The National tribune., 1894-08-23

moreover, the rattle and roar of the machin-
cry near by drowned all sound of the
struggle or the falling body.
"The blow on the head he demonstrated
must have been from a sand-bag, while the
wound through the heart could only have
been made by one of those long, fne-bladed
stilettos of Italian make. Furthermore,
the fact that this peculiar weapon was
driven home with firm hand, after the vic
tim had been stunned by blow on the
head, indicated premeditated and deliber-
ate murder, while the theory of robbery
was disproved by the fact that the mans
valuables had been untouched. The only
tenable theory, therefore, was that the mo-
tive of the murder was revenge
"A more mastery analysis Of a case /
never read, but here he branched off into
what | at first supposed to be purely imag-
mary speculations as to the wrong which
had led the murderer to seek the life of the
unknown man. These seemed purposely
vague at first, but gathered in strength
and certainty, until / concluded that he
must have some good foundation for them.
Starting with hypothesis, he soon began to
state them az facts He described how the
dead man, a once trusted friend, had entered
the house of another; how, by subtle wiles
wife, then followed an elopement and the
breaking up of that once happy home.
He told with the bitterness Of truth how
the scoundrel had deserted the weak and
erring woman and left her to perish alone ;
how the idea ofrevenge had filed the mind Of
the wronged husband how, himself unseen,
he had followed every movement OF the in
tended victim for months and carefully
plotted his destruction; 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 the only clews-a
couple Of letters in the pockets of the dead
man-and finally made his own escape, the
secret safe in his own heart alone.
As I read this remarkable tale through
the conviction forced itself upon me that
this was the absolute truth. If the writer
himself had committed the deed, he could
not have described it more graphically.
Suddenly the thought flashed over me
could he describe such crime thus without
having in fact, com mmitted it?
ave were alone in the room. I glanced
at Jones apprehensively. He was writing
rapidly-ferceIy. His eyes were fixed, but
he seemed to be looking through and be-
yond the paper across which his pen flew,
at something fascinating-terrible! When
ne UnlSneu, III was Win SJdTD, dS II WdkIuS
from a trance. / glanced at the last page
where was the final confirmation of my
fears.
"'My God, Jones, is this true?' man
aged to say.
g. Every word of it, as 1 liye,' he replied,
firmly, if family.
'''Then you have written the warrant
for your own arrest said.
His head dropped on his desk, but he
said not word.
Jones' l said finally, shaking him by
the shoulder to arouse him to an under
standing of my meaning, enough to hang
you is already in type. In an hour the
papers will be on the streets; in another
hour the police will be after you. Go
make the most of your start'
1t was as / predicted" said the city
editor, after pause. Before daylight
detective called on me to ascertain the
source of that story. / simply pointed to
Jones's name on the assignment book and
they went after him.
Did they catch him." asked the cub
reporter, eagerly.
They found him in his room, with a
stiletto through his heart" said the city
editOr.-ATQOHGW.