The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-20
ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT.
PRIZE NOVELTIES, No. IS.
BY HOWARD FIELDING.


supply-mto the stove. moment and
the flame leaped up The draught was
magnihcont. In ten minutes the stove
was ready for kohnield's coat. Inc
blood-stained garment, torn into shreds,
smothered and fought the flame, but
yainly. The buttons were OF wood,
covered with cloth. There was nothing
that could not be reduced to ashes.
Indeed / marveled that it had not been
destroyed long before. But blood guilt
iness muddles the wits.
The shoe with its blood stain was worse
fuel than the coat, but by the time IL
reached the fire there was such heat
as no leather could resist. That wit
ness of a crime passed into ashes. There
was little else but the bonds. j was about
TO put them into the fire, but first L
noticed the edges which had been deity
cleansed os blood, though not without
leaving a trace o. the murderer's work.
"Stop!" cried the detective. "We must
not burn those. They should be returned
TO Miss Kohn;eld. They are rightiully
hers" "
"True; will attend to that. Or, on
second thought, 1t Is better you should
do il. That will seem natural; and At you
are true to your bargain TO me, you VIII
invent story which will help clear
Dane. "
"IIe will not be convicted, " was the
reply. ~ know the evidence. without
my testimony regarding the finding of
these things here he will escape.
"And that testimony you have sold TO
me?'
He bowed.
"Now Tor the knife" said l. "Would
1t not be well TO wrench off the handle,
which is of wood, and burn it?'
"a good idea. -
He drew the knife from under his coat.
l split the lnndle with blow, and it fell
from the blade.
A that moment we heard a sound at
the door. The handle was softly
turned. Then came the shock OF a
strong shoulder against the wood, and
heard a low voice.
"The police are upon usl' j whispered.
] gathered up the pieces OF the broken
haft with a sweep of my hand and in a
flash had fitted them together, TO see
if / had all. A piece was missing. II
would be equal TO all the other evidence!
j CROPPED upon the floor. The perspiratioD
fell from my forehead like rain. The
room, under the influence of that roaring
fire, was like an oven; and excitement
tssHed i'm me as hotly.
heard the door strain, under steady
and strong pressure. / turned to my
companion. Despite the heat his face
was like white paper.
"ls there any way out OF here?" 1
whispered.
"The windowr' he replied. "You must
stay here, otherwise we shall both be
followed and overtaken. Remember l
still have the knife blade to dispose of. ~
ran with him TO the window. He
pushed il open cautiously and stepped
out. fhc rough stones gave him feet ing |;
he made his way rapidly downward and
sidelong.
After one moments pause at the win
dow TO feel the cool air on my face /
-. a - a Nl... I,lN "A
put my trembling hand upon the knob.
The door was opened by pressure from
without. / nearly died Of relief at sight
OF Dane, alone.
''What are you doing here?" he cried.
81 knew it was you. Did you not hear
me call your name?'
was too deeply agitated to speak.
could only take his hand, while tears
rolled down my cheeks.
"What tomfoolery is this?'' he cried,
but not unkindly. "Why have you
built that fire?''
was myself by this time.
"Dear old boy,'' ! said, "this night has
saved you. l have bought your life and
] have burned the evidences OF your
transgression.
His face paled and then flushed scarlet.
He staggered back.
At that moment there was a rap at the
door. Before / could stay him Dane
opened IL. Ills action seemed purely me-
chanical; he was like an image endowed
with motion.
A uniformed officer of the police en-
tered.
"We've caught himl' he cried.
And in that instant il flashed across
me that the fragments of the knife handle
were still where they had fallen Dane
was lost unless i could destroy them.
| sprang forward, but the officer adj
yanpfpu intarVnCnH hfg hYIlgxr hnHx, xrft Ia
out seeming TO wish TO do so. dared
not force my way by him. / waited.
grief-stricken, for the arrival of the men
to whom he had addressed his cry of
triumph No one came. There was no
sound OF men in the corridor.
$50 you've got him, eh?'' he said.
"Where Is he?''
''ln the janitor's room," replied the
officer. "We found him crouching against
the side wall of the building below
here"