People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-08-17
THE MERCHANTS CRIME.
BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.
CHAPTER XVII-CONTIyUED.
st was as follows:

Dear Slr:-Y0urs OF the 18th instant in.
forming me Of your safe arrival at Madison
md your determination to make that place
four home, was duly received The accident
which you speak Of as near Detailing my ward
At Niagara Falls did not surprise me- He is a
careless boy. and l should not be surprised at
any time TO hear Of his coming to harm from
TINS cause OF course, you will exercise prop.
sr care iG cautioning him, etc, and then,
should he meet with any accident. shall ex.
'nerate you from blame in the matter How
MS health? have at times thought he in.
nerited the feeble constitution OF his father. ]
understand also from the late Mr. Raymond.
shat his mother was an invalid and it is hardly
20 be expected that he would have very
Trong or vigorous constitution. However.
10 not feel anxious on this point, as am
lNare that you have KNOWLEDGE OF medicine.
and have full confidence in your ability to
lake all proper care Of my young ward Isup
9ose you have found q suitable school for him
Ishall be glad to hear that he is doing well in
ais studies, though on account OF his not very
strong constitution previously referred to. it
nay be well not to press HIM too hard in the
way OF study.
Let me hear from you respecting Robert s
welfare, from time to time
Yours, &c, PAUL MORTON
James Cromwell read this letter
twice over.
Hes crafty ola spider" he said
to himself ANY one to read it
Tauld think that he was very solicit
t9us for the welfare OF this boy. 1t
would be considered an excellent
letter by those who did not under
stand it. | am behind the scenes.
and l know just what it means. He
means to blame me, because | didn't
make a sure thing of it at Niagara
Falls, and hints pretty plainly about
some accident happening to him in
future He is impatient to hear of
his death, that is plain, and no
doubt he will gladly pay the amount
he promised, as soon as he receives
intelligence of it.
So James Cromwell. spurred BY a
double motive, veered more and
more toward the accomplishment of
the dark deed which would stain his
soul with blOOdshed, and in return
give him the feeting possession of
money and the girl whom he loved.
Once resolved upon the deed, the
next consideration was the WAYS and
means OF accomplishing it. Should
he use poison? That seemed most in
his line, and he regretted that he
had not secured II supply of the
same subtitle poison which Paul Nor
ton had purchased of him in the
small shop on the Bowery. There
was likely to be no one in that neigh
borhood who possessed a sufficient
medical knowledge to detect its
presence or trace its effects. But it
was rare and there was little chance
Of his obtaining it unless by sending
to New York, and this would, of
itself, afford strong ground for sus-
piciOn against him.
b Then, as to the ordinary poisons.
their effects upon the human system
were too well understood, even by
ordinary physicians, for him to en-
ploy them without great peril. He,
decided, therefore, to abjure poisons
altogether. The fact that he was a
druggist would render their use even
more readily suspected than in the
case Of an ordinary person. One
evening while he was still pondering
this question. and much embarrassed
about the decision of it, he CHANGED
to be returning home from a des-
ultOry walk which he had taken
Now, in the town of Madison, some
what centrally situated, or at least.
one side OF it was near the center of
the town, there was pond of about
two miles in circuit. By the edge of
this pond James Cromwell met Rob
.ert Raymond. Instantly an idea
came into his mind. as casting his
eyes toward the pond, he saw a
small boat tied by rope round the
trunk of tree.
"Good evening, Mr.. Cromwell, s.
said Robert. "Have you been tax.
ing a Walk"
Yes, hut l have not been far.
When did you come out?"
about half an hour ago.
by the way, do you know how to
row?m
"A little"
Il was thinking that we might
borrow this boat, and have a little
row on the pond. What do you say?"
Il should like it." said Robert
promptly, for he had boys love of
the water. Shall | unfasten the
rope?"
''Yes, | wish you would
Robert at once sprang to the tree.
and quickly united the rope aud set
SAe boat free.
"All ready, Mr.. Cromwellm he
cried. Jump aboard, and | will get
in afterward"
James Cromwell stepped into the
boat, his heart beating quick with
the thought of the deed which he
meditated. His courage almost failed
him, for he was OF a timid nature.
but the thought of the stake for
which he was playing renewed his
courage, and ne resolved that. come
what might, that night should be
Robert Raymond's last
Which OF US shall row, Mr.. Crom-
Well" asked Robert.
81 wlSrow first, and you may do
so afterward."
"All right"
Cromwell took his place. and rowed