The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-06-06

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he seen that faceP
Who Is hep" was the question that
rose 10 his lips
ut is hard TO tell who he is. re-
piled Cunning. 'He was found wan
dering in the street wild with delirium.
He had been robbed, IL seemed, and
turned out Of "A sick-bed by some
t~rcacherous fend. doubtless hoping
that he would perish In the street.
Poor creature! His hour Is near at
handii
Ills he consciousP"
He has not been so hitherto. but /
think he will recover his reason before
he dies. All there Is sanity In his
eye even now. Speak TO him, doc
tor
My dear man. said Winter. do
| you see mePn
''Dr. winter!" uttered the feeble
voice.
you know met" he cried. with as
constituent WHO are you?"
A feeble smile curved his thin lips.
If you will sit down beside me, |
have a long story to tell you. Yet, no;
1t shall not be long"
The sick man stretched his hand
for a cordial. 1t was given him. and
again the dusky eyes we're turned upon
Winters face, and the the voice be-
gan;
Five years ago l met you first. For
two years you were my friend. For
three years i was dead 10 you and all
the world"
You. then, are Edgar PercyP"
What is left OF him.
you were not dead. then? In what
manner were you rescued from the
graveP"
mo, / was not dead he said.
dying has been my profession. /
have lived upon the proceeds OF my
deaths at various times, but am not
yetdead.n
To say that DIR. Winter was astound-
ed would but feebly express the state
OF the good mans mind, while Dun
ming watched the two with distended
eyes.
but what, demanded the doctor.
with difficulty forcing himself 20 speak,
''was the disgrace 20 which you alluded
In hat letter."
"A blind. my friend; a blind, mere
ly TO throw you off the track. You
say"-to Dunning-'that ! am going
TO dep
you are certainly beyond all skill"
We'll. well. what matters IL? l
have been "A great rascal, and no n
has ever suspected IT, Twill be a
sort OF relief 10 speak the truth for
once in my life. Listen, both OF you.
The processes of converting a warm
yov=g heart to villainy and dishonesty
are various. IL matters not how | be-
came the ~hypocrite ! was; 1 think IL
was born in me; that II was my nature
TO deceive. and mismanagement
strengthened the natural propensity.
Well, doctor, | am going 10 make the
story short. for already i feel the
death clutch at my vitals. Three sep
arate times have /. with the aid OF an
accomplice, feigned death successfully.
Each time my life was insured 10 a
large amount; each time i bore "A diff
ferent name. was buried, or supposed TO
have been. by my accomplice. who, OF
course, was the person in whose favor
my insurance was drawn. Within the
space OF FIVE years I have had in all
s.. 900 pounds obtained In this way.
The last time / undertook II, my nc
complete. after drawing the money,
refused to give me my usual share,
two-thirds. Knowing that / was in
his power, / dared not proceed 10 ex-
tremities with him; so let him de-
part with his ill-gotten gains. But
the disappointment OF my last effort
was too much for m q, and here i am
defeated at last and brought 20 a bed
which is really a couch Of death"
Then said DIR. Winter. --by keep
ing secret the letter In which you de-
clared yourself a suicide | helped two
scoundrels 10 prey upon society. Oh,
Edgar Percy, / could not have believed
II OF your"
Can't you see" responded the dy-
ing man. with a feeble sheer, that
that Is the reason why i was so sue
c~essfulP My face stamped me o only
pure but above suspicion. So much
for faces
DIR. Winter turned abruptly away.
shocked. Disguised and angry. Dun
ming ent for a magistrate. who took
the confession OF the impostor, who.
however, refused TO give the name OF
his confederate In crime. He died.
%repenting at the eleventh hour, as 10
the custom with such men.