The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-25

he had attended reception that evening, ana
would return with Mr.. Halstead The driver OF
the hack which brought me from the station had
other engagements, and could not wait. he
left me there. waited until just II o'clock.
The carriage had not returned for me as directed,
and should have time to reach the station for
the last train for Boston. was angry over the
game which Mr.. Halstead had played upon me,
but at the time had no suspicion of anything
more. 1t was a very dark and lonely road,
nearly mile in length. Being unarmed cut
heavy cane from shrub, and began to walk
rapid Five minutes later heard heavy step
upon the road and secreted myself in the bushes.
1t was too black to see anything. and did not
suppose sps that the. the man approaching ,,t 6I
rectly opposite my hiding-place he stopped,
lighted match and pretended to be
lighting cigar while he deliberately inspected
me. TO my surprise saw that it was Mr.. Hal
stead His face was fierce with anger. He
easily recognized me, and for the first time the
suspicion occurred to me that he meant FOUL
play; that he had prevented the hacks return
ing for me. and had been lying in wait in that
solitary spot to settle the matter with there.
He threw the match away and distinctly heard
him cooking his revolver sprang toward him
to prevent his shooting, but he shouted "stand!"
and by the light of the cigar | saw that
he lifted his hand to fire. Instantly l
struck him with my cane, with all my might,
upon his head. He sprang toward me, but
struck again and he fell l did not think
that had killed him. I did not mean to, did
not desire to kill him. l acted only in selfde
Tense. should have waited to help him, but
heard others, then, coming up the hill knew
that among them must be his friend, and, fear
ing that | might be in worse trouble if waited,
l hurried on, hid myself by the roadside as they
passed. and reached the station just in time for
the train. did not know that he was killed till
had confessed to being in the village, and was
arrested next morning"
Ny old servant fully identified Mr. Roberts, as
man who had come, as he said, to my house,
at 10 o'clock, the night of the murder, and who
had not lett it till IL o'clock. I remembered the
carriage passing the smithy's shed while Dick
and l were talking, going from my house toward
the station, and suddenly the memory of the
night before came back to me, and that part of
Dicks words which at the time absolutely
beyond my possible comprehension: Five 1.-THE
day., six (the month), eleven (the hour when, to
a medical certainty, the murder must have been
committed.) Eleven Yes, eleven. Did he say
ten! the hour when Mr.. Roberts arrived at my
house, Twelve! THE hour when he left) Ten
and twelve / can prove that to be true. MY
old servant had done SO. Twelve is impossible.
That is the point to establish. My two neigh
bors and the village doctor were present and
could easily prove that death had taken place
at least an hour before the body was found, at
ten minutes past twelve.l Eleven and twelve.
That settles it. The case is mine. Goodm
obtained permission from the court to tell
my story. 1t was precisely 10 o'clock when Dick
and left the reception. At the FORGE just after
half past 10" and he had asked me to go home
with him, evidently to keep that engagement,
for he aad said that must settle the matter for
him. Then the voice had spoken his name.
Even without the conflicting facts, now felt sure
that it could not have been the voice of Mr.. Rob-
erts. At precisely IL passed the shed, in the
valley. and at the same time Mr.. Roberts left
my house. We were both walking rapidly. It
was just midway that we met There had
lighted my cigar. Dick never smoked. / did
not see any one by the light of the match but
surely, at that moment of all others, |
could easily have been mistaken for Dick No
wonder he thought it an angry face which the
light of the match disclosed. In the court
room opened and closed my silver match case.
How like it was, indeed, to the click of a re-
volver! Then had raised my hand in selfde-
Tense, and then the rest. 1t was curious stu
alton to stand pleading the innocence of man
who. for himself, had pleaded guilty; but feel
ing that it was for Dick. went boldly to the
end, regardless Of the serious consequence
which knew would fall upon my own shoulders
in return 1t proved but paltry consequence
after all, however, for, as / afterward learned
that the impression that was suspected, which
had been so very real to me, was. alone of all
those more unreal impressions, only the work of
an overwrought Imagination
Other clues were followed, but unsuccessfully.
For myself was loath to lend even a suggestion
that could again be used to convict anyone. 1t
did not matter. Dick was dead. No amount of
hanging others could possibly bring him back
again Yet felt that some day should know
who had done it. Possibly I rested this assur-
ance upon the memory of that voice which had
called him from the smithy's fire. 1t was pc
culiar accent which had been brought into that
name "Mr. Hastead," and l felt sure that if
ever heard it again in all my life [ should
recognize it instantly.
Not long after the discharge of Mr.. Roberts the
beautiful woman called to thank me for the sup
posed favor had rendered her, in needing her
request. She was accompanied by her brother.
r arod DhooT har fnr T ctin fal% 4I,o%
in some way, it had been all for her.
Kindly but somewhat sadly, she said:
my brother, Mr.: Brownlow We have come
to express gratitude"
Evidently her brother did not exactly like
that way of putting it, for he interrupted her:
1.-THE murder of Mr.. Halstead was most"
A sudden chill crept over I started
little and looked suddenly up into his eyes. He
caught his breath and did not finish the sentence
A moment later they were gone.
Years rolled by. The beautiful woman forgot
her sorrow. and married one of blood that was
blue enough to have satisfied the most critical
brother. But could not forget my sorrow.
Each evening still, Dicks empty chair stood
waiting for him by my fire. Many a night
struggled to beguile the past to give me back my
friend, but all in vain. l read that scientific
work through and through in every endeavor to
induce even the game impressions, if only inn
pressons they WERE But there was no response
AT last l gave up hoping.
1t had been a most disagreeable day, and was
followed by miserable night. / sat by the fire
with hardly energy enough to open the evening
paper which lay untouched upon the table beside
me. AT last had become interested in a certain
literary work, and had even neglected to read
the morning paper, too, that day. Thus 1
knew absolutely nothing of CHASTITY pile of
smouldering embers which alone remained from
what had been great theatre, crowded with
living beings when it caught fire the night be-
FORE
Thoroughly wearied with my days work,
was upon the point of retiring at once, when
slight shiver crept over me. and, following
most as though some one had spoken. Then;
quickly realizing the meaning Of that sensation,
and with involuntary exclamation of Joy,
sank again into my seat with my eyes Fixed upon
Dicks armchair This time / could see nothing,
but as surely as know that live and write at
this moment, 1 knew then that Dick was sitting