Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-22

IN danger OF committing himself here,
LOT he hesitated and finally substituted
when you just now told me that you
mad escaped terrible accident Goodbv,
Annette
Annette went ont, sobbing. When the
door had closed behind her, Maxey men.
tally braced himself for a desperate con-
test Unfortunately for him, at the very
outset OF the battle Ee felt a distrust of
himself and dread Of the superior
strength of his adversary.
Acting upon the theory that Mr.. DYE
had some knowledge of the crime on the
sea road, he had prepared a terrible sur
Prise for him He had caused it to be
understood that the victim of that crime
had died in consequence and then sud.
denly confronted him with her He had
congratulated himself beforehand on the
effect of this trying situation, but Mr.
Dye had scarcely expressed more surprise
than If 1T had been the most ordinary &C.
currence of daily life.
Maxey spoke UP sharply:
| Now to the business which have to
transact with you There is no need of
your standing, sir. Sit down"
Sir, l was standing here" said Mr..
Dye, thoroughly covered from his re-
cent momentary weakness, utterly at a
loss to determine what could be the mar.
Vicious nature of the circumstances that
could influence such gentleman as
yourself to take the pains to enter into
a not very reputable subterfuge to in
| duce so humble an individual as myself
to come to your house, when a simple
written request left at my lodgings
would have been sufficient Men do not
take such pains-Iny long experience
with human nature leads me to say it
men do not take such pains without an
adequate motive"
Mr. Dye said all this not as though
he had any real curiosity. In fact, there
was such somber, graveyard atmos-
! phere about his voice and manner that
the nearer was involrntarily impressed
| with the belief that he had reached a
stage of mental depression where it was
no longer possible to harbor q lively in
terest in any affair of life.
'Wewil not discuss that now said
| MaXey. There are some matters which
| you must explain to my satisfaction be-
| fore l shall feel overwhelmed with a
sense of my own meaEness If you will
sit down, it viii be more comfortable
for you, as it may prove to be a some
what lengthy session "
| Sir. it is imInaterial to me-
Having said this with a sign that
seemed TO leave 10 matter of doubt that
he spoke the truth. Mr. Dye accepted
the proffered chair. He deposited his
woehegone hat upop the center table
With as much care rs if it had been the
most valuable thing IN the world, folded
his arms and fixed his faded glance upon
the ruffled fur surface before him. Max
ey seated himself opposite where he
could watch him narrowly.
| 'Iou understand me, l hope, sir?-
must be explained, if not to me now, to
the proper authorities at some other
time. l have not employed the police SO
far in this Iaaisca asr reasons OF INV own.
! The police rnSF{.matclv inctries the
press. Ny faISi7y sfai-s have enjoyed
ali the publicity care for of late, but
If necessary l have fully made up my
| mind TO sacrifice my own feelings in
! this regard j must inform Won at once
that the police would be very glad to
| know where TO find You, and it remains
for You To say whether you shall let
them know it in person or go from here
a free man. ~
MaXey had been awake nights plan
ming his procedure at this interview.
| AT this point in the case he had ALWAYS
| pictured the trembling villain as turn
! ing pale and saying, oh, Mr.. Maxey,
| do not deliver me to the police, and
| will tell you overything!" but in reality
| the presurnable villain opened his I'M
blanched lips to say in an entirely steady
voice:
Sir, you sac here man who for years
! and years has been struggling in the face
/ of great and insInmOuntable odds. and
| who has made failure of the struggle
90 not know what you mean. but you
| evidently desire to institute legal pro-
| ceedlngs Of some nature against me
| y on have MY full and free permission so
| to do. If am accused of anything. i care
! not what in the category of crimes, from
| petty larceny te murder, | shall not take
the trouble TO deny it. When this man
brought me to your door, was wonder
ing if it were possible for Providence so
! far TO have relented toward me as to he
| opening for me a means of honest and
manly employment. l came here as a
last effort in that direction. With the
result OF this experiment in mind,
| shall never try it again. No, sir Do
what you please with me. Twill employ
no counsel. viii make no defense. The
! law may take It's course. The remainder
| of my life. the manner of my DEATH is a
| matter of total indifference to me -
| The voice had still its theatrical ring.
but underneath it all there was grim
ness and sincerity that carried with it
the conviction that he meant what he
said When the amazed Maxey could
| speak, he exclaimed:
so you confess your share in the
crime without equtvocation:"
''Sir, i can only confess the truth. but
| as | am not a man of .yeracity that
would have little weight. If you have
| 81 l.