The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-05

4
ly to make his toilet As soon as he was
dressed he threw open the window, and,
leaning his arms upon the windowsill,
drew in all the freshness OF the morning air
with deep sense of enjoyment. As he did
so a man, who had for some hours been
lurking about the neighborhood, stepped
forward and, looking him full In the face,
beckoned to him TO descend. Had the
stranger possessed the features and power
of the tabled AIedusa Mr.. jackson could
not have betrayed greater signs OF unmis-
taxable terror. A livid pallor overspread
his features, and With half stifed groan
he staggered back from the window.
The stranger made a more imperative
gesture, and Mr. Jackson, collecting all his
| energies, nodded his head in an affirma-
| tive. Then, crossing the room, he took
! something from a drawer, and creeping
stealthily downstairs seized his hat, and
! opening the front door went out-without
even the precaution of closing it behind
| him Ia few minutes he was by the side
of his unwelcome visitor, and taking bis
arm hurried him away from the vicinity of
the house. At first the stranger seemed a
little puzzled by this means of action, but
after IA moments hesitation he accepted the
position, and walked silently by Mr.. Jack
sons side until they reached a narrow
passage turning from the main road, and
fianked on each side by tall garden walls.
BY mutual consent both men stopped, and
the stranger, releasing his arm from that
OF Mr.. jackson, broke the silence.
well, Jim Sutton" said he, you are a
cool customer if ever there was one"
Mr. Jackson quivered, but made no re-
ply.
ITO think" continued the stranger,
''that | should have laid my hand on you
again. When l saw your face at the win
dow half believed that was dreaming.
Why, it must be over fifteen years since
you did US all so neatly"
Mr. Jackson wrung his hands and ut
tered a stiled groan.
well, | suppose you will come along
quietly; but first we must get back to your
shop, for | must have look over it," OBJ
served the stranger. But hold hard, man;
are YOU mad"
He might well ask this question, for by
quick and sudden movement Mr.. Jack
son grasped him by the throat, thrust him
back against the wall and held the muzzle
of A revolver be had drawn from his vest
pocket against his temple.
Stir but finger" muttered Mr.. Jack
son hoarsely, raise but a single cry for
help, and you are dead man. You know
me- Hoskins, and l know you; we can trust
each other. | am determined that no men
ton shall be made of my home, or of those
who belong to me in it. If you will con-
tent yourself with saying that you met me
ia the street and recognized me / will 20
quietly wherever you wish, but unless you
promise this, by the heavens above / will
blow out your brains and take my chance
of getting clear away. Oh, man." he con-
tinued, as Ho.skins remained silent, "can
you not understand that it is for my chill
dren that | am pleading?"
81 amt afraid of your pistol, Jim SUIT
ton, answered Hoskins in a low whisper,
land you know that well enough"
Eyes, know that, " replied Mr.. jackson.
"But don't see any harm in not hunt
ing the kids" continued Hoskins, $50 it's
a bargain as far as l am concerned. Say,
are you on?"
The only reply Mr.. Jackson made was to
remove his fingers from Hoskins' throat
and place the revolver in his hand. Il
trust you," said he simply, "but, o God,
that it should have come after so many
years. Let us get away from here AS
quickly as we can. / will come quietly
enough"
1T does seem precious rough" remarked
Hoskins as he and Jackson walked briskly
away. For, to my mind, you hadn't much
TO do with the forgery-it was the finding
of the notes at your place that did the trick
for you"
Il stated at the trial that my wife's bro
ther asked me to take charge of the parcel,
and that was quite ignorant of its con-
tents"
He might have cleared you then, ;" broke
in Hoskins.
HE would have done so, am sure" re-
piled Jackson. "but, if you remember, be
fore the case came on for trial he died Of
an attack of apoplexy."
80 he did, so he did" replied Hoskins,
"but You got fifteen years, though you
didn't do them. How did you give 'em the
slipt"
A sad smile passed over Mr.. Jackson's
face.
when a man makes up his mind TO dc
a certain thing he generally succeeds" said
he.
"Well, then, all / can say" remarked
Hoskins sententiously, lis that it is pre-
cious lucky for society at large that there
is so little mind among what papers call
the criminal classes"
There is no need to liuger over this sad
portion of the history. James Sutton, an
escaped convict, was sent back to work out
the uncompleted portion of his sentence,
with an additional term of five years, for
presuming to release himself without the
aid and incentive OF the authorities.
Hoskins, the detective, was true TO his
word. and the identity Of James Sutton
with Thomas jackson was never divulged.
Six years had passed since the events de-
scribed, and the brother and sister still re
manned in the little house at Chiswick, but
nope mad now died away in their hearts,
and the name of their father was rarely
mentioned. One day Bob returned from
the city with look OF gladness upon MS
manly worn face
Upon my word" said he, Chest and
Lead are good fellows. Through their
good offices have been appointed agent to
a shipping firm at Gibraltar at a salary of
three hundred year, and am to start at
once. You will come with me, Nell; the
change will do you good, for cannot but
think that this house brings gloomy recol-
lections to your mind, and that you will be
better away from it.
But suppose, Bob. ne should come and
find no one to welcome him." objected
Nell, the tears starting to her eyes as she
spoke.
do not be angry with me, Nell" re-
turned her brother, but fear you must
give up all hope of seeing our father again.
If he had been in the land of the living he
would have come back TO us before now;
but put aside sad thoughts and begin TO
make ready for the journey"
Nell made a few more objections. but her
brother overruled them sill, and in three
Nveaks the brother and sister r-e-e lis-orirrr