted to get into that branch of law enforcement for some time. I’m really happy about it.”
Adam smiled. “Then I’m glad for you. Guess I should fill you in on what’s happening with me.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, Philipa and I are going to move our wedding date up about a month because we’re moving to North Platte, Nebraska.”
“Nebraska!”
“Yes, sir. I took a trip out west right after I graduated from Harvard. Those wide open spaces have beckoned to me ever since. It’s been my dream to go out
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