Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-21

deserted houss-a alone in the forest at
night Bahi l have n manuscript in my
pocket which would kill you"
Marsh was angry. He knew himself
man of courage and the words stung him.
IF you know uch a place." he said, take
me there tom yht and leave me your story
and a candle. Call for me when I've had
time enough e. read it, and I'll tell you the
entire plot and-kick you out OF the place"
That is how Il occurred that the farmers
boy, looking In at an unglazed window of the
Breede house, Jaw man sitting in the light
of a candle.
Late in the afternoon of the next day three
men and a boy approached the Breede house
from that point OF the compass toward which
the boy had fed the preceding night They
were in high spirits apparently: they talked
loudly and laughed. They made facetious
and good hum pred ironical remarks TO the
boy about his adventure, which evidently
they did not believe in. He accepted the
raillery, with seriousness, making no reply.
Arriving at he house and finding the door
bolted on the inside, the party of investi-
gators entered without further ceremony
than breaking it down. Leading out of the
passage into which this door had opened was
another on tbs right and one on the left.
These two doors also were fastened, and were
broken in. Tley entered at random the one
on the left first. 1t was vacant. In the
room on the ght-the one which had the
black front wi idows-was the dead body of
q mani
1t lay partly on one side, with the forearm
beneath it, the cheek on the floor. The eyes
were wide open; the stare was not an agreea-
bic thing to encounter. The lower jaw had
fallen; little pool of saliva had collected
beneath the mouth. An overthrown table a
partly burned candle, chair and some paper
with writing on it were all else that the room
contained Tie men looked at the body,
touching the fIce in turn The boy gravely
stood at the had, assuming a look of owner
ship. Ii was the proudest moment of his life.
One OF the me1 said TO him: YOU'RE a good
una remark which was received by the
two others with mods of acquiescence 1t was
Skepticism apllogizing to Truth. Then one
of the men took from the floor the sheets of
manuscript and stepped TO the window, for
already the evening shadows were cleaning
the forest The song of the whip-poor will
was heard in the distance and a monstrous
beetle sped 10y the window ON roaring wings.
Before con uniting the act, which rightly
or wrongly have resolved on, and appearing
4. =
Colston, deem it my duty as journalist to
make statement to the public Ny name
is, | believe, tolerably well known TO the
people writer of tragic tales, but the
somberest lima gination never conceived any,
thing SO gloon y my own life and history
Not IN incident; my history has been desti-
tute of adventure and action. But my mem
tai career ha, been lurid with experiences
such as kill and damn. | shall not recount
them here's me Of them are written and
ready for publication elsewhere The object
OF these few In t. Is TO explain to whomsoever
may be interested that my death is voluntary
my own act. | shall die at 10 O'Clock in the
evening tie 18th of July-a significant
anniversary u me, for il was on that dav
and at that hour that my friend in time and
eternity, Charles Breede, performed his vow
10 me by the aIne act which his fidelity to
our pledge now entails upon me-he took his
life in his littl" house in the Copeton woods
There was the customary verdict of temper
AIRY insanity. Had testified at that inquest
had | told all | knew--they would have
called me mad! | have still week Of life in
which TO arrange my worldly affairs and
prepare for thu great change. Ii is enough,
for | have but few affairs, and il is now four
years since dei tn became an imperative obi
the finder will please hand it 70 the coroner.
JAMES r. CoIsrON"
up. S.-Wil ard Marsh, on this the fatal
18th day Of July, hand you this manuscript,
sealed, 10 be opened and read under the CON
ditions agreed upon, and at the place which
designate. forego my intention TO keep it
on my body to explain the manner OF my
death, which l. not important 1t will serve
TO explain the manner of yours / am to call
for you during the night to receive assurance
that you havs read the manuscript You
know me well enough to expect me. but,
my friend, 1t VIII Ice after 10 O'Clock NAV
God have mercy on your souls! j. T. c."
Before the an who was reading this man
uscript had finished one Of the Others had
picked up the candle and lighted it. When
the reader had done he quietly thrust the
paper against he flame, aud. despite the pro
testations of tle others, held it until il was
burnt to ashes. At the inquest nothing
could elicit an Ineligible account OF what
the paper cont aimed. The man who did this.
aud who placidly endured a severe reprimand
from the coroner, was son-in-law of the
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