Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-05-08
awful form Of Adirondack sport flashed

into the slayer perrur ped MIND
But 1t was not blithesome or jocose to
be alone in the woods with two men
whom you have murdered, and Joseph
Haden, moreover, was filed with per-
sonal regret for the sacrifice Of feeling
which his enterprise had demanded.
Besides, he knew that a most incon-
venient and painful ordeal still awaited
him. He had put himself into a 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
silenced the only witness of any of the
process; he was ready to 60 out into
civilization with the now indisputable
lie that the two men bad been drowned
accidentally in the lake-except that
one important act remained to be done.
II Joseph Haden was to be accepted
without suspicion as Jasper Haden,
then the dead twin must have two feet
and the survivor only one.
Joseph was not a man to enter upon
an important undertaking without cal
culating it to climax, nor to stop in
his endeavor before he had done his ut
most to reach the ultimate success. He
was a surgeon, and well aware of the
bother and unpleasantness of amputa-
ting his own foot. But he felt that the
two other persons concerned had suf-
fered considerable annoyance, and he
would not permit himself to hesitate in
doing his duty by the affair. So he ex-
cised his left foot at the ankle, and it
was an excellent piece OF surgery-well
worthy of full report to his medical
society, If he had not felt an obligation
Of professional secresy.
Joseph allowed himself n week for
the wound to get along in the process
of healing. With a skillful and uncom-
monty solicitous surgeon in attendance,
the case had no mishaps or complica-
tions- When all was ready he went to
the nearest settlement, introduced him
self as Jasper Haden, reported the death
of Joseph and the guide, and arranged
for their burial There was no arousal
of suspicion in the minds of the rustics
who had to do with the inquest, funeral
and interment- Several relatives and
acquaintances of the Hadens came, but
there was no cause for incredulity.
There was well-rounded and two
footed dead Haden-for the surgeon
had attached his severed member to his
brothers ankle in a manner which, be-
ing uninvcstigated, was not discovered.
There was a slim and single-footed live
Haden-for he wore the artificial foot.
Who could suspect?
1t was almost month later when the
false Jasper Hayden arrived at the sta
L - L.
railway.
"Ah! l see that guessed wrong that
you wouldn't need a return ticket" said
the young man behind the window.
"How uncertain life is Your brother
looked so robust and healthy"
"And am alive, though no better for
my sad trip, thanks to grief and-and-"
as he limped on the still sensitive stump
of his left leg.
Then he looked across the room, and
saw the same detective who had lounged
! there at the time of the journeys start
The guilty man blanched and trembled.
"You here?" he faltered
30, yes; | am here, SIR" and the spy
glanced furtiveiy at the lame foot
instantly the criminal 1elt tnat ne had
been watched throughout his awful
deeds by this sleuth hound of the lawl
But that was an utter mistake. The
detective had no suspicion whatever.
So far as anybody save Joseph Haden
knows, Joseph was drowned in the Adj
rondacks, and Jasper Haden is sumptu-
ously living. and fattening with judi
cious slowness on the luxuries which
On ample fortune commands Some
times he goes to the cemetery and reads
his own name on the fine monument
which he has erected over his brothers
grave But he is serene and compla-
cent even then and there, although he
cannot help dreading to meet Jasper
and Reuben by and by.
FRANKLIN FYLEs.