“My Father Sent Me In My Sister’s Place,” She Said… “Get In The Wagon,” Was His Reply
Chapter 10
The place was an abandoned mill.
Samuel and the sisters entered at night.
Beneath the old machinery, they found another box.
Inside was the original ledger.
Whitlock’s crimes were undeniable.
But one final name appeared.
Silas Whitlock.
And beneath it:
Henry Hart.
Eliza stared.
Her father had been involved.
Margaret began to cry.
“He was afraid.”
Samuel closed the ledger.
“Fear doesn’t excuse it.”
“No.”
Margaret wiped her eyes.
“But he tried to make it right.”
“How?”
“He sent the evidence to your father.”
Samuel remembered his father’s silence.
The missing months.
The pendant.
The warnings.
Everything connected.
Then the mill door opened.
Whitlock stood outside.
He was holding a pistol.
“You’ve caused me considerable trouble.”
Samuel stepped in front of the women.
Whitlock smiled.
“You’re just like your father.”
Samuel’s eyes hardened.
“No.”
Whitlock raised the pistol.
“Your father knew when to surrender.”
Samuel looked at the ledger.
“My father knew when to wait.”
“What does that mean?”
Samuel smiled.
“It means you walked into a trap.”
The sheriff entered behind Whitlock.
Then the newspaper editor.
Then six townsmen.
Whitlock turned.
Samuel had not come alone.
The editor held the ledger.
The sheriff read the first page.
Whitlock’s face changed.
“You wouldn’t.”
The sheriff sighed.
“I should have done this years ago.”
He took Whitlock’s pistol.
“You’re under arrest.”
