The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-31


A DIABoLIcAL FATE PLAYS INTO pIABoLIcAL
HANDS
mo, he must not come to dinner said Need
ham to himself on Saturday morning; mo, that
might compromise the situation. Supperl If
the House sat on Saturday night, yes; but hardly
without; the servants must not see him"
Needham was in his bedroom. He had had a
cup of-tea and dry toast sent up-a very unusual
thing with him. He was walking softly to and
fro in his dressing-gown and slippers. There
was something tigerish in his walk, and some
thing stealthy, catlike.
''He has no position to maintain he went on,
sometimes uttering his thoughts IN a whisper
sometimes pausing to bite them, as it were, into
his mind and purpose. as the modern engraver
bites his lines into the zinc with a burning acid;
ga widower and unhappy, no future, no public
hfe no lost reputation to rehabilitate no father
or mother alive, a sister who is engaged to be
married. and he simply goes to New York Tor
change, the excuse being possible windfall OF
property; fearless of death, evidently, and pos
sibly caring little for life. Yesterday | cared
for neither; to-day, with this new
possibility long for it; but let me be no hypo-
-
can my life, under the circumstances, be any
thing to themG No. Whatever happens shall
tomorrow be dead to them dead to the world;
and if the devil at my elbow, the friend who has
kept me awake all the night, have his viii, L
shall be a murderer-alive safe, with money,
free from debt but with the blacklist of all
crimes to top the rest of my iniquities."
He sat now. crossiegged, on chair opposite
the looking glass ON his toilet tabe-sat and
looked at his pale face, his blood-shot eyes, his
compressed lips. with now and then his left
canine tooth showing
''There is no going back in crime he said, ad-
dressing himself ''You know there is not.
When you think you have come to the finish a
new road opens mp to you, a new way to hell!
You would confess and hope, would youl When
there was no hope-only then-when the gulf
was at your feet when the pit were there, and
the devil with his hand upon your throat to hurl
you in. But now he brings You substitute,
and you are ready to continue your wicked
march, even to wade in blood And there are
people who do not believe In the devil"
The sun shone into the room, and darling
upon pair of razors that were lying before
- 49,"
He got up from the chair and watched it.
''Better cut my throat and save my soul. Is
that the suggestion?" he said. mo It is muir
der, either way If / kill myself it is murder, if
kali him it is murder. One sin is as black as
the other. But the hint is worth taking in an
other direction. will carry you in my pocket,
friend in need"
He placed one of the razors in its case, and
taking up his frock coat (which was laid ready
brushed with his other clothes near the table,
put it into his breast pocket
'"The poison might not work." he said. II
must make no mistake. The same initials, too
prov-no, the devil-to refuse such an opportu-
nifty. J. N. is On my linen, J. n. on his J. N.
on his trunks"
He was interrupted by knock at the door.
Eyes"
''Mr Nolan, SIR" said the servant.
SIS it so late?" Needham remarked, looking at
his watch before answering his servant.
'.Ask him to wait"
eyes, sir, and letter by hand, SIR"
''Oh, leave it on the table,"
''Yes sir"
''No, bring it in"
eyes, sir"
The servant entered and gave him the letter.
'.Mr. Nolan will breakfast
Eyes, SIR"
He opened the letter and looked at the sigma
ture
Joseph Norbury!' he exclaimed
Then he went in stealthy way to the door,
and locked it.
'.Dear Mr. Needham," he read; pray accept
my best thanks for the two letters OF introduc-
ton / very much appreciate your kindness.
This morning have letter from my lawyer in
Derbyshire stating that he will be in town to-
day at 6. He has invited himself to dine with
me, and talk over business This Is unfortu-
nate"
Here Needham looked up from the letter, and re-
marked to himself, II don't know-perhaps it
is-perhaps not At all events am equal to
either fortune"
Then turning TO the letter again he read, ''but
my visitor leaves for Richmond at 9 or TO- and if
in begging your indulgence to excuse me from
Withdrawing my acceptance of your kind invita-
ton to dinner, | may be allowed to come round
TO you and smoke cigar after my friend has
AoiO AOi AsAS"NSi ~ Sioh oO very Eido w 40 50
and to receive your further letters and advice in
respect of my journey to New York. Do not
trouble to answer this / shall take my chance
of finding you, and as shall have nothing else to
do it will not Inconvenience me at all if it should
be inconvenient for You to remain at home.
Yours very truly, JOSEPH NoRBURY."
Providence or the devil has hand in this "
Needham exclaimed. sIt cannot be providence.
for providence has written it down hard and
strong, and engravcn it on the mountain stone
Thou shalt do no marder' Satan, then2 Or
fatei Or destipyg Two lives hang in the bal
ance. Fate, destiny, or providence, or the
devil know it They claim the right to elect
which is to be the victim. He Is picked out
from millions, and under marvellous circum-
stances and brought to London in the nick of