New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-19
"A deed Without Mans, y


with look OF a'Aazemou' 'D"' u''P-'' '''O ~" t
kiol Of tIed h"F-'r' o ,
Tbo sresker was man Of about twenty-five years OF
400 .. mcaum height. slender and elegant form' fair
on.,,oxion ycev hair and nustache' ana Dlus eyes
ire nan was william Hanson. He was gentleman
- costume nd Of elegant leisure" takag bis ease at
,Is inn" which IN this instance was well known
eonthcrn summer resort
The ORG whom be addressed was youth scarcely
,,,nty-cre years CT age, OF middle height ana well
toned frame but very thin, even to emaciatcn
MS features were handsome, picturesque cad strk AZ
,Ic wore suit OF rusty black CLOTH well hrushed ana
scrupuously clean and neat
He was student at a southern UhlVfrslty' ahu-no"
On hs vacation time. being poor-hc was CLERK at the
crest House at tho Isle Of storms off the coast OF Mary
land. , . ..,,
r,ace In the Office OF the hotel. In tho "sti' sai'
hours between midnight and dawn.
The two men were alone In the apartment
young Harcourt would have been abed and asleep
lint that something emauatiug from his aspect hRe q
mist overshadowlng his presence ike cloud muir
dared seep and he In the Office trying TO drown
memory In absorbing work on his account BOOKS.
william Hanson might have been in his room and In
areams but that a great desire kept him up, great
hone sent him to seek this private interview with inc
clerk of the Crest House.
And go when the house was supposed to be buried IN
Sleep he stole to the office and startled the soh'ary
worker with the words quoted
Tho clerk kept dark, troubled Dyes fixed upon the
fco of the speaker with of stupefed horror tha
soon grew into a glare of terror and despair
"Ycs repeat, Harcourt Thou art the man !! y reH
Grated the aceuser letting his hand ia Win soe iooo
on the shoulder Of the accused
rh ,or,r shrank under the touch his breath came
and went in deep inspirations, his flexible nosrils e1
handed and contracted. and his sensitive lips quVeFou
under his dark mustache. But his great. gloomy eyes
never moved from their fixed glare. nor ala his CHECKS
cb.pre from their ashen. death-lIke pallor
"Now then Why don't you speak Whathavey you 10
sov q, demanded Hanson. the accuser fixing his light
blue eyes significantly the blanched face OF his COM
paniou. ,
clerk.
oh. yes, you dot that you understand perfect
IL thstI sm talking about the suppressed act In this
the deed done Number 25 at two O'Clock
last Thursday said Hanson, pointing his words with
ncnetrating look, under which Harcourt shrank into
himself
twas" began the wretched youth, impulsively.
and then suddenly conscious that he had hall Dsrayeu
himself he stopped Short threw his hands to his face
and covered eyes for he unable to bear the Incl
sive gaze of his accuser.
at was.-well phatl What were you about to say
that 1t was r. demanded Hanson.
There was no reply only the stricken youth seemed 10
collapse, TO shrink more aud moro into himself
ait was - What was 1t now 7 Can't you tell me "
sttl there came no antwer from the wretched young
.,,,
Not You can't tell me Then will tell you. William
Harcourt! 1t was "a murder whispered Hanson into
INC %n no MOI As tho Lord hears me. 1t not r.
hurst in passionate denial from the lips OF the youth
who never moved from his shruuken posture, or I'M
"It was a midnight MURDER emphatcay repeated
The Young man shuddered as no broke forth in sort
Of half suppressed ierccness OF denial 8, mn,
1t was not. Heaven Truly huo"s 'N"' I" wa" NV
IL an accident
ait was assassination. sternly asserted inc &C
gazing on the scoused "IS ,t oo'u sunny
only repeating with desperate enort = r,ro and
,ras midnight assassination, and yo. William
Iaroof The midnight assassin !! repeated the @ccuser'
win deler%% aco1y hurst from the bosom
of the despairing youth. His form shook as Win an
"s"Wav tho Lord strike me dead this instant II am
murderer" he groaned. wrDCing his hands. .
You know the law wonld hold you as one and pnnis
you As one" coidly continued Hans"n .
IL was entirely accidental" moaned Harcourt.
Accidental e snoored the accuser Well 1t vds &C:
cidentsI that became hidden witness to that crime
"YoU" exclaimed Harcourt dropping his handS lroni
before his eye, and staring at the spIEgr a, anponed in
Room No 20. on last Thursday night between TWO ana
TIE wTetred clerk sat With his head bowed upon his
bosom. MS arms fallen each sue o. ms anu MS
Shall tell you how became an eye "I'neS' Vi Sou'
er Hspeourt ,noaned. but failed to speak.
lciH tell you. that you may know for certainty
have power of ifo and death over YOU continued
the accusor watching the accused To marx the elect OF
hIs words He sbject misery and despair; nothing
more or less lie continued: $3.50
81 occnpy. AZ You know, room Number 23 which Is
next the corner room Number 20 IncSo rooms iHos
on upon lTe disturbed by ght ana sound and
ing darkness and silence to Insure rcpOst lhat IhuN
Gnv night after the card playing went to my room AZ
Oot eleven o'clock The house wasvey quiet hnt thtre
was full moon. ana too much lgt came ih'o ny iO9in
must give you these details so that you may under;
stand accident by which became tie unseen ana
unsupported witness Of crime ,.,,.,.,.,
Tie speaker paused and looked Eeehy AZ MS ~,
coInpanOn but no change IN tho utter despair OF
After preparing for bet" continued Hanson. as IL
was so much too Hight for me. closed my window smut
rather "a rope with moose at the end OF H."
lie rapsoG aud G sSnssa ve at MS Vic VINO
But then" resumed Hanson. though my own room
d,rk w annoyed by line OF light from room
NImDcr IS The light--which was bright beam OF
the moon piercing through small Knot NOE y apUgS
snoue across my room anu flashed IN tue lace OF the
every time turned to tho front OF my bed IL was a
trife, but it kept me awake to become the VIII.
do ,o think g. depandcd tho narrator suddenly pans
H1rcourt never replied By word or look and his ac
cuser continued his story. $4,000
lop.d that he would close his windows. He had two
ing on the balcony In lne WIN hiie. anu pn ca.
window. opening gu a roof. | knew that troublesome
moon being IN the east. Pray. excuse these details
tney are really necessary TO the understanding Of tho
anee at his Wretcbcd companion.
Tut Harcourt might have been dead for any sgn ho
gave. ,.,---. .,.-,
Q" heard Yelverton go to bed and without closing
any of his windows After while heard him snoring
while stil lay awake tormented by the moophean as
we'll IA by the snores Are listening you IN
trance /" uqured the speaker suddenly stopping and
turning TO the silent aud frightened clerk.
am listening" replied Harcourt, In Il hollow voice
that peemed frOEl suberranean depths rather
than from the mstOnlcss nau In the chair
Very well, them will go on lay awake harassed
ny tho snores aud tho inOOnbcam until heard some
distant clock strike two. few minutes later the sound
~ the snoring hogan 10 subside and finally ceased
Then thought II could stop up knothO through
which the shone might 90 to sleep put out my
bnd and picked up Of socks FROM the floor and
hought would poke the toe OF II into that troublesome
bnIe stood up on my bed until my face opposite
thc hole looked into the mOonit room and saw-bu'
ma. were there! You know what saw
"Oh Lord IN heayenl Why was ever born walled