Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-02


something, ne looked up and said: "Oh,
yes; you asked me a question. beg
your pardon what was it?"
The murder occurred about y years
ago, didn't it?'
No" replied Hardin, mot -; II
years ago tonight. That is, l think
it was tonight II years ago. The
murder made a great impression on my
mind. 1t was q hellish crime; WASH
it?"
bad rs murders go, I guess" return
ed Marsh, lightly, wondering at TINS
sudden squirt of loauacity on the other
part. well, III leave you.
Hardin did not reply. He was tum-
bling over the book again. Marsh
Marsh walked up to the city editor S
desk.
1.-THE Sphinx must have something
wrong in his head tonight he re-
marked. "or else he's rapidly going INTO
his dctage."
can he furnish the history Of the
murder?" Campbell interrupted, impa-
tienuy. He was engaged IN blue-pen-
Cling a story of meeting.
He thinks he can answered Marsh.
"Then don't bother yourself about
his inarmities," admonished the otner:
and take n brace en- that story OF youi
own! It's close to II o'clock
Marsh returned to his place and re-
sumed his scribbling indusTiously.
The Sphinx in his room was still
going over the pages Of the register.
But be,was not looking among the KS.
| 1t was through the long list OF names
! beginning with Fl that he hunted. 1T
must be here" ne kept murmuring TO
himself. 1T ought to be here! Why
/ can't 1 find it,
Then ne ran the pages over again.
They futtered from his withered I'm
gers-winding sheets on which were
written the names Of those dead and
gone Of events recollection OF which
had long since faded from the minds
of most men. But they did not yield
The name he sought. ITS strange,
he said. "This is a complete record; IL
has never been wanting before. why
| can't I find it? They must nave KNOWN
about it when It happened.
Then, all at once, one Of his hands
slipped from the book, and his head
dropped among the leaves, crushing
them fiat; and tears ran between the
| thin fingers outspread there.
lie remained there Tor some time.
Only the clicking Of the telegraph IN
struments in the neWsr0om. q dull hum
of voices from the rooms beyond where
a discussion was going on, and an oc-
casional question asked and answered
in the local room came to his ears; and
even those he did not hear. Then a bell
began TO boom the hour, and mecEaci-
cally he counted the strokes.
Eleven o'clock The fact, duly i'm
pressed on his mind aWOke him to
sudden sense of the work before him.
He raised his head. His face was drawn
and his eyes, swollen as their lids were
from tears, seemed to have sunk in
their sockets. lie sat for a moment
looking at the book before him. The
leaf that was upper most was the one
thathe had scanned many times before.
At its top was printed The letter II.
He picked up pen and dipping 1t IN
the ink, wrote with trembling fingers q
name in one of the empty spaces be-
meath. 1t was his own name that he
wrote. and, after ne had finished it, he
started to write another word in the
column opposite it. But be got III
farther than the letter NJ There he
hesitated; then he passed a blotteI
over the wet writing, closed the book,
and laid 1t aside.
A minute later he had drawn
large bundle of copy paper toward him
and was writing on it. He wrote slowly
at first almost laboriOusly. But soon
his pen moved more quickly and sheet
after sheet OF the paper was covered
and pushed to one side.
An hour went by and still he wrote
SUIT once was he interrupted. Then Il
was Marsh who came in TO tell him 10
send up his copy to the composing room
direct When the reporter went back
10 the local room he repeated his asser-
ton that the sphinx had gone luny.
"But he must be turning ont won
icrful history of the murder he add
ed, 'fcr he's p!ling up COPY at a gratt
rate. and when I asked him how much
fl would make lie said a couple OF col
umus.'
well. let him do it." answered
Campbell; the story's worth il. and
guess he's got the facts all straight
IUny or not, he's generally oil there
when il comes to rewriting old stuI'
Hardin's pen moved increasingly.
When midnight struck he was working
with a fierce energy which tod OF
3urpose that dehed fatigue. But ht
sent I'D no copy to the comDo5ins
room as he wrote; the pages accumuIGi-
ed on his desk in a careless heap.
Tt was after hnif past twelve when he
dropped his pen and sank back III hls
chair FOR a minute. Then he picked VT
he bundle Of copy, roughly rearrange-
It. wrote. use all-Rush" at the top O.
the first shet and sent it up stairs by e
boy,
lie put on his oyercoat, turned on the
ncandescent light and walked into the
loCal-roOm and to the city editor 8 cesh.
MI. Campbell" he said in low voice
I've got to 80 out. l guess you won I
need ne any more.
"No. not tonight" replied Campbell
You've sent UP a great story OF thul
Kremer murder, March tells me. Is IL
beat?'
"Yes. it's "a beat" said the other
There was mingled sadness and bitter
mes in his tones.
Good night" Campbell answered.
not noticing anything.
Cool night repeated Hardin.
Then he turned and slowly walked
toward the door. But in the doorway
he paused, and then came back to
Campbell's desk
Mir. Campbell" he said. Il have
IA - 49,,