Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-06-18

adulation to him who holds the golden
keys of power. Cold, remorseless as an
iceberg, he had found that between him
and and the bull's-eye of his ambition
stood the form of Alexander Dale. A
well-directed dagger had removed this
obstacle-and Eugene Scranton was
millionaire.
"Well, what do you want?
Scranton threw down his newspaper
testify and turned towards valet, who
had just entered the breakfast-room.
"Beg pardon, sir" said John, "but
man is outside with queer-looking ma
chine. He says you ordered funny
graph sent here. l don't know what it
is, but he's very positive, sir"
''Tell him to put it in the drawing
ROOM" commanded the master. "Place
it near the piano, do you hear?
eyes, sir"
The valet left the room and Eugene
Scranton re-applied himself to his break
fast, his newspaper, and his self-con-
CALCULATIONS.
1t was midnight and Eugene Scranton
lay awake, tossing restlessly upon his
bed. The world was treating him well,
organ of the human makeup, had be-
come so aggressive that sleep had de-
serted his fevered couch.
In the silent, dark, mysterious hours
of night it makes little difference to a
man what his fellow creatures may think
of him. At that solemn time what he
thinks of himself is all that is essential.
Eugene Scranton knew that he was a
murderer. In the hustle and excitement
of the day this self-conviction was not
powerful nor poignant. In the silent
watches of the night, however, it became
unbearable. From the shadows of his
room one face gazed at him-the face of
Alexander Dale. He arose, dipped a
handkerchief in water, and placed the
refreshing cloth against the base of his
brain. For a few moments he appeared
to doze. The blood that surged upward
was cooled for time, and a simple de-
vice seemed about to triumph over the
insomnia that had driven him well-nigh
mad.
1t is not easy, however, to escape the
punishment that follows sin. Eugene
Scranton did not fall asleep. The bliss
full Inconsistencies that his crime-tor-
tured nature craved wooed him for a
while, then fled from him as though in
horror. He was further from sleep than
before and again his staring eyes saw in
the darkness the face of Alexander Dale.
vi.
An hour had passed, an hour of agony
to Scranton. Twice had he pressed his
revolver against his throbbing temple.
Twice had he realized that he dared not
rush to fate that frightened Hamlet
and made Cato pause. A man who COM
mits murder from greed seldom commits
suicide from choice.
At last the strain became unbearable.
Scranton sprang from his bed and rushed
to the window.
so God! | must confess my crime. L
must confess! must confess!''
He threw up the sash. A belated citi-
zen was hurrying homeward on the OPP
posite side of the street. sfll call to
him and tell him the awful secret of my
soul,' thought Scranton. "Wait!'
The cry startled the silent street and
echoed weirdly though the dismal night.
Alarmed by his voice, Scranton shut the
window with crash and rushed into
the outer room. In the dim light he
saw before him the outlines of his phono-
graph. Historically he threw his arms
around the machine and kissed it.
''I'm saved!" he whispered. 'sI'll tell
you the history of my fall.''
VII.
| Night after night the fatal cylinder
gave comfort to Eugene Scranton. If
the murderer awoke in the still, dark
hours and the shadow of his crime
crossed his soul, he would stealthily
leave his bedroom and place in effective
position the ear-pieces of the accusing
machine. Then with CHASTITY satisfac-
ton he would listen to the tale he had
told the sympathetic wax:
81 killed Alexander Dale. had hated
him for years. Together we had con-
cocted scheme whereby we could fleece
investors who desired to gain a fortune
in the twinkling of an eye. 1t was my
brain that developed the idea of west
ern land improvement company that
would not be western, would own no
land, would have nothing to do with i'm
provement, and would be a company
only in name. | needed a well-known
man to give his influence and reputation
to the swindle, and found in Dale a col
league who was weak enough to follow
my guidance, but clever enough to retain
in his grip thorough control over my
life. After months of temptation yield
ed to the voice of the devil and deter
mined to rid myself of the only man in
the world who stood between me and
| success ana SaIeCy. killed MIN cleVerly.
He had had the utmost confidence in my
uprightness, and when, one evening,
after dining with him at his rooms, he
expressed wish to take me to one of
his clubs, | pleaded fatigue, asked per-
mission to finish my cigar in his draw
ing-room and saw him sally forth
doomed man.
"The rest was easy. For hours l
awaited his return. When | heard his
footsteps on the stairs | concealed myself
behind portiere. After he had I'M
dressed and had fallen into deep sleep,
plunged dagger into his heart
Here the cylinder made an incoherent
sound and the confession ceased.
VIII.
Eugene Scranton's valet, John, was
not a genius, but he possessed a good
deal of shrewdness and a fair amount of