Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-06-22

"TelI me all you know-Show your
hsnd."
"You arc mad"
"Am l? VIII you do it?"
"Certainly not"
"Thcn it amt an honest one. My side
is clean and clear, but not word-no'
a hint will give till | know what you
know" cried Cain, with wondcriu'
force. "Im in earneSt-story for story
When you know mine you won't be sorry
that you acted squarely with me"
CHATTER XIV.
I studied my man for a minute OF
two.
A strange man he was. I tried to-an'
alyze him, and, amid score of quick
theories, | acted on the most plausible
He was in carnest-pitfully, pathet
icaIlv in earnest. | had drawn him to
me- Aside from that, some latent and
mysterious fear caused him to court con-
tinued surveillance rather than escape
me by force or craft and not know cX-
actly how the case stOod.
In Theodore Scabury'S case | had
blurtcd out the truth at once. With this
man had done the same. | had not
acted deity, in approval with usual de-
tcctivc methods of intrigue and cunning.
My way had produced impressive results
and was gratiiied
decided, unwise as it may seem to
the reader, to make a cOniidant OF CAIN
told him ail-frOm the start to the
fnish-discoverics suspicious, theories
every detail did | unfold to the anxious
eyed, cngrOSsed burglar.
His brow darkencd as | proceeded,
He looked eager when / commenced,
anxious and hopeless when | had con-
cludcd my rapid recital.
81 throw up the sponge"
His depressed words thrilled ne.
"You will tell all?' asked, eagerly.
The Colonel did not reply for min
ute. He sat twisting his hands nervous
". knitting his brOwS, and apparently
communing deeply with himself.
Come" / urged, rendered impatient
at his silence; ''yOu promised"
81 cannot tell all, " he began.
'"Then, you have deceived mc?"
"No."
"Silence!" he cried, irritably and al
most menacingly. "Im in q tt /
don't confess from love of the law, but
because I've got to. I'm in box. In
two boxes, in fact. If | go to jail and
keen silent, those who are interested
will cover their tracks, disappear and
leave me to bear the brunt of it. II |
lie or fight or scheme for freedom, /
will be so hampcrcG and hunted down
that cannot get the money-the money
the moncy-pcrditiOn am l a drivciling
idiOt?"
cntanglcd bird.
colonel" l said, pleasantly, "don't
cvadc-dont try to deceive. Come,
man. the truth-thc entire truth, and
nothing but the truth. It's fair-it's
manly. don't believe yOu guilty
there. I'm honest. You are implicated,
but not very conscicnce-strickcn. Tell
tho truth"
ain part?"
GAIL"
ain part. Just so much as | have to.
Now. look here, DOctOr"-he knew me
in nv true identity now from my recent
straightforward story-"as / say, I've
no love for the law. Id like to sec the
cursed Seabury case buried fathoms deep
in oblivion"
"Naturally."
"Not from personal fear, however, but
from what know; because it will bring
pain and regret to you when you haze
| hunted down the real criminal"
| started at these impressive words.
What could he mean? Did he vaguely
suspect my interest in the beautiful
Leonorc? Was this new threat that
chilled my soul really a suggestion of
evidence of criminalty on her part.
Every followed out thread in the dust
seemed to lead me invariably to this
same distressing denOuement.
"Even so" | murmurcd, family, "tho
truth must conc out"
"WclI, shall tell it," announced Cain.
@That is, a part of it-that is, all l have
to-that is, provided"
"Wcl?"
"Providcd am guaranteed immunity
and freedom"
"How can ! tcll?"
"You must" cried Cain, reSOlutely.
"You must agree that, if [ prove my
innocence, | will not be further trou-
bled. D."
"Wcll, say do?"
"And, further, that no one shall be
/ arrested-nO move made-until | have
had opportunity to see parties Interested
in the case"
"What parties?" | demanded, mys-
tilted.
"That is my affair"
"But why should you see them?"
"To protect myself"
"HOw?"
"Rather, to secure my reward"
"For what-murder?"
"No; for silence"
"Silencc?"
Dyes"
"Then you are not an accomplce?'
"No, sir."
! "What then?"
az witness"
"YOu saw the crimc?"
81 did"
4 nv 4