The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-01

&H&AYH&i If trying to read
US@ 4G$ my very soul:
AfRt AEE He was keen
G0HNSGSS$ man, a brave man,
Il &N3ON and he apparent
S9xS ly strove to dis
c$6TS% cern surely il my
E& n heart was as
s@<# stanch and my
&SSS will as strong as the set, reso-
S)@ lutte expression of my face ex-
II ARREST me" he began,
and then seemed to reflect.
ayes, certainly shall"
Tho Colonel appeared to
study the situation. ,
/ could follow his mental progress by
the look on his face just as readily as
trace the workings Of fever or Other
sickness in patient.
1t seemed to say:
~ shall be arrested anyway II eiude
this man. now know certainly that l
am involved in the Seabury murder case.
aIf arrested they cannot prove me
guilty, but I am wanted for other crimes,
and long detention, possibly term IN
prison, would not suit me. =,
II give in-that is partly, but-what
does this man know"
The Colonels first audible utterance,
after fully FIVE minutes cogitation, sur
prised and fattered me.
swell, you arc an original one!"
smiled placidly.
sYou think so?"
II do"
SThen reward the unique with prompt
attention and confession. Colonel"
"Hold on!"
paused.
II have q word to say"
"Say it tEen."
slower your revolver and put it away.
You, q valued friend, turn out to be my
natural enemy-a detective; but like
Won all the same. / admire you. You
speak candid and honest You have led
me into no traps You have cornered
me legitimatoly."
felt flattered.
"You accuse me OF murder-the KILL
ing of DR.. Seabury. Well and good. l
am innocent"
1You say so."
II can prove 1t"
THAT is well for you"
Don't sneer, threaten, or be over-san-
guine. I know what know. You
know nothing. can see itby your face:
I can Judge it by your following me the
way you have done. I propose dealing
squarely with you. I have proposition
to make"
Somehow it impressed mo that Cain
was sincere. He was nettled at having
been duped, but beneath it all I fancied
that he had honestly decided to act
suuare-man to man.
+. II did not kill DR.. Sesbury."
nodded, silently, resarrealy.
II was in the Seabufy mansion the
night of the murder"
That was q confession Of importance
at least
SYou cannot prove that did tho MUIR
der. There is DO court in Christendom
that would convict me. am in trap,
however. House-breaking proven, q
confession in my case would mean ten
years. That does not suit me-especial-
ly just now"
@You mistake" said, interruptingly
There are clews to connect you with
the murder"
aWhat?" demanded the Colonel, in
sharp, defiant tones.
@First, you were at the house at the
time DR.. Seabury was murdered"
"Yes-adnit that"
"The creese you took from your room
was the instrument Of death"
Cain turned white as death. "Perdi-
tion!" he calculated, unessily,
My face frightened. I knew it. !
felt the victor. pressed him closely,
eagerly.
aAha! You See"
u see nothing!s he almost screamed,
convulsed with fury. demons, I am
trapped! Oh, why did take the creese-
mean-don't stare ct me! Confound
you-rm in pretty trap"
Colonel Cain squirmed and muttered
and writhed. 1t was not being pris-
oner, virtually in my power, that both
cred him. No; saw that the general
environment chagrined him.
And now some other motive-some
plan or hope disturbed by my revelations
and hold on him-seemed to distress
him
troubled tones, "too bad. Where will
buO Observation-Disclosures uOu SUdTo
so exultantly at me. It amt me you've
caught"
"Ain't it9" I remarked, incredulously.
GNo."
at looks nightly like It,"
"Looks are deceptive"
sand the truth will help you"
"Will it? Yes, it will. Say, don't
make me dislike you. Don't gloat.
want to be straight. It amt that I'm
afraid of-the murder-for I had no
hand in it. It's the row suspicion will
get me in-it's the loss OF the-the-
some money!"
Gall hinging on this same crime?"
Eyes"
"From whom?"
Colonel Cain paused. He arose to his
feet Great drops of perspiratlon made
his brow clammy.
He sighed dismally.
He looked respondent and shook his
head in troubled sort Of way.
Like person unnamed, driven to a
wall. Cain stared blankly, ruefully
ut me.
"Too bad-too bad!" he muttered
time and again.
Then, Strengthening up, the old
shrcwd fire came into his eyes.
"Partner," no said, with lingering
L F. l. At1kf HNd