Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-08
i'd it ten. The error on his part was

excusable."
The old man saw he had made fatal
admission. He revenged himself by say
ing:
Course you for an impudent dog"
"Oh, thank you, thank you," returned
Tom, bowling. "You are entirely too
complimentary"
Then, dropping his bantering tone, he
said fiercely:
Throw up your hand, you white haired
rascal l know your whole game.
You've got deal to answer for, but
you've got this consolation, that your
punishment for the greater crime will
make that for the rest impossible"
"Oh, indeed!' the old man at last
found voice to say. young sir, will
you tell me why you maltreat me thus?"
"Tell you? Yes, if you will tell me
why you maltreated Annie Templeton
by abducting her."
"Oh, think you will have to prove
that. These gentlemen do not seem to
be officers of the law. Perhaps you will
show me your warrant for these proceed
ings. l am afraid, young sir, you will
find it difficult of proof that have alb
Quoted any young lady,"
He rallied, however, in a moment, and
all the more quickly as he saw from the
sheer and the look Of triumph in the
wicked old eyes that Parker had real
lied what was passing through his mind.
"My old man." returned Tom, "Tm not
at loss for reasons for taking you to the
police. If not for the abduction, why
then for falsely personating clergyman
and marrying an assumed Mr.. Fountain;
if not for that, then for falsely person
ating clergyman again and marrying
the assumed MIR. Fountain under the
name of Simpson to another woman"
"In the name of all the fiends. how do
you know all this, boy:' screamed the
old man.
"And them" continued Tom, ''there is
the Matchmaking of Mr.. Pierson for
years"
The old man glared at him.
"And then there is the fraudulent aft
davit and subornation of perjury in the
claim of Preston against the Pierson
estate"
The old man Quailed before Tom. The
accumulation of charges was beginning
to tell.
"Then there is the abduction of Mrs.
Templeton."
"Stop, stop" cried the old man, "have
you got her too?"
sit was as easy to find her," replied
Tom unblushingly, "as to find the
daughter And them
'Stop, stop!" cried the old man, over
whelmed. Have pity On poor mis-
guided old man."
'tThere is just one thing more I should
like to mention"-
"Stop, STOP" moaned the old man.
-"And that is the murder of Temple
ton"
The old man looked up.
81 never did that. Heaven knows
that is the truth. l never did that.
confess the rest. l confess the abduc-
ton of Annie Templeton and her mother
but blood has never stained these |
hands No, it was not until after the
death of Templeton, not until after |
had heard of it, and knew what its effect /
was, that conceived the idea of Selling
and concealing these women and press
ing Preston's claim. No, I'm not guilty
Of that"
''You old rascal, don't lie to me-"
cried Tom angrily. 81 know the whole
plot. Why, you hoary headed villain,
if we could go back to the dark days of /
English vengeance, and not only hang
but draw and quarter you. you would
not get half the punishment you de-
serve"
The old man lifted his hands appeal
ingly.
Don't know the whole story" con-
tinued Tom. "You were tool of Pier
sons; you knew his previous life, his
change of names; that the Templetons |
were the rightful heirs; that by killing
one and imprisoning the others-the two /
defenseless women-you could begin to
make that old drtlnkard's claim good,
and divide the property in equal shares,
one-half for yourself. You old rascal,
you have the agreement drawn and .
signed now in your possession"
pered the old man.
Then you feared that Mrs. Fountains
son could raise good claim, and SO You
enticed him here tonight with the in
tention of doing him too"
mo, no! Heaven hear and help me,
/ have never committed murder only
meant to confine him until l could get /
the matter settled and disposed of. He .
was interfering
"Oh, that was all YOU
Through the open door came the Inu-
steal voice of a man, ascending the
stairs, singing:
When girls are kind and wine is warm,
Oh, where's the harm, oh, where's the harm!
Their waists to squeeze their lips to press.
The old man lifted his head quickly
and murmured: 1.-The fools been drink
ing again"
He attempted to call out, but by rea-
son of his emotion, or something else,
his throat refused TO give forth sou,-'
BEFORE IL could cIeal =, Tom sprang TO
him and placed his hand over his mouth.
Gag him." he said to man who
came to his assistance
1T is my own son." said the old man.
He is not to blame for anything; let
him go free"
"We'n see about that" said Tom.
"Take him into the other room, while
we receive the new visitor. Take that