The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-10-16

sumed his scrlbbllng industriously.
The Sphinx in his room was still go
ing over the pages of the register. But
he was'not looking among the KS 1t
was through the long list of names be-
ginning with II that he hunted. ut
must be herem he kept murmuring to
himself ut ought to be here! Why
can't find it?"
Then he ran the pages over again.
They huttered from his withered
fingers s-winding.sheets on which were
written the names of those dead and
gone, of events recollection Of which
had long since faded from the minds
of most men. But they did aot yield
the name he sought. ''It's strange"
he said. This is a complete record; it
has never been wanting before. Why
can't find it? They must have known
about it when 1t happened"
Then, all at once, one of his hands
slipped from the book, and his head
dropped among the leaves, crushing
them fat; and tears ran between the
thin fingers outspread there.
Only the clicking of the telegraph
instrument in the news room, a dull
hum OF voices from the rooms beyond
where q discussion was going on, and
an occasional question asked and
answered in the local room came to
his ears; and even those he did not
hear. Then bell began to boom the
hour, and mechanically he counted the
strokes.
Eleven o'clocl1l The fact, duly i'm
pressed on his mind, awoke him to a
sudden sense of the work before him.
lie raised his head His face was
drawn, and his eyes, swollen as their
lids were from tears, seemed to have
sunk in their sockets. He sat for
moment, looking at the book before
him The leaf that was uppermost
was one that he had scanned many
times before. At its top was printed
the letter Ii.
A minute later he had drawn a large
bundle Of copy-paper toward him and
was writing on it. He wrote slowly at
first almost laboriously. But soon his
pen moved more quickly, and sheet
after sheet of the paper was covered
and pushed to one side.
Hardin's pen moved increasingly.
When midnight struck he was work
ing with fierce energy which told of
a purpose that defied fatigue. But he
sent up no copy" to the composing
room as he wrote; the pages acccumu-
lated on his desk in careless heap.
1t was after 1890 when he dropped
his pen and sunk back in his chair for
u minute. But it was only for a min
ute Then he picked up the bundle of
copy, roughly rearranged it, wrote
Else all-Rush" at the TOP of the first
sheet, and sent it upstairs by boy.
He put on his overcoat, turned off
the incandescent ligh and walked into
the local room and to the city editors
desk. "Mr. Campbell" he said, in
low voice, II have to go out. / guess
you won't need me any more?"
mo, not tonight, replied Campbell.
you've sent up a great story of that
Kremer murder, Marsh tells me. Is it
beat?"
"Yes, it's IA beat, said the other
There was mingled sadness and bitter
ness in his tones.
Good night" Campbell answered,
not noticing anything.
Good night" repeated Hardin.
Then he turned and walked toward
the door. But in the doorway he
paused, and then came back to Camp
BELLS desk.
"Mr. Campbell" he said, earnestly,
II have never lied to you?"
"Why, mol" exclaimed Campbell in
surprise.
"Well, and I'm not lying now. Re-
member, whatever you may think of
me, have told the truth"
'Of course" said the city editor,
Marsh's words recurring to him. Har-
din certainly was losing his grip. The
Sphinx turned away, and this time
walked out the door and down the
stairway to the street.
Half an hour later there was great
excitement in the Globe office. The
proof-reader sent down galley proofs
covered with query marks, and along
with it Hardin's copy. Campbell looked
over it all and could not believe the
evidence of his eyes, He took the
proof and copy in to the managing edit
or, and they had n consultation.
Then, just as they had decided that
it would be best to "lsill'' the whole of
the story which Hardin had written
Marsh came in, in a state of new ex-
element, to call Campbell to the
phone. Some one wished to speak to
him from police headquarters. What
the city editor heard from there deter
mined him to publish the article as it
Stood
The account of the Kremer murder
which the Globe presented on its first
page that morning was the talk of the
town. But 1t was not the story of the
arrest of Boch, the supposed murderer
that riveted attention. That much was
common property among the dailies
1t was the two columns in which was
set forth the confession of a man who
for twelve long years, had borne the
burden of his guilt and striven to live
down a recollection that only grew
more clear, and would not be forgot
ten. And then at last, when it could
be endured no longer, and to tell it to
others was the one relief, the Sphinx
had unsealed his lips.
But Campbell, who, out of pity for
the old man, went to the police head
quarters that same morning to see him,
found he was too late. Hardin's drawn
face was more peaceful than it had
ever been in life, and fear no longer
looked from his ewes, A forrivino
1od had locked the ophinx's lips again,
and this time they were locked forever
-Godey's Magazine.
FORTUNES In FURS.
An English Furrier Gives Some