Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-16

Mr. Barnes cautiously raised his head.
thousand dollars to me, for, though l
think you are not really intending to
become a criminal in either event, may
as we'll profit by your offer. "
"What do you mean by either
event|"
"Why, if you do not commit a crime
you pay, and if you do l am sure that
you would be caught. Then, however
much l should regret your disgrace, l
warn you that | should cut you dead and
take your money.
"Then you accept the wager?'
II dop'
"Done. Now for the conditions. am
10 have one month in which to plan and
commit my crime, and one year for
avoiding the detectives That is, if am
free at the end Of one year and can prove
to you that l committed a crime within
the stipulated period, win the wager
If I am in Jail awaiting trial, the bet
cannot be settled until the law has had
it's way and am either proved inno-
cent or guilty. Is that satisfactory"
Perfectly. But what class Of crime
will you commit"
my friend, you are inquisitive. The
wager Is on, and my boasted caution
must begin. Therefore 1 must not tell
You anything of the nature Of my in
tended crime.
"Why, do you suppose for an instant
that l would betray your"
avail that fdaa 1poc Cncr1r tp
me. Listen. AS l said before, the ne
cessities of the criminal prove his Mem
esis. The necessities involve the object
of the crime. That is always good
starting point in following ups mysteri
GUS case. The more unusual the object
the better, since it will fit fewer people.
Plumber is the cOmmonest and there
fore the least promising to trace from.
Revenge is common also, but better, be-
cause the special revenge connected with
the deed must lead to the special indi
vidual most likely to execpte such re-
venge. In this inssance-I mean my
own case-the object Of the crime is so
unique that the detective who discovers
it should be able to convict me a crime
committed to decide a wager is perhaps
new.
Its very novelty is your best safe
guard -
"Yet there are two ways by which
it may be discovered, and that is two
too many Had l undertaken this affair
secretly there would really have been
but single way for one TO learn my
secret-my own confession. AS men have
been weak enough TO do this before now,
| should even in that instance have TAX
en- precautions But with my secret in
the possession of a second party the posi-
tion is more complex.
II assure you on my honor that will
not betray you. l will agree to forfeit
five times the wager in such an event. y
81 prefer that you should be perfectly
at liberty in the matter. l expect it TO
be thus. In your own mind at present you
do not think that l shall carry out my
purpose. Therefore your friendship for
me is undisturbed. Then you count that,
If l do commit crime, it will be some
trivial one that you may bring your con
science to excuse, under the circum-
stances But lot us suppose that a really
RTGhJ CIllllb oupAAh bV AtpplLtNls anu lbA
some reason you should suspect me. You
will hurry to my rooms before get out
Of bed and ask me fatty whether l am
guilty. As fatty L should refuse to en-
tighten you. You would take this as n
confession Of guilt You would perhaps
argue that if your surmise were correct
you would be an accessory before the
fact and to shield yourself and do your
duty you would make q clean breast Of
1t. "