The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-12

vealing a neatly, almost luxuriously. fur.
nished interior, with roughly attired man
outlined in the foreground. A bright fire
| was burning at one end of the room, and
| entering, l was left alone to dry my
drenched garments before its cheerful
blaze.
"Some minutes passed, during which ]
heard means issuing from an adjoining
room and the low murmer of voices, when
the door leading to the apartment was sud
denly opened and saw before me what, fol
the moment, believed to be vision, due
thrown by the events of the night and my
mysterious surroundings.
1T was the figure of a young girl, seem
lngly about II years of age, whose radiant
and almost unearthly beauty might we'll
have beguiled other men than myself.
Dressed in simple white, with her flowing
hair falling about her in wealth of golden
glory, and an expression of sadness upon
her spirituelle face, she carried my thought
instantly to the magnificent painting of the
Madonna in the chancel of the cathedral of
Milan, in my native land.
Reckoning to me, instantly arose and
followed her to the room from which she
had come. there saw before me a little
group of men gathered about bed upon
which lay men of apparently middle age,
whose drawn and livid face betokened the
speedy coming of the dread messenger.
"isy his side knelt a sobbing woman. upon
whose deeply lined countenance saw re-
semblance to the dying mans features,
which proclaimed them near of kin.
AS approached the bedside the eyes of
the PROSTATE man slowly opened, and, see
ing me, he made a sudden effort as if to
rise. then sank back with piteous moan.
II placed my crucifix to his lips and be-
about to die, when he turned to me, and,
with a strong voice. asked:
Are you the priest"
I" YES said. What have you to say
that may ease your conscience or assuage
the sufferings of dying man?''
AN expression of pain crept over his face,
and, reaching forth his hand, he uttered
the name sMyra.'
'"rhe girl I have described glided quickly
forward, and, reverently kissing the out
stretched hand, sank upon her knees and
wept bitterly. As he tenderly stroked her
golden hair. he thus spoke, his words being
listened to at his request by all present:
Knowing that / am soon to die want
all here to listen to what am to say, and
desire that my confession shall be written
down.
II had my notebook in my pocket, and
drawing it forth, took his statement word
for word. as l shall attempt now to give it
the public nature of the recital releasing me
from the sacred secrecy of the confessional:
Twelve years ago l lived with nv sister
here in the city of New York. We piled
the trade of fencing" or, to be plain, we
were receivers of stolen goods. There lived
in the same street man with whom had
many confidential transactions. Our two
places of business were near one of the
great city parks, tinto which thousands of
people, many of them of wealth and leisure,
came to promenade on summer afternoons,
and here the trade of the pickpocket was
successfully piled, giving us unusual oppor-
tunlties for securing the plumber.
1.-The park was often visited by q nurse
girl who mad in her charge the little 5-year-
old daughter of one of the wealthiest men of
the city. l had often seen the pair, and the
extraordinary beauty of the child often at.
tracted my attention, as she sometimes
flowers, stolen gifts to her by the c0nserva-
tory keepers, and entered with her guardian
the family carriage always waiting near.
Zone day my neighb0r came to me and
put terrible temptation in my heart. 1t
was scheme to kidnap the child in ques-
ton, send it into eoncealment at distant
point in care of some of his relatives, and
exact large ransom for the recovery of the
stolen babe.
II did not then consent, but the soft and
seductive words With which he repeatedly
urged his fiendish project at length ovei-
caine my resolution. and We lay in wait for
the little one for days. until. the nurse girl
being temporarily enticed away. We obtained
the desired opportunity and snatched the
child away from home and friends.
I'VE had not anticipated the frightful
hue and cry which our deed awakened. and
before We eould cover our tracks the sleuth-
hs1n1s Of The Law we're hot upon our trail.