Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-06
THE BANKERS CRIME
Diamond Cut Diamond.
By NATHAN D. uRNER.
CHAPTER X.

A minkling of economy and pretension,
with growing tendency in favor OF the
former, had for years been the main
characteristic of the household, the
aproned coachman and green-grocer's
small boy Of the evening before having
constituted an addition of ostentation
but seldom attempted.
The breakfast of the Sunday morning
under consideration was not at variance
with its predecessors.
True, Mr.. Marlowe was looking so
haggard and preoccupied as to attract the
attention of Noel, who asked, with some
anxiety, about his nights rest, but with
out eliciting other than an Indifferent
reply; while the housekeeper, after ponr-
ing out the coffee, kept her eyes demurely
lowered, as was her custom, and the SER
want fitted here and there, as occasion
demanded.
Mr.. Marlowe was usually blessed with
great appetite, but this morning he ate
comparatively nothing, and it was evil
dent that he was i'll at ease.
by the way, Noel, said he, as the
young man was pushing back his chair,
you found the newspaper you had mis-
laid, supposed"
"Yes; il was lying on your Office table
with o mass of other papers. However,
/ did not read to Adele the article
wanted to, after all, and now it is of no
consequence.
The banker was aching to ask him II
he might not have seen, or touched, the
missing document at the finding OF the
newspaper, but he lacked the moral cour-
age to do So he shuddered at the bare
possibility of the young man chancing to
lind it in one of his pockets, as o conse-
quence, and, perhaps, obtaining glimpse
of its significance
Shall you 20 to church," he therefore
contented himself with asking, as Noel
arose from the table.
mot for the morning service, was the
reply. II shall stroll over to Jasmine
Lodge, after my cigar is finished. Adele
will be expecting me"
Mr.. Marlowe was not long in following
him out of the room. He went to enjoy
his own cigar in the garden, Noel hav-
ing selected the library for his digestive
smoke.
Though the other members Of his
household were strict in their religious
observences, and he was pleased to have
1t SO, for the sake of appearances, the
banker himself never went to church.
He was so absolutely selfish as to be
incapable of religious conviction, or even
Of religious feeling; and, perhaps, it was
something of glimmering Offset to his
heavy and increasing account with NOR
ality that he never coupled his scoun-
drelism with the hypocrisy OF pious SEM
blance.
"There is no real money in it for me,
he had long been accustomed to say to
himself; @to be sure, respectability is q
"A s,as s4en1R 10 ofkon nh
tanned and cultivated by santimonious
church-going; but I've always felt moro
comfortable comrading evil hat-footed,
and SO shall continue
He had already hit upon plan for
hiding the evidences Of his violent deed,
which. for the time, was naturally en-
crossing him even more than the mystery
of the missing document.
The gardener had been digging in the
back cellar few days before, by reason
Of an imperfection in one of the drains,
and had, perhaps, left the implements Of
his labor where they could be made avail.
able.
It was to that place the dead body
should be conveyed, and buried away un.
der the brick pavement and deep down in
the stiff clay.
Such was the bankers plan, and now
while pacing the garden walks, he impa.
tiently waited for the house to be empty
in order to carry it out.
At last the propitious hour arrived
Noel going first, old Alworth following
with his daughter, on the way to church
and finally, as had long been the orde
Of the day, staid Miss Winford going on
of the gate on the coachman's arm, fol
lowed BY the cook and two housemaids
in their best demeanor and newest gowns
Mr.. Marlowe waited yet little longer
to make sure against possible interruptsol
by return for some forgotten article, AM
then hurried into the house.
He locked the street door behind hir
and satisfied himself that the other door
were equally secured.
But he was determined to make assu1
ance doubly sure. A sneak thief might
possibly, have secreted himself some
where in the house; and, though such
thing had never happened before, it woul
not now do to accept the faintest posi-
bility of awitness to what he was abou
to do.
He explored every room in the house
not even excepting the poor rooms at th
top, occupied by the Alworths.
At length, fully convinced that he we
GU6 Ouly LIVING pea bVA UAOAO3 AAo uVoooAAAe
into the back cellar to complete his pref
arations.
It was large, paved with brick, an
fairly lighted by horizontal windows hie
up in the walls of either side.
at had long been in comparative disus
and barrels were scattered here and ther
but, nevertheless, in one corner were Il
evidences Of the brick and earth havir
been disturbed over the drain, and, be
of ell, there; leaning against the mason
ty. were spa ie and pick.
Mr.. Marlowe at once threw off b
dressing-gown, chose place directly
che center Of the cellar, and, availiI
himself Of the tools alternately, set
work with the yigor and determinatit
that marked everything he undertook.
Though unused to manual Labor,
had. in less than an hour, effected an =
cavation about seven feet long BY. tv
wide, and three deep; and then no ga
over, satisfied with what he intend,
should be the grave Of his victim and q
concealment Of his crime, and indife
ent to the fact that he was breathless al
streaming with perspiration, and that
slipDered feet were soiled with clay.
It will answer he muttered to hi
self, slipping on his dressing gown agai
Thank good ness, the hole is easier II
in than scraped out. Twenty minut
more will finish everything, and give Z
q chance to clean myself besides.
He went up the steps, unlocked t
rear hall-communicating door OF t
hank and efltered the bank Office.