The Portland daily press., 1885-03-21

room; and all such matters as bringing up
his linen, shaving water and the like, were
| soon considered a part of my work.
One night Mr.. Warield complained of i'll
| ness, and retired to his room at an early
| hour. was called to wait on him for some
| thing, and while in bis dressing-room
/ dipped pen in my red stnff and wrote on
the pillows of his bed a large 'fW. r. L."
| They We're the initials OF Mr.. Loring's name,
initiated so well from his handwriting, pro-
| cured for me by little Mrs. Allen that they
| might have passed anywhere for his own
writing. had but just flushed and turned
away when Mr. Warfeld, in his dressing
wrapper returded aud sat down on the
oed, his glance falling instantly on my
work.
He gave sharp scream and bounded to
his feet, but his eyes gared on the red let
ters.
''Thomasp' he shrieked, "what is that on
my pillow?'
..cn the pillow, sir" says l, "wby nothing
to be sure"
But there is, mani tell you see letters
in blood written there"
"Ol no, sir" / returned, looking at the
place, and, indeed, as we both gazed at the
writing 1t faded away. He passed his hand
across his eyes and looked again, fearfully,
and then with a groan, said:
You are right. Thomas, there is moth
ing. fear L am very DerVous."
That night, when, at late hour passed
bis room on the way to my own, heard
pitfnl moaning and deep groans from Mr.
Warfield's room. and to tell the truth nv
heart was sore for him. But, Lord bless
you! the detective police can't afford to en-
courage such feelings, for if they did, the
guilty ones would often go free--Jftener
even than they do. So hardened my heart
and says To myself, Il must keep it up,
and either this maD will go mad, or else
fear aud remorse win drive him to confess
sion.n
Next morning ihe laundress cave me some
linen handkerchiefs to carry TO Mr.. War
field. | wrote across the upper one, s'W. r.
Ler ng, and gave it 10 him While the color
was fresh. He read it and gave me an awful
look.
Thomas" he said, ''what does this
meau?'
s'What do you mean?' asked, looking at
him, while he kept his eyes away and held
the handkerchief rom him, as If he was
afraid it would blind him.
who gave you this handkerchief he
asked sterny
"The laundress, sr-Bridget."
"Call her to come here this instant"
OF course took care that Bridget didn't
come too soon; and when Mr.. Warfield
thrust the handkerchief before her ewes and |
demanded to know why it was written on,
she stared as il he had told her it was a raj
tlesnake. Sure enough, there was nothing
TO see, tor the writing had faded all away |
Mr.. WarfieId presently perceived this, and |
uttered some feeble words of apology but he |
was white as death and his eyes looked wild |
and fierce.
Well, I peedn't repeat all the things Of this /
sort that did, but kept it up for weeks, |
till at last everything in his room-every bit |
of linen that he wore used to bear that Terri |
BILE writing. | saw that he was breaking up |
fast, and ! knew crisis was approaching. |
He never spoke now when he saw these signs.
but he still grew pale as corpse, and spasms |
Of pain contorted his face.
One night when had left good deal of |
writing about his room--on the pillows, on |
his counterpane, aud his handkerchief, was |
a good deal surprised TO notice that be OBJ |
served it all quite calmly, and Instead of the |
customary horror aud terror that his face /
showed, sad but calm smile rested about |
his lips. | was troubled about this change, |
and asked myself: Does he at last suspect |
me?" But be dismissed me and bade me |
good night, as usdal and had DO excuse |
for lingering, but | saw his light burning till |
very late, and though passed the door very /
often | heard 40 sound Of distress.
HE sus pects mel l thought, ''and means |
to make his escape" SO | watched bis room |
all night But tie poor man escaped me |
after all. Ia the morning he was found |
dead, looking very quiet aud peaceful, aud |
Oh little sheet of tinted note-paper, folded |
in two and laid on his heart; was his con-
fesson:
81 Killed Mr.. Loring-his death was acci-
dental and not premeditated murder. We |
quarreled on the subject of his daughter, |
whom adored and of whom l thought my |
self basey cheated. In the heat of the pas
zion / struck him blow which caused his
death. From my heart and soul ask for
giyeness from him and from his family, and
voluntarily give up my life as a forfeit for /
his"
That was ALL felt kind Of sorry, but it's
my business to detect criminals, aud must
take such means as Come TO my hand. viii /
Allen was cleared of the last suspicion, and
his sweet, clever little wife was properly
0ratnfnA