The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-22
up his pen to make few minor oorreo-
tiona Then. as if totally oblivious Of

fingers snatched them up, read them
hurriedly and shot them down tho 'copy
tube to the composing room. read
rapidly, as an editor will, taking but
small account of the matter so long as
it ran smoothly, while had too much
confidence in him to question tho ao-
curacy OF his statements. I only realized
that no was writing great story, the
greatest he had ever done. He seemed
inspired with the very innermost
thoughts of the murderer, and under
his touch every trivial incident came
out with d1st1nctness and coherency that
made the cause and method of the crime
perfectly plain.
First he described the scene with
accuracy of detail that would have been
impossible for ono who had not studied
1T closely. The selection of the spot no
explained by tho fact that tho bright
electric light, streaming through tho
windows of tho power house, made it
impossible for the passerby to sec into
the shadows. Thus while impenetrablo
darkness screened the assassin amplo
light guided his blow, and, moreover,
the rattle and roar of the machinery
near by drowned all sound Of the strug-
gle or the falling body.
1.-THE blow on the head. no demon
strated, must have been from sand
bag, while the wound through tho heart
could only have been made by one of
those long, fine bladed stilettos of Ital-
Ian mako. Furthermore, the fact that
this peculiar weapon was driven home
with firm hand, after the victim had
boon stunned by blow on the head, in
dictated premeditated and deliberate
murder, while the theory of robbery
was disproved by tho fact that the mans
valuables had been untouched. The ONLY
tenable theory, therefore, was that tho
motive OF tho murder was revenge.
"A more mastery analysis Of case 1
never read, but here he branchcd off into
what L at first supposed to be purely i'll
aginary speculations us to the wrong
which had led tho murderer to seek the
life of the unknown man. These seemed
purposely Vague ut first, but gathered
In strength and certainty until 1 coll
cluded that no must have some good
foundation for them. Starting with
hypothesis, he soon began to state them
us facts. He described how the dead
man, n once trusted friend, had entered
the homo of another; how, by subtle
wilcs and deceit, he had stolen the love
Of the wife. Then followed an clone
ment and the breaking up of that once
happy home.
he told, with tho bitterness of truth,
how the scoundrel had deserted the
weak and crring woman and left her to
perish alone; how tho idea of revenge
had filled the mind Of the wrongcd hus-
band; how, himself unseon, he had fol-
lowed every movement of tho intended
victim for months and carefully plotted
his distinctions; how he had decoyed the
doomed man to the city and to the very
spot where the murder was committed,
and how he had destroyed tho only clews
u couple Of letters in the pockets of
the dead mainland finally made his
own escape, the secret SAFE i'll his own
heart alone.
AS l read this remarkable tale
through the conviction forced itself
upon me that this was the absolute
truth. If tho writer himself had COM
mittcd the deed. he could not have de-
scribcd it moro graphically Suddenly
the thought flashed over me-coulI iis
describe such crime thus without hav-
ing, i'll fact, committed it?
I'VE We're alone i'll the room.
glanced at Jones apprehensivey. He
was writing rapidly-ficrccly. His eyes
We're fixed, but he seemed to be looking.
through and beyond the paper across
which his pen flew, at something fas-
cinating-tcrriblc When he finished, it
was with start, rs if waking from
trance. glanced ut the last page, where
was final confirmation of my fears.
My God, Jones, is this truc?' /
managed to say
Every word OF it, as l live, he re-
piled firmly, if family.
Then You have written tho war
rant TO" your own arrest, | said
His head dropped Oh his desk, but
ho said not a word.
Jones' said l, finally shaking him
by the shoulder to arouse him TO an un.
Outstanding of my meaning, enough to
hang You is already III type. III an hour
the papers will be OH the street. In an
other hour the police will be after You
Go-makc the most of your START
"It WAS rs l predicted, " said the city
editor after Il pause. Before daylight
a detective called on me to ascertain the
source Of that story. l simply pointed
to Jones name on the assignment book,
and they went after him.
did they catch him?" asked tho cub
reporter eagerly.
''Thcy found him in his room, with
stiletto through his heart, " said the
city editor. -Willard A. Holcomb in
Argonaut.
Got His Moneys Worth.