Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-05-03

you sit here across the room from me.
Move or speak at your own risk.
Scott took the pistol in his left hand
and began to write, yet keeping a close
eye upon Derwent all the while. By
and by he read aloud:
San Francisco. Gala, January, II,
1861, Henry Mason, alias Thomas
J. Derwent, do hereby certify that I
forged the note upon the Goldwaithe
bank OF New York City twenty years
ago, for which crime Howard Scott
stood accused. | declare said Scott in
nocent; alone am guilty"
Come, now, and sign your name.
Straight goods; know your signature,
remember"
Il will give you $4,000, $4,000, $780,
000-" began Derwent, eagerly.
Sign"
Fifty thousand"
Sign" and the pistol clicked.
Derwent bent over the paper. Zone
hundred housekeeping, every
thing"
Write Henry Mason, alias Thomas J.
Derwent," said Scott.
the table with groan.
Nov, that part of Jhe business is
finished. Resume your seat" said
Scott. Il want to do some writing on
my own hook and these are about as
cosy quarters as | can find. You are
pretty we'll known at home, Henry
Mason, if you did shunt that forgery
off on me. and it will add somewhat TO
the interest Of my kilograms to state
that they were written in your own
handsomely appointed library. When
have finished l shall use your tele-
phone moment. The boys at the sta
ton know me pretty well. A special
correspondent comes to know a great
many people, you know" he said with
a short laugh, and | shall have no diff
ficulty in getting man to take charge
of you. Whatever else they know
about me. they know | am no liar
After that my game is played"
He wrote on busily for another hour.
At last he picked up the loose sheets and
read aloud what he had written. He had
told the truth when he said he knew how
to write. The story that he told of his
own suffering for the crime of another
would have made him famous. so full was
It of dramatic power and graphic detail.
AT the first merciless headlines Derwent
groaned aloud. but Scott went on pit,lesslv.
telling the whole dark story Of the mans
crime. Meanwhile he sat with his head
bowed in his hands listening He did not
raise his head when Scott rang The
fplenhn1a he nd
the station. The house Of cards which #
had taken him twenty years to build had
tumbled about his head and he sat bowed
and broken among the ruins. The passing
moments seemed hours of agony and de-
spair. In the midst of it all there was a
frou of skirts in the hall and the patter of
slppered feet on the hard wood floor. The
door opened softly.
us it you, father, dear?" a sweet voice
asked, and Scott looked up to see young
girl standing In the doorway, the brass
bolt still in her small white hand. she
was beautiful. sweet faced young thing.
and her dead gold hair was flung loosely
back over her wrappered shoulders and a
tender look of sleep was in her blue ewes.
l am so glad you have come. dear" she
went on. 81 had gone to bed and was
asleep, but heard the telephone and fam
cleo II must be you. ] am so glad to see
you, you sweet old papa, you" She had
crossed the room and was kheeing beside
him. her white arms abou; his neck.
Derwent fancied he heard the click of the
pistol and looked up sharply. But Scott
threw newspaper over his left hand and
coughed softly behind his palm.
20, beg your pardon, father" said the
girl. sprining to her feet. 81 thought you
Were alone"
There was not even a glance at Scot; as
she turned and left the room.
Derwent uttered a s;ifed cry as the door
closed. 'Lucie"
But Scott had sprung to his feet. "At
your peril" he said. jamming the pistol
under Derwent's nose.
Your daughter. suppose?" he went on.
yes" Derwent murmured.
How old is she?"
Eighteen years"
Then she knows nothing of your dirty
past?"
Nothing"
And believes in you?"
Yes" and the man groaned.
Then God help her." said Scott fer
vently.
The heavy tread of the policeman was
heard mounting the stone steps. Scott
hesiiated a moment. then whipping the
pistol into his pocket, he snatched the
closely written sheets. from the table and
tore them into shreds.
so my game is ended" he said with
laugh as he stuffed the torn bits into the
blazing CRATE. open the door and Lex the
man In
Derwent hesita.ed. Coward" said
Scott between his teeth, but he opened the
door himself.
The big policeman looked from one to the
other in amazemen:. You, sir?" he said
staring at Scott. They were friends in
queer sort of way.
Yes. Mike" Scott answered Cen
tlemen like that one yonder don't like 10
be troubled with wretches like me. so I
guess you'll have 20 run me in. a berth
in your comfortable quarters is rot OBJ
jsc:ionable on a night like this
what is to be the charge? asked Mike
turning to Derwent with no very good
grlce.
The man was silent He still sat COVER
ing in his chair. dazed and helpless
"Oh, the gentleman will no doubt be on