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

the boy had brought in the coffee, and
had gone, Stetson had crept out OF the
closet, and had poured his poison into
the pail. Then he had returned to his
coEcealment.
"a few minutes later had come In,
a humble instrument in the hands OF
Providence-and had removed the pail
which contained the fatal dose, sub
stituting that which / had mildly
drugged. Often have / reflected. since
that, how wonderfully was guided on
that night, and how mercfully my life
was spared. For had come as near as
possible to drinking the coffee which
had taken from that room! thought
IL would brace my nerves, and only the
sickening thought Of the drug that
had used prevented me from taking the
fatal dose. As it chanced, i poured
it out upon the ground
Returning now to Stetson, you will
readily perceive how he came to take
the course he did. Being discovered by
me beside the body of his victim-as he
supposed-there was no recourse for
him but confession. Yet he begged
that / would have mercy and shield
him.
well, now, do you know, Mr.. Wood
bury, / couldn't do il. OF course, IL
wasn't business. / might have been
blackmailing him yet. But the fact is
that, coming face to face so suddenly
with a rascal worse than myself made
me an honest man by sheer force OF
contrast.
I'm sorry for you, Mr.. Stctson,'
said /, but i can't shield n murderer.
i must do my duty
with that threw open the window
and called for help. 1t happened that
there was n policeman on the corner.
He came in response to my call and
arrested Stetson, who was in pitiablc
state of collapse. Then / got a doctor,
who worked over Grayling until he
brought him TO his senses; but he said
that half hour more would have put
the man beyond the reach of help.
don't believe it. In my opinion Gray
ling would have walked up all right;
but naturally the doctor wanted as
much credit as possible.
when the circumstances were ex-
planned TO Grayling he was overcome
with gratitude towards me for saving
his life. Well, | had saved il, though he
didn't know Just how il had been done.
He shook me warmly by the hand, and
then, tottering over to the safe, he
opened n drawer and gave me the roll
of bills that | had planned TO take. The
bills were all ones--sixty-seven dollars
In all. Suppose that / had killed him
for so little! IL wasn't as much rs he
owed me, according to my calculation.
But l never tried TO get even. was
afraid of man with such luck as his.
Statson got ten years"
speaking of luck" said Harris, when
Gleason had concluded his story, II
should say that yours was pretty good"
THE worst luck in the world" re-
joined Gleason. Nothing more dis
nstrous can happen to n man than that
he should escape the just punishment
for his first crime. Had | been for
tunatc enough 10 be caught. il might
have accomplished my reform. but such
pn escape as that which | have de-
NNiibNh iNt 10 tulllh tie ID
pecial favorite OF Satan. AS usual the
tempter deceived and deserted me."H
He pronounced these last words with
good elocutionary effect, but they failed
to impress Newcomb. who had too clears
ly in mind the character which Gleasdfi
had given himself in his introductory
remarks. The criminologist made no
crbal comment, however, but contented
himself with mentally adding gross
end palpnble hypocrisy 10 the list OF
Gleason's crimes.
ut Is your turn now, Mr.. Harris" he
Eaid. "What story will you give us?"
"The story Of what we call in my pro-
fession An Inside Joo.'" replied Har-
~is.
Continued Tomorrow.