The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-12

ling's coffee while 1t was on the stove
and he in the next room, I might get
nervous and make a mistake.
Having fixed the coffee all right, 1
slipped into the back room through q
rear door of which had the key; ana
/ shifted the two pals without making
a sound. Then l took his pail over to
the factory, and put it in warm place
in the boiler room, thinking That 1
might need it later, to brace my nerve,
/ waited half an hour by my watch
which appeared to be going a good
deal slower than usual-and then l
went into the passage that led to the
office. l didn't dare to open the door.
at first. but I 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 case
anybody should be passing.
"Grayling was drinking his coffee.
There were two cupfuls. i was wish
ing that he wouldn't drink all of the last
one: but he did. And while he was do
ing it, the passage where he stood got
hotter and hotter till the sweat ran off
my forehead. j thought that he would
hear it 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. I
thought he was gone, but he reused
himself; got up, and began to pace the
floor. i heard him mutter about being
sleepy. When he passed his chair ]
could see him through the keyhole, and
/ saw that he hesitated every time. He
wanted to sit down; he wanted to throw
his head upon his hands on that desk
and sleep and sleep. l knew just how
he felt, and l knew too, that he would
have to come to it before long. At last
he sat down in a decisive way, shaking
his head and Struggling his shoulders.
He was going to do some work. No
more sleepliness for him. He picked up
soma 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.
81 had watched him so closely that
1t seemed as If the drug had worked
upon both of us, steadily, evenly. My
arms and legs were like lead. But my
head seemed to be cool-coolcr than
usual. | could think of an enormous
number of things in second. Some of
them We're of a nature to frighten a
man. But then there was the money;
/ never quite forgot that.
'Opening the door noiselessly, I en-
tered the office, and went to Graylng's
side. He was sound asleep. l turned to
the safe. The money was there In a lit
tie drawer. 1t 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. | was panic
stricken. Instinctvely sprang behind
one of the big doors of the safe. There
l stood trembling. it seemed long time.
! knew that some one was in the room,
but how he had come, or who he was,
] could not guess.
"It was useless to stand there. Dis
covery was certain. There was no hope
except in bold and sudden dash. Draw
ing the revolver which | carried for pro-
lection while on my watch, l sprang out
into the room. In that instant ] was
face to face with Stetson. 1t was his
life or mine. / leveled the revolver at
him.
Hands up.' | cried.
"'Gleason!' he screamed, starting
back.
That's me- said 7, and I mean
business.
He sank upon his knees.
"'In the name of heaven he cried
hoarsely, do not betray me. He drove
me to it. With his Internal cunning he
was dragging my share in our joint en-
terprise out of my hands. l had to kill
him to save myself from ruin
"The back part of my mouth was so
dry that it rustled when / tried to speak,
and my brain was reeling. but l man.
aged to gather sense enough to take
the amazing tip that he had given me,
and breath enough to say: ''Sit down,
Mr.. Stetson, and try TO be calm. / will
hear your story
1T burst out of him like a torrent of
fire. He told how Grayling had cheat
ed him; had imposed upon his simplic-
ity to make him sign documents that
would beggar him. Those documents
We're in that safe in Grayling's private
drawer. Yet to get them was not
enough for he would still be i'm his part
ner's clutch. SO he had planned muir
der.
knowing Grayling's habit in the
matter of the coffee, he had decided that
therein lay his opportunity. SO he had
provided himself with poison, and had