The National tribune., 1894-08-23

in the city. 1t was not case of robbery,
for all his money and valuables were left on
the body. There WAS slight confusion on
the back Of the head, and a small, needle
like hole directly through the mans heart
1t was especially strange that such q crime
could have been committed in public thor
Oughfare, while there was absolutely no
clew TO the murderer or his motive.
"But those difficulties were only such
rs would ordinarily put Jones on his mettle,
so | did not donbt that he would have a
good account of the affair. | was therefore
somewhat surprised when he came sneak
ing in about o'clock in the evening to
see what his assignment was. He looked
worn and haggafd but denied that he was
i'll, so | gave him the murder assignment
/ thought | saw a startled look in his eyes,
but he maintained his outward composure
and went out without word.
i did not see him again that evening
About midnight / began to wonder why
had not heard from him, but only specu-
lated on the possibility of something having
happened to him, but the idea that he
could possibly fail never occurred to me.
Finally, after an hour had gone by, teIe-
phoned to the police station. Word came
back that there were no new DEVELOPMENTS
in the case, and that Jones had not been
there. Sending two men ont to hunt him
up, set to work myself to make up n story
or the murder from the afternoon papers.
Just then Jones came in. His step was
unsteady and his face flushed. He had
evidently been drinking heavily-something
/ never known him to do befere-but
he was not drunk; rather, he seemed at
at high nervous tension, although outwardly
as calm as ever.
" | decided TO let this breach of discipline
pass, and merely asked him for his murder
story. He replied that he hadn't written it.
"Well, go TO work on it at once," /
said, rather sharply.
Then he really surprised me by saying
that he had nothing TO write beyond the
bare facts already known. The police had
developed nothing new, and he supposed
that | had worked up the story from the
evening papers.
And has it come TO pass that you wait
for the police to develop a murder case for
you'll | exclaimed angrly. AS for the re-
ports in the evening papers, you can fake a
better story than they hadi'
He sat down, in apparent despair, at
his desk. Then | relented and cajoled him
a little, begging him not to spoil his great
record by falling down on such an assign
ment. There's starter for you,' said /,
throwing him the article had commenced
Now 20 ahead and fill that out with a
column description of the scene.'
"' / haven't even visited it, he replied.
Nevertheless he picked up the pages and
read them as if impelled by some hateful
fascination. Then, he took up his pen to
make few miner corrections. Then, as if
totally Oblivious of my presence, he began to
write.
"As sheet after sheet fell from his fingers
l snatched them up, read them hurredly,
and shot them down the copy tube to the
composing-room. | read rapidly as an edi-
| tor will, taking but small account of the
matter, so long as it ran smoothly, while l
| had too much confidence in him to question
| the accuracy of his statements | only re-
allied that he 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 distinct
ness and coherency that made the cause and
method of the crime perfectly plain.
! First he described the scene with ac-
curacy of detail that would have been i'm
possible for one who had not studied it
closely. The selection of the spot he ex-
| plained by the fact that the bright electric
| light streaming through the windows of
| the power house made 1t impossible for the
| passer-by to see into the shadows Thus
| while impenetrable darkness screened the
assassin, ample light guided his blow, and,