The Washington critic., 1885-12-19
"A DEED WITHOUT A NAME, +"


ment that deeponed into an expression
of fixed horror.
The speaker was n man OF about
twenty-five years of age, of medium
height, slender and elegant form, fair
complexion, yellow hair and mustache
and blue eyes.
His name was William Hanson. He
was n gentleman of fortune and of "ele.
CANT leisure" taking his case at his
inn," which in this instance was we'll
known Southern summer resort
The one whom he addressed was n
youth scarcely twenty one years of age,
Of middle height and well proportioned
frame, but very thin, even to emacia-
ton. His features were handsome,
picturesque and striking. lie wore a
suit of rusty black cloth, well brushed
and scrupulously clean and neat.
lie was student at Southern
University, and-now in his vacation
time, being poor-ho was clerk at the
Crest House at the Isle Of Storms, Off
the coast of Maryland.
The memorable interview we have
referred to took place in the office of
the hotel in the "still. small" hours
between midnight and dawn.
The two men were alone in the
apartment.
Young Harcourt would have been
abed and asleep, but that something
emanating from his aspect like mist,
overshadowing his presence like a
cloud, murdered sleep" and so he sat
in the Office trying to drown memory
in absorbing work on his account
books.
William Hanson might have been in
his room and in dreams but that great
desire kept him up, a great hope sent
him to seek this private interview with
s,he clerk of The Crest House
And so, when the house was sup.
posed to be buried in sleep, he stole to
the office and startled the solitary
worker with the words quoted.
The clerk kept his dark, troubled
eyes fixed upon the face of the speaker,
with stare of stupelied horror that
soon grew into a glare Of terror and
despair.
yes, | repeat, Harcourt, Thou
art the mani - reiterated the accuser,
letting his hand fall with some force on
the shoulder of the accused.
The youth shrank under the touch
as his breath came and went in decp
respirations, his flexible nostrils cX.
panded and contracted, and his sensi.
tive lips quiYcred under mis- dark mus
t0chc. But his great, gloomy eyes
never moved from their fixed glare
nor did his cheeks change from theil
Nshen, death-like palor.
Now, them Why don't you speak
What have you to sayY' demanded
Hanson, the accuser, fixing his light
blue eyes significantly on the blancheG
face of his companion.
"I-do Northumberland, falteret
the frightened clerk.
ooh, yes you dol | see that You un
derstand perfectly that | am talking
about tie suppressed act in this week,
drama, the decd done in Number 25, a
two O. clock last Thursday" said Han
son, pointing his words with a penc
trhting look, under which IIarcourt
shrank into himself
ut was" began the wrctched
youth, impulsively, and then suddenly
conscious that he had half betrayed
himself, he stopped short, threw his
hands to his face and covered his eyes
for he was unable to bear the incisiyt
gaze of his accuser.
"It was -well, aChat? What wcrt
you about to say that it was?" de
manded Hanson.
There was noreply, only the stricken
youth seemed to collapse, to shrinl
more and more into himself.
cit was What was 1t now? Can
you tell me ?"
Still there came no answer from tn
wretched young man.
mo? You can't tell me? Then
will tell you, William Harcourt i
was'-0 murdcr," whispered Hanson
into the ear of the other.
mo no no As the Lord hears me
it was not !" burst in passionate denia
from the lips of the youth, who neve
moved from his shrunllcn posture, OF
uncovered his hidden eyes.
at was a mida%gM murder!" en-
phatically repeated Hanson.
The young man shuddered rs h
broke forth in sort Of half-suppresse,
ferceness of denial,
ut was not Heaven truly know
| that it was not! 1t was an accident. "
ut was an dSSdSSiHdtiOR, sternly as
serted the accuser, gazing on tn,
accused, who sat cold, stony, frozen
only repeating with desperate effort
las live and breathe, it was Al
Accidental pure and perfect accident
IN Uos u m69aight assassination, AM
yoU, IlHiiam Harcourt, tie mi3High
oSSdssiH!' repeated the acCuser, will
determined persistence,
A groan Of irrepressible agony burs
from the bosom of the despahin,
youth. His form shook as with n
| Ogue,
MAY the Lord strike me dead thi
instant If | am murderer Ii
groaned, wringing his hands.
"Nou know the law would hold yo
as one, and punish you rs one" cold
continued Hanson.
1T was entirely accidental, moanc
Harcourt.
"Accidentalw snccrcd the accuscl
"Wcll, il iraS accidental that | bccam
witness TO that crime.
"NOu' exclaimed llarcOurt dror
ping his hands from before his eye
and staring at the speaker,
eyes, L. |, WILLIAM Hanson, say al
that happened in Room Number 2-
on last Thursday night, between tvs
and three clock,
The wrrtchcd clcrl, salwilhhis hou
bowed upon his bosom, his arms lalle
each side of his chair, and his bod
/ sunk hack I'm ilp rDI.lU-a of final dt