Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-07

TO n magistrate and make complaint
II you know Of any reason why shout,
not you had better state It,"
lie sat down and stared hard at me
lie tried hard 10 conceal his thoughts
but | saw plainly that his mind wa
halting between fear and buster
"Preposterous!" he muttered.
! said nothing.
"Who do You expect to believe thi'
silly story?"
81 refuse TO discuss that II will be
time to talk about that when my proof,
are presented"
"What are your proofs?"
You'll know in due time"
He hcsitatcd, then said, with an ef.
fort:
You haven't any proof I'll tall,
with you no more about it,"
thought the game was lost, but |
resolved to play it to the end.
VERY we'll" raid. "You defy me
to make u criminal complaint against
you. will do IL at once"
turned and walked out of the
house. A window was raised. and I
heard the dcncon's voice calling me
back
| had triumphed
When ! was again alone with him he
locked the door.
This Is all very absurd and foolish"
he said. "Of course never set fire TO
my barn, and II you know anything
about IL you know that did not. But
! don't court trouble. haven't been
over my accounts with you; possibly
do owe you something. suppose pay
you the five hundred dollars YOU claim.
will you tell me what evidence You
have that | burned the barn?"
Yes"
"What will there be then TO prevent
you from making your foolish com
plaint?"
There will be nothing, Deacon Hal
lcck. Understand me. know whnt
compromising n felony Is, and I'm doing
nothing of the kind. make no bar.
gains But you'll probably agree that
my evidence against you In criminal
case would not be worth much II IL
was shown that | had just been max.
ing nm amicable settlement with you.
and that had received from you the
full amount claimed against you as
guardian"
you're n keen one" he said. "Do
yon mean 10 stay hcrc?"
"No. am going south very soon
may never return here"
lie turned 10 his desk aud wrote Oft
receipt for five hundred dollars, IN
full Of all claims against him as
guardian. | signed IT, From drawer
of his desk he took package Of bills.
and counted out the amount. lie
watched me TIL l'had counted IL and
put II away.
What was your proof" he de-
handed
Your own guilty conscience, Mr..
llallecld have heard It whispered
twenty times, since that night, that
you burned your property toget high
rate of insurance. | have suspected
you, as well as others; but knee no
more than they, which was just moth.
Ing. But MS soon as ! charged you
with IL, conscious guilt looked out of
your face. You were made to be n
small rascal, deacon; you can't conceal
crime, predict that yOull betray
yourself after have gone"
The anger with which he heard the
beginning of my declaration changed
10 INFECT terror us went on lie
wcpt. wrurg his hands, almost grow
cllcd az my feet
80 Dorr don't betrny met" he whined.
"Fhink 81 my family, think Of my
good name, think Of my position in So
ciety and the church!n
assured him that would not mon
tion the accusation, and left him in hi
terror and misery,
The next morning the village was
Mortified to hear that Deacon llnlleck
had committed suicide, lie was found
hanging by the neck to the rafters In
the garnet Fear, | think, not con.
science, had destroyed him.