The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-08-11
CHAPTER XIII
A STRANGE CONFESSION.

HlhAN0il A0NtENNlONs
1t was about a quarter Of an hour be-
fore Albert Steinworth had recovered
sufficiently to utter an articulate sound.
In the meantime Goringe had fetched
and lighted the lamp from the dining
room and had drawn down the blinds of
the bedroom window, while Briggs, aft
er divesting Steinworth of two heavy
overcoats which he wore inside the long
brown surtout, tried TO bring the sense
less man back TO life.
When the two officers considered the
young man was sufficiently restored,
they propped him up in an easy chair,
and then placing small table in front
Of him GoriEge turned the lamp up to
its full
Steinworth seemed utterly nerveless
as he glanced slowly round the room.
Then making a strong effort TO pull him
self together he muttered, disclosing un-
der his mustacheless lips n set of long,
white, fanglike teeth:
81 see l am trapped You are very
clever" he added after brief pause,
glaring at Detective Goringe and ignor-
ing the imposing figure of Inspector
Briggs "It was of you / was afraid
not of the poor creatures in uniform.
Recollect," said Inspector Briggs,
with dignity, that whatever you may
say now will be taken down in evidence
against you. 4"
81 believe that is the formula" " said
Steinworth, grinning. "Why should l
mind what say to you now? Mr.. De-
tective there can tell you all that has
happened He has discovered the secret
of my little puzzle 1t was so simple it
baffled all the poor creatures who strut
about this neighborhood in uniform and
all the miserable donkeys whom the
same police select for coroners juries.
That was the reason first confded my
troubles to policeman. Bah l'
Steinworth seemed TO speak with diff
ficulty. He was almost choked with rage
--rage at being discovered, at his trick
being found out He did not trouble
himself about the future. 1t was only
the present which for the moment con
cerned him.
II will give you credit, too, said
Goringe, "for being very clever young
man, but you selected a bad time TO
commit theft-when you were in Sc
rious money difficulties And then
corpses are extremely kittle cattle
THAT was a most unlucky accident
Mrs. Davon's death. A convulsiye
shudder shook Steinworth. "It makes
me almost sick 10 think Of It. Every
thing would have gone well but for that,
and the idiot Vickery's confession. You
are puzzled about that confession, Mr.
Detective. Come" with short, un-
pleasant laugh, "do not deny II. If you
like, will be perfectly candid with you
now. You have discovered my little Sc
cret. You have got hold Of the money
What have / TO hide? Indeed, it will
help me as much as II will help you
gentlemen and those mutton headed ju-
rymen 90 let you know what did hap
pen. am only poor player at thiey-
ing, whose first move has landed him
into q hideous mess. / have lost every
thing. have nothing now 10 hide.
nothing TO seek for thanks TO you, sir, -
smiling at Goringe.
Steinworth now seemed an utterlg
different person from the Yoluble and
somewhat slangy young man who had
summoned Constable Metcalf TO his as
sistance ON the previous Thursday morn
ing He spoke in gutteral Voice, his
sentences were short, and his staocatc
manner Of delivering them sounded
strangely In the ears OF the two officers
Of the law.
lyon take it oOolly," observed Cor.
inge, for new hand You are just
after recovering from a fainting IT.
you are all unstrung. Do you think you
are wise in making statement Just
now which win be used against you
Take time 10 consider. Give yourself 4
chance "
II am quito well--quite myself again
Thank you for your caution. But yoI
know my secret. YOn have the money
Perhaps the law viii .ake into account
that have helped the inquiry. "
"Ah yOu are beginning, sec, 70 b
reasonable human being Yop wef,
only the mouthpieca Of rage before
Now you are looking forward and talk
ing sense All right. The inspector ant
| Will attend 20 you. Take your time
Don't furry yourself. .
Steinworth bit lbs under lip savagel.
with his long white teeth. i1ringei
pleasant manner, his pck-rrs-ess. th'
fact that no had trapped him, were al
biting deeply taso the young mans soul
and he was about TO declare he woull
reconsider his decision AMI remain 81
lent Then he felt that II would be bet
ter for him to speak Il gssiH ..ssyl
(To be Continued