The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-01-14

Sldi leu III Ills eyes, anu lie lOOkcU
like a person very near the gates OF
death. And they were not far away
for he knew that he would never See
the dawn Of another day.
At last his eyes became fastened on
the detective, who, seeing the st. angc
stare, rose to his feet and looked down
upon the sufferer.
This action seemed to satisfy the
mute, and the next moment he was
spelling with his fingers:
81 will tell now, "his fingers said and
in a hasty voice the detective SUM-
moned Nettie to his sile.
''It is coming, Nettie coming ct
last" he exclaimed, and the pair
watched the mute's skeleton fngc.s
as they said
a tall man did It. I saw him be-
fore ran away. He had red mark
over his right eye, like a scar. He
turned the light down before he struck
mother, and knocked her from the
chair. This is all know"
With the last word falling from his
fingers, the mute sank back exhaust
ed, and Du Pcyster looked at tho
teacher
Poor boy! he's told enough!" he
said, What = has said is sufficient
to hang a certain man in this city"
What do you mean, Byrd?" cried
Nettie Hurley, grasping the detcc-
tive's arm. Do you know anything
about the man with the SCARF"
"Do 1 know anything about him,
Nettie? indeed 1 dol"
What, Byrd! tell mer'
Not now, girl. Let us attend to
Little Silence. See how weak he Is
Why, do not think he is liyingi"
Henry Nolan did look like a dead
child; but he su llcnly reused him
self, and his fingers began to spell
again.
Good by! I an going to hear and
talk now!" he sail.
Then the heal fell back again, and
Du Peyster, who lowered his head,
heard the last throb OF the mute's
heart!
Tt was nine O'Clock in the morning
Of the next day when Byrd Du Peyster
entered one of the large pharmacies Of
the city. Approaching a clerk he re-
marked that he wished to see Turoyl
Smiley on private business, and was
shown TO the elegantly furnished count
ing room.
The apartment was occupied by one
man who was Turoyl Smiley, the mead
of the well-known firm of Smiley,
Drilgeman & Co.
"To whom am 1 indebted for this
visit?" askcI the lo:d of the counting
room, turning from the Herald to sur
vey his visitor from head to foot
ITO Byrd Du Peyster, a detective" :"
replied the caller, quietly dropping
unasked into a chair "Well, Mr.. Du
Peyster, what can I do for you
asked the pharmaceutist turning
slightly rale. ''Eave my clerks solo
poison again?"
"Iney have not, to my knowledge,
was the a. .ectise's reply. 'Mr. Smi-
ley, want to know why you entered
Martha Nolan's hous. one night three
years ago and basely yook her life."
The next moment the raper fell
from the druSgj IS hands, and he
was on his feet looking more like
ghost than man.
Martha Nolan did you scy?" he
gas, ed.
"Ics, sir You killed hcr!"
"Who told you:"
"The only witness to the deed her
dumb boy. want to know why you
dill it,"
For the space Of minute there was
silence In the countin2-room. At the
end Of that time the druggist dropped
into his chair, AMI said:
''She knew me in Ohio knew my
crime committed there. was afraid
my money. and 50 did the deed that
night. 1 write you my confession"
The druggist wheeled his chair md
orened his writing-desk.
81 knew that it would come to this, ~
he murmured. 81 had almost forgot
ten Ler boy!"
Byrd Du Pcyster saw him open
tile USSh, UuL Uii not WdoCu ullu
closely.
All at once something touched his
arm. He started, and saw the drug
gist's hand clutching a vial, while his
face had assumed a color almost indie
scribable. The detective sprang to his
feet and soun led an alarm
A moment later several white-faced
clerks entered the counting-room, and
fastened to the head Of the firm, from
whose nerveless hands the half-empty
vial Of prussic acid hal fallen.
The tragedy was finished, for Turoyl
Smiley was dead
On his desk lay his brief but terrible
cor tcssion, which startled all who read
il in the evening .apeTs.
Byrd Du Pcystcr at once became
->cognized as great detective; but
lis career was brief. He is dead now,
and, strange to say, not one who wes