The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-10
THROUGH THE TELESCOPE
How a Murder Vas discovered and
Attoned For.

there, allowing no breath Of the pure.
cool air to reach my feverish head.
tried to open the window, but / was
not strong enough, and I fell back in my
chair, breathing the sitting afr, which
every moment became more oppressive.
| thought I could not endure it, yet
how could | avoid III There was only
one way without danger Of discovery: a
step into the hall. and those spiral stairs
would take me to the housetop-to the
observatory.
Waiting until | was sure the way was
clear, | stepped softly into the hall, and,
ascending the stairs. though with much
difficulty, l was soon enjoying the for
hidden pleasure of breathing the free
air. untainted with the fumes Of the
nauseous drugs that had been dealt out
to me with an unspanng hand all
through the long, cold winter.
How exhilaratingl l wondered that
had been housed so long. ! looked
down upon the group Of young ladies
who were sporting on the lawn.
Jennie Magrair was there, the daugh-
ter Of my host, the only woman | ever
loved, but | was nothing to her. She
knew not how | worshiped her, and |
should keep my secret well, for she was
the betrothed Of Gerald Macburn.
How l envied him and perhaps hated
him a little, for ! knew that he had not
won her love. She had pledged her
hand to save her old father from pow
erty.
She had consented to the sacrifice and
Macburn was satisfied.
Turning away | tried to Danish the
painful, hopeless thoughts that had been
awakened.
Adjusting the telescope | took a sur
vey of the farming and woodland that
stretched far away to the east for many
miles.
caught sight Of two men whom | rec
ognized as Gerald Macburn and John
Layton.
They were evidently in search of
game. The glass wa small, yet a very
superior instrument. and | could see
them very plainly, Notwithstanding the
distance.
presume | should have thought no
more about them had | not known that
but a few months before they were Bit
ter enemies. wondered how the recon-
Citation had been effected.
While ~puzzling my brain with these
thoughts had unconsciously moved the
glass to keep them within range. | saw
them stop, and | knew by their motions
that they were angry.
| became interested. Icould see them
80 distinctly that | found myself listen
ing to catch their words.
could see their lips move, and | saw
John Layton's clinched hands. He was
evidently much excited. but he did not
offer to strike; and if one can judge by
sight alone be was inclined TO avoid any
alteration. while Macburn appeared 10
seek a quarrel.
For full Eve minutes they stood there,
gesticulating vehemently. They were
some distance apart, Layton az tho while
endeavoring to widen the space and
Macburn following him up.
At last Layton, goaded beyond all en-
durance, wheeled about and shook his
fist menacingly at his tormentor. Mac
burn was SO exasperated at this that he
raised his rlde and Shot aim.
saw the poor man fall out of sight in
the bushes, and | saw Macburn calmly
reload his rifle and walk toward the spot
where his victim was lying.
Then | staggered and fell tt the floor,
and all was a blank.
When | awoke to consciousness / was
in bed. Cloths were all about my head,
and in the dim lamplight | saw a
watcher sitting by my bedside. 1t was
my old chum, Harry Wilmot.
sHow is thisg' said l, when ! realized
the situation.
Thank God, you are coming around
again. said Harry; "but it has been a
hard case, Fred; you have been as crazy
as a loon for a whole week. | advise
you not to try the observatory again till
you are strong enough to crawl back"
At these words. what / had seen from
the housetop flashed upon my mind; but
had my life depended upon it | could not
then have told that it was not all a dream.
To convince myself I inquired for John
Layton
He is-no one knows where" replied
Harry; ''but you are too weak to either
talk or listen"
mo, I'm not, Harry; tell me about it"
He yet hesitated, but urged him. and
he yielded.
John Layton disappeared a week
ago." said he. "Absconded is the better
word, for he took with him quite an
amount Of money belonging to his father.
THE old gentleman is very wroth. and
has used every means to find him, but
has not succeeded. Fanny Morton-they
were to be married soon, you Knows
almost crazy about it. and viii not be-
tieve that John intended to do anything
wrong. This is all that is known about
it But, speaking Of marriage, did you
know that Gerald Macburn and Jenny
Magrair are to be married tomorrow"
John Layton is dead, said |, without
answering his question, though it had
sent a pain through my heart that was
agony TO me. He is dead. Harry VIII
mot"
Harry gazed at me, pityingiy.
There, Fred. | wouldn't talk any
more" said he. you are very weak
yet Try and sleep"
"You think ! am still crazy, Harry
Don't. Fred, don'tl If you ever ex-
pect to get of this sick bed you must be