The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-12-11

Houo LIS e"ppc1l duCe very SaUurnlne
and gloomy, and ate his breakfast
with mourntul air that was terri
bly, imp essive. Having finished, he
then took leave of his niece in a feel
ing manner:
II am about to leave YOU" said
he mournfully. II am about to end
this life of misery. I hope you may
be happy
"Oh, don't gop' said Lizzie, tear
fully clinging to him, and 10 oking in
to his face pleadingly.''
cts useless" said Mr.. Maddox,
firmly. "My mind is fixed, and moth
ing you can do can persuade me to
relinquish my purpose. But you, my
dear child, shall not be unprovided
for. l intend to make my will in the
few hours that are left me and you
will not be forgotten. Good.by, my
dear child, tarewell!"- then, after
embracing his niece fervently, Mr..
Maddox rushed from the room fran
tically and securely locked himself
into his own room and began to pre-
pare himself for his last journey.
Mine o'clock!" he said to himself,
looking at his watch. "Three hours
yet! Enough to do all I have to do!
First to make my will!''
The last will and testament of Mr..
Cyrus Maddox was evidently not a
long one, as it was finished in less
than an hour.
eleven o'clock!" said Mr.. Mad
dox, "and l have finished. How slow
the time passes, TO be sure! Now,
what shall | do until - o'clock, for 7
am determined not to die until
noon"-
A knock at the door.
$50 away!" cried Mr.. Maddox,
angrily. You can't come in.''
IL am very sorry to disagree with
you.' said a voice outside the door,
"but I can come in. I.have a du-
plicate key here, and ifyou don't open
the door I will"
Mr.. Maddox rose and unlocked the
door savagely, and Mr.. Guy Cheev-
ers stalked into the room, carrying
all oblong box under his arm.
He placed the box on the table
and then took seat opposite Mr.
Maddox and stared blankly at him.
"What do you want?" asked Mr..
Maddox, fiercely. Don't you see I
am engaged?"
ooh, I.know," said Guy, "what
are you about to do? Don't think
that | am going to interfere-not at
all. But before you make your
quietus wish to ask you a few ques-
tions. Have you provided for your
niece's future welfare?'
"What's that to you?"
considerable: l am about to
marry Miss Silver; so her interests
are naturally mine''
''Then she is provided for-amply.
'"Thank you for your information.
Very glad to hear it. And now ex-
cause the apparent impertinence of
the question, but whereas your will?"
'Here," said Mr.. Maddox, laying
his hand on it.
"suppose you give it to me to take
care of?''
"Give it to you! Why, pray?''
at might become misplaced" ex-
planned Guy.
"Tl keep it myself" said Mr..
Maddox, roughly.
''Then just leave a memorandum
on the table, said Guy, earnestly,
ito tell where tits. It'll save trouble,
perhaps,"
'sGet out!'' cried Mr.. Maddox, an
grily.
"Ah, I see," said Mr.. Cheevers,
coolly; Gin hurry to begin. Well,
I won't detain you; but l have a lit
tie suggestion to offer.''
"Well," said Mr.. Maddox, impa-
tiently.
1T is this" said Guy. "Miss Sill
YER informs me that you have made
several previous efforts to cut short
your trouble and your breath, and
always unsuccessfully. Now it seems
to me you don't go the right way
about it. This box and here he
opened the box before alluded to-
fountains several little plans that
think mightplease you. Here's one, "
and he showed a little steel instru-
ment.
"What's that?" asked Mr.. Maddox,
curiously.
'This." said Guy, 'is an article
that you can place around your neck
like a collar, then, by striking your
hand on the left side of your neck, a
sharp spike is driven right into your
jugular VEIN"
But that would kill me!' said Mr..
| Maddox. starinp
"Well, amt that what you want?''
here's another" he went on. "Here's
a wheel, you observe; you pass thit
band around your neck, pass ir
around the wheel and give it two of
three turns-then let go. The re-
! coil will twist your head almost co,
your shoulders-kill you to a re-
F., tainty."
Mr.. Maddox stared at him with
unfeined horror. ".~. -e
'"Then,' went on Guy, coolly,
there's little package, a torpedo.
1t contains nitroglycerine. You
place it in your mouth, snap your
teeth on it, and off goes your head,