Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-05

well, but his conscience, that most
obnoxious 'orgln Of tho human mako
up had become 10 aggressive that sleep
bad deserted hi, ieycrc1 couch
In the silent dark myatenous hour.
Of night Il makes little difference to q
IMAM what his fellow creature. may
think OF him. At that solemn time
what he thinks Of himself Is all that I.
essential. Eugene Scranton knew that
lie was q murderer In the hustle and
excitement Of the day this self cnnyic
ton was not powerful nor poignant. In
tho silent watches of the night. how
ever, II became unbearabl, From tho
shadows Of Ills room one fnco gascd nj
him the face OF Alexander Dale. Ile
arse. dipped handkerchief la leo
water and placed the refreshing cloth
against the buse Of Li- brain. For a
few moments he appeared TO dufe
The blood that surgeJ upward was
cooled for n time. aud simple device
seemed about 10 triumph over tho In
somnia that had driven him well nigh
mad
II Is not easy, however. to escape the
punishment tina, follows hin. Eugene
Scranton did not fail asleep The
blisslul inconsistencies that his crime
tortured nature cravcd woood him for
awhile, then lied from him Ms though
In horror lie was farther from sleep
thnn before, aud again his staring eyes
saw In the darkness tho face Of Ale2an
der Dale.
An hour had passed. m hour Of
agony 10 Scranton Twice had he
pressed his revolver ngninst his throb
bling temple. Twice lad ho REALIZED
that ho dared not rush to fato that
frightened Hamlet aud made Cato
pause A man who commits murder
from greed seldom commits suicide
from choice
AZ last the strain became unboarablc
Scranton spraug from bed and rushed
to the window
"Oh, God must confess my crimcl
I must contest must cunicssw
lilo threw up tho sash. a bolntcd
citizen was hurying homoward on tho
opposite side Of tho street I'm call 20
him aud tell him the awful secret u
my soul" thought Scranton. "Wuiti"
Tho cry startled tho silent street md
echoed wcIrdly through tho diunhl
night Alarmed By bis voice, Scranton
shut tho window with q crash and
rushed into tho outer room IN th,
dim light ho Jaw before him the out
lines Of his photograph lly,tcrieally
he threw his arms around tho machine
and kissed H.
I'm saycd" 10 whispered. "lll ten
you tho history Of my fall.
Night aitor night the fatal cylinder
gavo comfort TO Eugene Scranton. u
the murderer awokc In the still, dark
hours and the shadow of his crime
crossed his soul, hc would sicllthily
leave hA bedroom aud place Ia effect
I've position the ear pieces Of the Hccus
INK machine. Then with Plastly sntis.
faction he would listen to the following
repetition Of the tale 10 had told tho
sympathetic wax
- killed Alexander Dale. l had
hated lin for years Together W. had
concoctod scheme whereby we could
fleece investors who desired 10 gain a
fortune In the twinkling Of an eye Il
was my brain that developed the idea
Of q western land improvement com.
pany that weull not DO western. would
own no land, would have nothing 10 do
with improvements aud DO a company
only In name
81 needed a we'll known man 20 glvc
his influence aud reputation 20 tho
swlndlc and found In Dale a colleague
who was weak enough TO follow my
guidance, but clever enough TO retain
Ia his grip thorough control over my
lifo. After months Of temptation |
yielded 10 tho voice Of tho deyil and
determined 10 rad myself OF tho only
man IN tho world WHO stood between
me and success nnd safety. killed
him cloverly. lilo had had tho utmost
confidence In my upFightuoss, aud
When ono evening, after dining with
him Mt his rooms he expressed wish
TO take me 20 ono Of his clubs pleaded
fatigue. asked permission TO finish my
cigar la his drawing room, aud saw linn
sally forth doomed man.
"rhc rst was easy. Tor hours I
awaited his return. When heard his
footsteps on tho stairs I concealed my.
solf behind a portierc. After he had
undressed and lad fallen into deep
sleep, plunged dagger into his heart
Oh, II was dollciouA l have enjoyed
all tho scnsations that tempt tho
wealthy epicurc. There Is only ono
that ILLS the soul with perfect ecstasy
that is the bliss that pertains to mur.
der"
Here tho cylinder made an lncoherens
sound md the confession ceased.
Eugene seranton's valet John, was
not a genius. but he possessed a good
deal Of shrewdnoss and fair amount
Of common sensc From tho moment
Of rs arrival he had been intensely In.
terested In what h0 called tho funny
graph When his master was away ho
spent much Of his tlms In trying 10
make the machine work. At first tho
results were no, satisfactory, bu. after
week OF mental effort no solved the
problem Involved and uIsrsSiie. en-.
| Ioyed himself greatly.
Scranton was constantly buying now
cylindorsj some with opeFatic music,