Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-08-07

! determined to track "my man. ]"
and capture him in quiet way, when
ne could be taken by surprise.
Inc men were evidently acquainted.
a strange conversation followed be-
tween them:
Did you place the fly cop?'" asked
YES"
Is the coast clear for tomorrow
night, Hank?"
Yes. everything is o. K"
Did he 'twig?'"
"No."
Anything new?"
"No.p
With the exchange of these remarks,
they entered an underground den on
> street, where the crooked classes
OF both sexes congregated, and when
near the hour ofmidnight, they left the
den accompanied by another man.
Finally they stopped before mag
nificent residence, and after the ex-
change of few remarks they separ-
ated, and Krafton entered the house.
Anxious not to lose sight of him, /
quickly passed up the steps and tried
the door. To my Joy it opened to my
touch, revealing wide stairway, up
which l heard the sound of steps.
moved on in pursuit, one hand ly-
ing against the butt of revolver, for I
resolved not to be caught mapping. Up
one flight of stairs, down a wide hall
for long distance, then he halted, and
! heard key CRATE in lock. Then a
door was opened and closed. Again
the grating of key, and then leaned
against locked door, shut out effectu-
ally from Krafton, the assassin, whom 1
had so long and persistently followed.
Was to be baffled now? Quietly /
knelt down and applied my eye to the
key-hole.
A light cleaned within, but the open
ing partially filled by the key was so
small / was unable to distinguish OBJ
jects only as they passed directly in
front of the spot.
The murmur of voices at once ar
rested my attention, and, placing my
ear to the key-hole, / was able to hear
every word uttered in the room, al
though the occupants were invisible.
mo whining, Coral I tell you once
for all, that / will have nothing further
to do with you. If that cursed de-
tective is on my track again it is you
you jade, who has put him there!"
1t was the mans voice tuned to a
harsh key that first met my hearing.
"Oh, my Godl"
1t was pitiful wall, but it failed to
touch the heart of the base deceiver.
At length the woman's voice spoke
again, and with an evident last appeal
to the murderer.
Karl Krafton, / remind you of the
fact that you would have been behind
the bars, but for me, long ago. I've as
sisted you in various ways, and in the
eyes of the law I'm your partner in
guilt"
"'SdeathI"
A thud followed.
take that, you jadel"
My blood was on fire then, for | knew
that the villain had laid his hand in
violence on the poor girl.
"Oh, Karl"
An oath that was fendish in its
of a woman's suffering followed
the wall Of despair.
Come near me again, jade, and |
will hand you over to the police. If
you haven't any money, 90 to the aims
house or hospital. / wash my hands of
you from this time forth
Then a key grated in lock.
As the door swung open, l rose to my
feet.
"Mr. Krafton, I've got you now"
muttered, grimly.
But l was mistaken.
Even as the door opened lurid flash
filed my eyes, followed by stunning
report, and Karl Krafton, the slayer of
Burt Balfour, fell to the floor with a
bullet in his brain.
1 stood there, in the glow of the
amp, confronting the murderess.
Back" she screamed, as / advanced
1 step into the room. "Don't attempt |
10 arrest me, as it won't avail you. He
IS dead-I shot him. He was william,
but I loved him, neverthe-"
Madam"
"Back Don't touch me, shall join
him on the other side. Goodbye, vain,
world, goodbye, forever"
l sprang quickly forward, but l was
90 late. A bullet went crashing
through the breast of the girl, and she
,ank to the floor. No use for me to
ollow the trail further, it had come to
/ most tragic ending.
Inheritance by Degrees.