Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-09-20
CHAPTER yI-(ContinuSd,1

~ III
Hadn't you better reserve that for
yorr trial. asked the inspector.
Il may never be tried" he answer
ed You needn't look startled. Ii
3 suicide I'm thinking Of. Are you
d doctorF He turned his fierce dark
eye1 upon me as he asked this last
question.
Yes, l am" I answered.
Ihen put your hand here" he
said, with a smile, m~otioning with his
raGnacled wrists toward his chest.
l did so, and became at once con-
sclous OF an extraordinary throbbing
ana commotion which WAS going on
Inside. The walls of the chest seemed
TO thrill and culver rs a frall build
Ing would do inside when some pow
erful engine was at work. In the ST.
fence OF the O | could hear Il dull
humming and buZZing noise, which
proceeded from the same source.
Why" I cried, you have an aortic
aneu'Em"'
That's what they call it," he said,
piacidIy. Il Went to a doctor last
week about it, and he told me that it
Ia bound TO burst before MANY days
pass. 1t has been getting worse for
years. | got it from exposure and un-
derfeeding among the Salt Lake
Mountains. I've done my work now
and l don't care how 0 l go. but
/ should like to leave some account
or the business behind me. | don't
want 10 be remembered as a cor
mon Cut-throat"
The inspector and the two dete
lives had n hurried discussion as
the ACCESSIBILITY Of allowing him
tell his story.
DO you consider, doctor. that tho
Is immediate danger?" the form
asked.
Most certainly there is" 1 answ
ed.
I'm that case II is clearly u du
In the interests Of justice, to take !
statement" said the inspector. "Y
are at liberty, sir, to give your accou
which l again warn you will be tax
down"
III sit down, with your leave" I
prisoner said. suiting the action to /
word. This aneuriSm Of mine NAL
me easily tired, and the tussle we b
half an hour ago has not mended m
tiers. I'm OH the brink OF the gra
and l am not likely to lie to V,
Every word l say is the absolute tru
and how You use it is 4 matter of
consequence to me-"
With these words, Jefferson He
leaned back In his chair and began ;
following remarkable statement.
spoke in a calm and methodical N.
ner, as though the events which
narrated were commonplace enOu.
/ can vouch for the accuracy of
subjoined account, for / have /
access TO Lestrade's notebook, in VIII
the prisoners words We're taken do
exactly as they We're uttered.
1T didn't much matter TO you W
/ hated these men," he said: "
enough that they were guilty of ,
death of two human beings-a fail
and a daughter-and that they h;
therefore, forfeited their WI liV
After the lapse of time hat had pasS
since their crime, it was impossible {
me to secure 4 conviction against thu
I'm any court. / knew Of their gu
though, and / determined hat | shol
be judge, jury and eXecutioner
LOhCu IhtO oDC. lOu nave uDllt
same, If you have any manhood
you, if you had been in my place.
THAT girl that l spoke of was
h: We married me twenty Years a
She vas forced into marrying Il
same Drebber, and broke her he;
over it. l took the marriage l.
from her dead finger, and l yCw
that his dying eyes should rest ~
that very ring, and that his ]
thoughts should be Of the crime
which he was punished. l have {
ried it about with me, and have
lowed him and his accomplice "
continents, until | caught them. 1T
thought to tire me out, but they CO
not do II. II | die tomorrow, as
likely enough, l die knowing that
work in this world is done, and W
done. They have perisned, and by
hand. There is nothing left for me
hope for or to desire.
They were rich and I was poor,
that it vas nc easy matter for me -
follow them. When l got to London
my pocket was about empty, and
found that l must turn my hand to
something for my living. Driving and
riding are as natural to me as walking,
so | applied at a ~cab-owner's Office,
and soon got employment. l was to
bring a certain sun a week to the own
err, and whatever was owe / might
keep for myself. There was seldom
much over, but l managed to scrape
along somehow. The hardest job was
to learn my way about, for ! reckon
that. for all the masses that ever were
contrived. this city Is the most confus,
ing. / had a map beside me, though,
and when once | had spotted the prin
cipal hotels and stations, 1 got on
pretty well.
ut was some time before I found
out where my two gentlemen were liv.
ing. but ! inquired and inquired, until
at last ! dropped across them. They
were at n boarding house at Gambler
well, over on the other side Of the
river. When one i found them out
! knew that I had them at my mercy.
! had grown my beard. and there was
no chance Of their recognizing me