The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

Defore no is greeted by the surprised put
none the less cordial "come in"
Tired and weary, he enters the
room and after tossing of a proffered
drink OF brandy and soda takes from the
pocket OF his fatigue coat a bulky letter.
"Major, it is bad news from Lieutenant
Wright" he says, and drops into an easy
chair completely exhausted.
For moment the grey ha ired old vet
eran silently scrutinizss the paper and
then with strange Ioreboding OF evil
unfolds 1t and reads.
The Ranch on the Crow.
Christmas Night, 1S9-.
MAJOR ROBERT Il. THURsroN:
DEAR StR-It Is at the command OF
Lieutenant Sumner, now standing over
me with drawn revolver, that i unwill-
iugly,write this confession OF my sin "a
SIN unknown 10 you, unknown 10 all ex-
cspt my confederates and the lieutenant
who, hearing a story OF my visits here
from trooper Boylan, had come and
found me among my counterfeiting tools.
SO lear with me IL my recital Is dull, for
my heart 10 sad with the knowledge that
i must bid farewell TO all Lold dear.
There Is no need OF me facing court
martial, for am guilty and prefer the al
ternative OF leaving the country.
When joined the --th at Fort Riley
became acquainted with three young
men, gentlemanly fellows, who were So
jorrning in Junction City. j cultivated
financial embarrassment, became greatly
indebted 10 them.
Ii was after spending all the wealth
they possessed that the idea OF counter
feiting money was first conceived. Two
were excellent engravers and the third an
| lot tfgnI anA AtV
scheme to me and as | had helped spend
their money, as well as my own, In riot
Gus living a fact which. II IL ever came
TO light, would have forced me TO hand
in my resignation, there was nothing else
for me TO do but accede TO their plans lit
would have been utter folly to have done
| otherwise; IL would have been lighting
| against fate.
My part OF the work was to circulate
the money among the officers, thing 1
L could do with comparatively little risk.
BY strange coincidence they came
to the haunted ranch and at regular in
tervals sent me package OF "greenbs backs"
! OF so clever a counterfeit that 1t was al
most impossible to detect the spurious
from the genuine and through this de-
spicable underhand business / became
rich.
Then we came TO Russell and as often
as 1t was prudent 1 visited my compan.
ions.
Two OF my confederates, having heard
the story OF murder connected with the
ranch, continued the delusion by rigging
up double convex lens arrangement and
with piece OF magnesium ribbon con-
trived TO generate strong white light
before which they would enact the MUIR
der scene and in this manner keep people
away.
Things went on smoothly enoJgh until
tonight, and having made excuses to
you on account OF unavoidab BILE business
had hurried here with the intention
of severing my connection with my
brother counterfeiters, IL such a thing
was possible, so that ! might lead q life
worthy OF my fiancee, ana was waiting for
them 10 return from town when j was
surprised by Lieutenant Sumner.
Don't think TOO hard OF me, maj ior.-I
am reaping the chat OF my wildly sown
oats. My life is one of torture my punish
ment ample. No sentence could have
been harder to bear than the one GOD has
imposed upon me-the losing OF the sweet
est little woman lin the world just on the
eve OF our engagement.
Major. try and have NY resignation,
which will be forwarded in a few days,
accepted; not for any personal reaTons-
have nothing TO 1.-Two for-Dut to shield
your daughters name which will surely
be smirched by the gossips in connection
with mine IL am dropped as d-serter.
shall watch closely TO see how you sue
ceed.
Good bye to the dear old --th, the
only friend and comforter ] have had