Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-11-25


back.
Now You can CO." said he. land ar
irving there send two men at once.
Hurry you, and let them hurry"
AS the officer left the apartment with
Langdon. Cathcart sat down at the writ
ing table.
Taking out a memorandum book he
began making entries as coolly as if
nothing out of common had occurred.
So calm, 30 composed, so inscrutable
was he that Dorison, wound up to a
pitch of intense excitement and nervous
ness, felt he could willingly horsewhip
him for his imperturbability
Cathcart turned to Fassett abruptly.
you know l am going to lock you
up Is there anything you want to do
here?"
The question startled the physician,
but he collected his thoughts.
mot here" he replied after moment.
There is something l do want to do.
Writer"
Cathcart did not comprehend him.
Write at my dictation. ordered the
physician sternly.
The old detective wrote the names of
a number of people, with their addresses,
as dictated by Fassett. When he had
finished, the physician said:
"Those are the names of patients who
are dangerously ILL They are likely to
die if they do not receive proper medical
attendance. Send that list to DR.. AL
bingham. Let him attend them; he is
competent"
Dorison looked upon the man with
open mouthed establishment.
Great heavens!" he said to himself,
Here is "a man who by his own con-
fession has killed three people and wishes
to kill fourth, yet at such a time takes
the precaution to save the lives of
Others"
is that alp" asked Cathcart.
NO. | want to write a letter to that
obstinate old fool, DR.. Roy, with whom
| have had a controversy on heredity. j
could have overcome him if could have
cited my own case in proof of my con-
tention that the impulse to crime is an
hereditary tendency. l want to do it
now. Then | want to make my will"
"Is this bravado?" asked Dorison in
thought. ''Or a phase of human nature
Of which have had no conception"
Loosen my hands until l can do these
things and l will thank you. will at
tempt no harm to you"
IL am not afraid you will" said Cath
cart as he helped the physician to hobble
to his desk with the roller top. Having
seated his prisoner he loosened his hands.
Throwing up the top, the doctor began
to write hastily. From time to time he
suspended his work, leaned back in his
chair with his eyes on the ceiling as if
thinking profoundly, playing with the
locket dangling from his watch chain.
There was no agitation, no nervous
ness, no trepidation, He could not have
written more composedly, nor with
greater concentration of mind, had his
hands been free from blood and his soul
unstained by crime.
He wrote long time, and when he
finished he Enclosed the sheets he had
filled in an envelope, which he addressed
and handed to Cathcart.
"You will do me the favor to hand
that to DR.. Roy. He can't answer that
argument. Now for the will"
He thought a moment. Now it was
he betrayed an agitation he had not pre-
viously shown. In his nervousness he
wrenched the Iocket he played with
from his watch chain Apparently I'M
conscious of his act, he placed it in his
mouth, turning it over and over and Bit
ing it, Finally he spat it out on the
desk, ruined.
ooh, this will never do" he cried, and
addressed himself to the work of draft
ing his will. 1t was the work only Of a
moment.
When he had finished he said:
"You two must witness this-my will.
1t is brief. Let me read it.
81, Arthur Fassett, physician and
surgeon, being of sound mind and health,
but in the face of death for crime COM
mitted, do will and bequeath all the
property, whether it is money, stocks,
bonds, chattels, houses or real estate Of
whatever kind of which l am possessed
at my death, to the Home hospital
81 have no relatives" he added Bit
terly. MY family have all died either
in prison or on the gallows. So no one
will contest the will"
The two signed as he desired-Cath-
cart as a matter Of course; Dorison, with
strange emotions.
Having appended his own name, he
handed this also to Cathcart.
At this moment there was a stir at the
front door. Cathcart told Dorison to
admit the officers. AS they entered the
room the old detective said:
"Handcuff this man."
sit is useless" said the physician. 81
do not intend to resist"
Perhaps" replied Cathcart dryly and
cynically. "Do as tell you, officers"
The physician said appealingly:
"Let me sit here moment-only a
moment-it will not be for long. shall
not detain you long-long-it is-not-
for
Cathcart sprang to him.
The physicians chin had fallen on his
breast and his eyes were glazed and
| rolling.
He reused up with an effort.
1T is near the end" he said chok-
ingly 81 have taken poison. Death
grips me. In forty seconds l will be