The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-11

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"IIe was willing; and after he had
carried in Grayling's coffee, he trotted
back TO the restaurant after mine. While
he was gone, l ran around the corner 70
drug store, where | bought some
laudanum-for the 'toothache. Pretty
soon the boy came back with my pail
OF coffee, and paid him the price. When
he had gone / dosed the coffee W th
laudanum very carefully, for / didn't
want any accident to happen. That was
why / got the second pailful. / was
afraid that IL tried to dose Grayliug :
coffee while il was on the stove and
he in the next room, | might get nc. =
vous and make n mistake.
Having fixed the coffee all right.
slipped into the back room through n
rear door of which had the key; and
shifted the two pals without making
sound. Then i took his pail over 10
the factory. and put it in warm place
in the boiler room, thinking that
might need il later, to brace my nerve.
/ waited half an hour by my watch =
which appeared to be going n good
deal slower than usual-and then /
went into the passage that led TO the
office. / didn't dare TO open the door
at first, but | could see fairly well
through the keyhole. 1t was not so con-
venient as the window; but l didn't
like TO be seen there too often, in cas-,
anybody should be passing.
"Grayling was drinking his coffee.
There were two cupfuls. was wish
ing that he wouldn't drink all of the last
one; but he did. And while he was do
Ing il, the passage where | stood got
hotter and hotter till the sweat ran of
my forehead. l thought that he would
hear il dropping on the floor
after he had drunk his coffee, he sat
down before his desk, and presently his
head fell forward into his hands. /
thought he was gone, but he roGsed
himself; got up, and began to pace the
floor. l heard him mutter about being
sleepy. When he passed his chair i
could see him through the keyholc, and
| saw that he hesitated every time. lie
wanted TO sit down; he wanted TO throw
his head upon his hands on that desk
and sleep and sleep. i knew just how
he felt, and l knew, too, that he would
have TO come TO il before long. At last
he sat down in decisive way, shaking
his head and Struggling his shoulders.
lie was going to do some work. No
more sleepiness for him. He picked up
some papers and ratified them briskly.
Then he began to crumple them in his
fingers. His hands dropped upon the
desk; his head dropped lower and lower
over them, and suddenly he was asleep.
Or dead? / didn't dare to think of it.
III had watched him SO closely that
Il seemed as il the drug had worked
upon both of us, steadily, evenly. My
arms and legs were like lead. But my
head seemed to he cool-cooler than
usual. / could think of All enormous
number Of things in second. Some of
them were of nature to frighten q
man. But then there was the money;
j never quite forgot that.
"Opening the door noiselessly, en-
tered the Office, ard went 70 Grayling's
side. He was sound asleep. / turned 10
the safe. The money was there in lit
tie drawer. II was locked but the key
was in the lock. My hand was on the
key when heard a sound--a footstep.
Some one was coming. 1 was panic
stricken. Instinctively l sprang be-
bind one of the big doors of the safe.
There | stood trembling, IL seemed n
long time. knew that come one was
in the room, but how he had come, or
who he was, could not guess.
''It was useless co stand there. Dis
covery was certain. There was no hope
except in bod and sudden dash. Draw
ing the revolver which / carried for pro-
lection while on my watch, Isprnng out
into the room. In that instant was
face 10 face with Stetson. Ii was his
life or mine. i leveled the revolver at
him.
Hands up!' cried.
'Gleason' he screamed, starting
back.
THAT'S me- said I, and l mean
business
"lIe sank upon his knees.
SIN the name of heaven he cried,
hoarsely, do not betray me. He drove