The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-06-14
THE FATAL REQUEST.

THE FATAL REQUEST.
In the year 40, after roaming about a
good deal in South America, shipped as
doctor on board trader leaving Rio,
homeward bound for Bristol, with fnli
cargo and couple Of cabin passengers.
We sailed on blazing not day, with
scarcely Il breath Of wind to fill the sails:
but the captain was anxious to get away,
as Yellow Jack was in port, and he had
no mind to keep knocking his heels in
quarantine longer than he could help
Fortunately breeze quickly sprang up
and we were soon bowling along as fast
as the old ship could 90, and with clean
bill of health on board.
A week later, however, | was sittine
forward, smoking my pipe, when Pete
she steward ; mate, came up, and sum.
monel me to see one of our two cabin
passengers. Mr.. Grierson, who had bee,
very unwell during the night, and began
to be afraid that he was in for touch OF
the fever ! went aft and saw him, bu,
there did not appear to be any very
alarming symptoms just at present, so
prescribed some cooling medicine and left
him.
lie was worse, however, next dav, and
the next, yet it was not a case of yellow
fever, and there was something in the
symptoms that am not ashamed to saw
fairly .batfled me, On the third day he
was so much worse that | began to he
seriously alarmed, and communicated nv
n 4 tni, III
IL is not yellow fever, of that ] am
sure" said /.
What is it then, doctor?"
Well, to tell the truth, | can hardly
say Nothing that / can administer
seems to do him any good, and he is cvi.
IDENTIFY sinking rapidly"
Humph'" said the captain, "mvs-
teriops, To say the least of it. Does he
know of his condition."
The conversation was cut short by the
arrival of the negro Pete, who informed
lis that Mr.. Grierson had been seized
with a sudden and alarming acceas al
pain, and was apparently diving, adding
that the patient wished To see me al
once and alone. In obedience to the sum.
mons, | Immediately went below, and
having shut the cabin door and admins
tered The necessary remedies, ask the
reason Tor his wishing to see me alone.
| wish to see YOU because feel that
l am dying, and can put off no longer
what | wish Go say, if it is to be said Mt
all, responded the patient, feeblv.
Fetch me that box from of the top of
my sea chest and listen"
| brought it, a small, oblong mahogany
laI. L.,
eoVerlet, and Mr.. Grierson, laying his
hand upon it, and, at the same time, de-
tachng key from string by which ii
was suspended round his neck, with
which his fingers played neVously during
his recital, continued.
| am a murderer. Ave! YOU NAV
start and think perhaps my mind i
wandering, but it is the truth, Twenty
I'VE years ago-twenty.hve wears of
misery committed the deed which |
am now, in presence of nv Maker.
about to confess. | was clerk in 4
banking firm in London, aud the OH
PoftunIties for peculation were too much
Tor me to withstand, but circumstances
occurred convincing me that discovery
could hardly be much longer DELAYED,
ana was casting abou. how to make
my escape while there was vet time
just ut this lunCturc one OF the sc,tior
clerks IN the firm had to he eeht down
10 Bristol IN charge Of a very large sum
OF money in gold, and | was deputied
TO accompany him to guard the treasure,
IN those times we had to take the money
IN box, strongly secured and sealed,
with rs, by mail coach, which started
from one of the old innS in the city. for
the west of England. There we've 9,n0l
gu'neas in the box, and The idea sug-
gested itself 20 nay mind that if couId
become master of such sum | could
get ciear away by some vessel leavino
bristol Tor foreign ports before the bank
could become aware of the fact of my
escape. To set rid of my companion, /
procured poison, and | poured it into
my leathern bottle, in which | carried
my refreshments on the road and watch
ing my opportunity, offered ii To him To
drink. lie sank back in Il corner of the
coach, and in few minutes was
corpse Implying the contents of the
oottis out OF window, and placing the
aead man IN such an attitude rs wouId
lead people To suppose he had died nat
ufaiiy, | hailed the guard with every
stimulation of trepidition, and stopped
the coach. The outside passengers oot
down, and a scene of great excitement
occurred. At the next village. q locgi
doctor, who as it happened was man of |
no great skill, was sent for, and dex.
trously insinuating to him | had known
my companion to have suffered from
heart disease for some years standing,
with many compliments to the profes- /
s,ohal acumen of the doctor himself /
that worthy was not long in pronoupcing
IL case OF sudden death from disease
OF the heart; and | was suffered in
view OF my representations rs tn the
urgency OF my mission To Bristol IN
proceed on my journey. | succeeded in
leaving England and reaching Brazil
where amassed fortune That fortune
Is within the box which lies beneath my
hand"
lie paused, for violent spasm seized
iilmi and 1t was some time before could
recover him sufficiently to enable him To
proceed.
Raising himself in bed with difficulty. {
ne unlocked the box, and disclosed an ar :