Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-06-05


md so he is dead. His demise was very
singular. If he has come to his senses
yet, he must review the event with keen
interest, arising not SO much from
personal concern as from that pride of
distinction which should exist in n man
who has been drowned on dry land.
"Will it hurt me?" Reuben asked, as
Inc rubber bag was being puckcred
tightly around his neck.
after minute or two you won't feel
t." was the sincere reply, land your
headache will be gone entirely"
BY this time the upper end of the sack
was fitted to the neck SO tightly as to
choke.
eve will vary the use of this thing to
suit your case" the operator went on.
40, don't gasp. Your breath won't
bother you after just a little"
Nor did it. Joseph slit the bag at the
bottom, turned it up over Reubcn's head
and gripped it tightly.
You'll smother me-" the victim
painted, with a convulsive shake of his
baggcd head.
IN give you some air." and the as
sassin kept his word by relaxing his
hold sufficiently to make an aperture.
"Now, sit down quietly on the ground,
Reuben. It's got to be done, you know,
and the quicker it's over the sooner
you'll be comfortable"
1t was at this point in the experiment
that Reuben became greatly amazed.
In recalling it to memory Gf his pres
ent condition of mind permits him to be
retrospective he will recollect that the
novelty of the homicide was wondrous.
He sat down on the ground obcdiently.
Over his head, but leaving small open
space, the reversed bag was punched
in one hand by Joseph, who with the
other took up a pailful of water and
poured it into the opening. So Reuben's
head was as completely submerged as
though he had been at the bottom Of
the pond.
For a minute or two there was a
great deal of commotion. If Reuben
had not tried, in the absence of air, to
breathe the water, his violent strength
might have availed him; but he had en-
jOyed no experience with such unex-
pected circumstances, and his futile
writings and contortions seemed to be
actuated by n confused belief that he
might swim out of the difficulty. Joseph
twisted the bag with all his might, thus
forcing the water down around Rcu-
ben's head.
stop l1iclSing!" he cried. do you
hear mc?"
Reuben heard him, but couldn't say
so; and, whether in obedience or not,
his resistance ceased, and he soon lay
drowned to death on the sun-dricd
ground. lie had died so much after
the manner of q fish that had been
pulled out of the water, with his captor
holding to him while he foundcred,
that the suggestion of some new and
awful form of Adirondack sport flashed
into the slayer's perturbcd mind.
But it was not blithesomc or iocOse to
be alone in the woods with two men
whom you have murdered, and Joseph
Hadcn, moreover, was filled with per-
sOnal regret for the sacrifice of feeling
which his enterprise had demanded.
Besides, he knew that most incon-
venicnt and painful ordeal still awaited
him. He had put himself into n re-
stored resemblance of his deceased
brother: he had caused the body to as
sumo the proportions Of his own as last
seen by relatives and friends; he had
silcnced the only witness of any of the
process; he was ready to go out into
civilization with the now indisputablc
lie that the two men had been drowned
accidentally in the lakc-exccpt that
one important act remained to be done.
If Joseph Hadcn was to be accepted
without suspicion as Jasper Hadcn,
then the dead twin must have two feet
and the survivor only one.
Joseph was not man to enter upon
an important undertaking without cal.
culating it to climax, nor to stop in
his endcavor before he had done his Mt.
most to reach the ultimate success. He
was surgeon, and well aware Of the
bother and unplcasantncss of amputa,
| ting his own foot. But he felt that the
| two other persons concerned had sui
fcred considerable annoyance, and he
would not permit himself to hesitate ir
doing his duty by the affair. So he OK
ciscd his left foot at the ankle, and il
was IN excellent piece of surgcry-wcl
worthy of a full report to his medica,
society, if he had not felt an obligation
Of professional secresy.
Joseph allowed himself week fol
the wound to get along in the process
of healing. With skillful and uncom
monty solicitous surgeon in attendance
the case had no mishaps or complica
tons. When all was ready he went tt
the nearest settlement, introduced him
self as Jasper Haden, reported the dealt
of Joseph and the guide, and arranged
for their burial. There was no arousa
of suspicion in the minds of the rustic.
who had to do with the inquest, funera
and interment. Several relatives anG
acquaintances of the Hadens came, bu
there was no cause for incredulity
There was a well-rounded and two
footed dead Hadcn-for the surgeon
had attached his severed member to hi
brothers ankle in manner which, be
ing uninvestigated, was not discovered
There was a slim and singlefootcd live
1Iaden-for he wore the artificial foot
Who could suspect?
1t was almost month later when thu
false Jasper Hayden arrived at the sta