Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-10-03
The prisoner was dying; nobody could
lnnl- NJ

The prisoner was dying; nobody could
look at him and doubt it.
His eyes opened YEARLY when his wife
and children approached the bed on which
he lay helpless-the wreck Of a grandly made
man. He struggled for breath, but he could
still speak word or two at a time. II don't
ask you what the verdict is" he said to his
wife; II see il in your face"
fearless and silent she waited by her hus-
bands side He had only noticed her for
moment. All his interest seemed to be CEN
tered in his children. The girl stood nearest
10 him: he looked at her with faint smile.
The poor child understood him. Crying
piteously, she put her arms round his neck
and kissed him. Dear papa" she said,
"come home and let me nurse YOU"
The surgeon, watching the fathers face,
saw change in him which the other persons
present had not observed. The failing heart
felt that parting moment and sank under it
Take the child away" the surgeon whis-
pered to the mother. Brandy was near him;
he administered it while he spoke, and touch
ed the fluttering pulse. 1t felt, just felt, the
stimulant He revived for moment, and
looked wistfully for his son. The boy" he
murmured; II want my boy" AS his wife
brought the child to him, the surgeon whis-
pered to her again. "If you have anything
to say to him be quick about itv' She shud-
dered; she took his cold hand. Her touch
seemed to nerve him with new strength: he
asked her to stoop over him. 'They won't
let me write here" he whispered, "unless
they see my-my letter." He paused to get
his breath again. Lift up my left arm" he
gasped. 'Open the wrstband."
She detached the stud which closed the
wristband Of the shirt. On the inner side of
the linen there was line written in red let
ters-red of the color of blood. She saw
these words: Look In the tintnJ Of my
trunk.
''What for?" she asked.
The fading light in his eyes flashed on her
dreadful look of doubt His lips fell apart
in the vain effort to answer. His last sigh
futtered the light ringlets of her hair as she
bent over him.
The surgeon pointed to her children.
''Take the poor tings home" he said; "they
have seen the last of their father"
Mrs. Westerfield obeyed in silence. She
had her own reasons for being in hurry to
get home. Leaving the children under the
servants care, she locked herself up in the
dead mans room and emptied his trunk of
the few clothes that had been left in it.
The lining which she was now to examine
was Of the customary material and of the
usual striped pattern in blue and white. Her
fingers were not sufficiently sensitive to feel
anything under the surface, when she tried
it with her hand. Turning the empty trunk
with the inner side of the lid toward the
light, she discovered, on one Of the blue
stripes Of the lining, thin little shining
stain which looked like a stain of dried gum.
After moments consideration she cut the
gummed line with penknife. Something
of white color appeared through the aper-
ture. She drew out folded sheet Of paper.
1t proved to be letter In her husbands
handwriting. An Enclosure dropped to the
floor when she opened it, in the shape of q
paper. She picked it up. The morsel of
paper presented letters, figures. and crosses
arranged in lines, and mingled together in
what looked like hopeless confusion