The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-04

',Kill you, dogI didn't think you sucn
q cowArdp replied Jasper, mimicking the
tone CLARK had employed when tar2ting
him, then demanded: "Tell me. auek,
where is JOHN Clayton2"
How should knowi" whined Clark
'You threatened him, didn't you?"
The pistol was showed little nearer Us
vital spot.
eyes, yes!"
"Scoundrel! to. menace an old man who
takes his troubles SO to heartl He may
have taken his own life, to save himself
from persecution. l have a notion to
kill you, Jared Clark But, if you cannot
tell where the husband is, likely you know
the whereabouts Of the wife, or il she
dead2"
"She is deadp
~ believe you liei Would that I were
able to prove itP' Kissed the convict.
you are an asp, poisonous and vile. To
be touched by you is to die, and yet, some
day, your fangs will be drawn. and your
power gone. Come, out with your writing
materials!'
what do you wisha" faltered Clark,
obeying the mandate.
'Pen little note, above your proper sig
nature, declaring yourself to have been a
witness to the affray which resulted in the
death of William Armstrong eighteen years
ago"
Clark uttered an oath.
Don't get excited said Jasper. 81
am only going to cripple your blackmailing
schemes Make the little document read
as a communication from Mr.. Jared Clark
to Mr. Edwin Jasper Esquire. Hurry, for
my iailer will soon be back. If he comes
before you are through, I'll pop you off"
'Tll not write linel"
The pistols cold nose was pressed against
the speakers temple.
"Epistolize as dictate!'
| Hemmed in, he could but comply. He
rapidly scribbled off the words as they fell
| from the oonvicts lips.
The note was then folded and handed
to the enemy, who took it with his left hand,
placing the pistol in his pocket with the
right
/ "Thank youl" smiled sper grimly. 81
will keep this safe, in case it should be
needed!'
He rose from the low three-legged stool
on which he had been sitting. Scarcely
had he Zone so, when Clark grasped it.
With weli-directed aim, he brought il
down on the convict's head, telling him
Benseless.
An instant after, the note was destroyed.
Plucking the candle from the table, the vii
lain held its fame under the thin window
screens
They caught, and blazed up.
He flung the candle into heap of straw,
and, locking the door on the outside and
6inging the key up on the low roof, cried
loudly for assistance.
A cloud of smoke puffed from the win
dow, and wus succeeded by burst of fame.
The diabolical work was well executed.
Cecil, the easy-going prison official, and
the servants, heard Clark's cries and has.
tened to the spot.
"Where is Ned Jasper?" exclaimed Cecil
"Inside! shouted Clark. "He attempted
TO kill mel We hid tussle. was thrown
out upon the ground. Before / could rise,
he locked the door!'
clark" said Belts "Whats that?"
A sharp. quick detonation sounded above
the Kissing cracking flames.
"The report of pistol! He hns shot
himself"
The servants attempted to batter in the
door. But there was no ax at hand, and the
wood was of heavy oak When, finally, one
was brought. the entire building was envel,
oped by the fire. fend, water not availing tc
stay its progress.
Half an hour after, the gardeners pretty
house was a mass of smoking ashes, will
here and there spiteful little blaze.
!, To RE- CONTINUED,