Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-08-13
sally forth a doomed man,

sally forth a doomed a
The rest was easy. For hours ]
awaited his return. When | heard his
footsteps on the stairs ! concealed my
self behind a portiere. After he had
undressed and had fallen into a deep
sleep. ! plunged a dagger into his heart
Oh. it was delicious. | have enjoyed
all the sensations that tempt the
wealthy epicure. There is only n
that fills the soul with perfect ecstasy
that Is the bliss that pertains TO mur
der"
Here the cylinder wadea an incoherent
sound and the confession ceased.
Eugene Scranton's valet. John, wa
not a genius, but he possessed a good
deal of shrewdness and a fair amount
of common sense. From the moment
of its arrival he had been intensely in
terested i'm what he called the funny
graph" When his master was away he
spent much of his time in trying g.,
make the machine work. At first the
results were not satisfactory, but after
a week Of mental effort he solved the
problem involved and thereafter en-
ioyed himself greatly
Scranton was constantly buying new
cylinders. some with operate music,
others with banjo solos or Rotations
by famous actors The much used
cylinder containing his confession he
kept carefully locked in a drawer by
itself, AID placed it on the machine
only at The dead of night One night,
after quieting his conscience by listen
ing to the CHASTITY story of his crime, he
failed to lock the compartment re-
served for the accusing a 1t was a
fatal omission; murder will out unless
you always turn the key.
The next afternoon John, the valet
experienced the most frightful sensa-
ton of his life. He listened, awestruck.
TO his masters voice "a il related the
story of a great crime. Then. like the
shrewd man he was, he sat down and
debated with himself the best method
of turning this weird find TO his own
advantage. At first he wa inclined to
inform Scranton that he had discov-
cred his secret. John realized that his
silence was worth a great deal of
money. and he knew that Scranton
could afford to pay well to escape the
gallows.
But the valet was al heart a coward.
He had long stood in awe Of his master,
and he reflected that a man who mur-
ders one unfortunate who holds his Sc
cret would not hesitate TO sacrifice a
second victim. So John abandoned
the idea Of blackmail
In connection with his photographic
amusements. the valet had discovered
that handsome prices were paid by a
''nickel-in-the-slot" company for novel
cylinders. After an hour of medita-
ton, John determined 70 take Eugene
Senators confession 70 this concern.
demand "A big price for it and then
leave the city at once.
Arriving at the Office of the phono-
graph company, he astonished the a
ager by these words
You remember the sensational death
of Alexander Dale some months agol
Well, the man was murdered. This
cylinder here holds the confession of
the man who killed him-my master.
Now, you will take this cylinder to the
police and they will arrest the muir
derer. On the instant the city will
ring with the news. Meanwhile you
have reproduced the cylinder a thou
sand times and your public machines
contain the most sensational attrac-
ton ever offered TO the victims of the
Photographic habit. Seer My price
is 81, 900. Is it a bargainf'
Yes, said the manager, writing out
a check. John. the valet, sailed for
Europe that afternoon.
Eugene Scranton has been con-
demned to death. He will die by cleo
tricity-the agent of his confession
st. Louis Republic.