Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-12-17

Imagination: because had vanity; be,
cause people are such idiots"
"What l said about Miracle Gold was
mostly q lie Also"
Il knew that"
"All right. Most Of what I told you
about Miracle Gold was lie. All told
you about making It was lie. I was
about to enter into a league with thieves
to take stolen gold, and pretend to make
1t. was going to do this for the sake
OF the fame. not the profit"
"A very dangerous kind Of alchemy"
Anyway I have told you what my
scheme was. I told Mrs. Ashton that
my clock was independent of my hands
for winding up. You heard Williams,
the publican, say they saw me wind up
my clock last night. Well, was not near
my clock last night"
"But he said he saw you"
HE did. Now you can understand how
necessary it was for me to lie."
II candidly confess l cannot"
well, when l conceived the notion OF
making Miracle Gold l knew I ran .
great risk. I thought it might become nec-
essary to prove Alternatives at all events.
The proposition Of an alibi 10 an afirma-
tive, the deduction q negative. I told you
my clock was my friend. Well, I made
10 help me in this. gave out in the pub
lie house that my clock had now become
so complicated that l had arranged to
connect all the movements. The clock
was to be wound up by q lever fixed near
the window, at which sat when at work,
the only window in the room. Night after
night worked at this lever for half an
hour. turning round exactly at a quarter
past twelve to nod at the people. Mean
while, I was busy constructing hfe-sized
fgure-the body Of a man every way a.
like me as possible. I have skill, q good
deal Of skill, In modelling. It was made to
be moved by the lever, not to move it. I
easily timed the head 50 a. to turn at .
quarter-past. inserted in the neck Of
the figure like myself . movement which
would make the head nod before turning
away to 60 on with the winding. You
now see my idea?"
"Not quite clearly. But suspect it."
Suppose I had to meet one Of my eli
ents about the gold, l should make an
| appointment with him at a quarter past
twelve elsewhere. My clock, at twelve
o'clock, slowly raised the figure from the
door to the place in which sat in my
chair, turned up the gas, which had been
dimmed to the last glimmcr that would
live. and then released the weight in the
chimney and set the figure moving as il
working the lever, instead Of the lever
working it. Thus you see should have
q dozen to swear they saw me in my room,
II anything went wrong in my interviews
with my clients, or if from any other cause
it became necessary for me to prove ]
was in my workshop between twelve and
half-past twelve at night"
Every ingenious indeed"
There is not much more to tell. Ow.
ing to a reason I need not mention,
made up my mind on Thursday morning
to 60 on with the production of Miracle
Gold. / resolved against my better judg.
ment, and gave the word for the first 10,
of the gold to be delivered at my place al
midnight exactly. You know how my
afternoon was spent. While at Mira
Ashton's my better judgment and my
worse one had a scufle, and made w
my mind to decide upon nothing that
night, and certainly to commit myself tc
nothing that night. What you would cal
the higher influence was at work."
"Pallas-Athena?"
Eyes, If you think that q good name
Any way, made up my mind to do moth
ing definite in the interest of Miracle Colo
that night. set my dummy fgure-tha,
figure was burned up; not l. nm goinl
fast. IL there no cab7 can hardly
breathe. Have you seen Miss Ashton
since?"
II have"
"Since yesterday afternoon?''
mo"
They were standing at q doorstep
Leigh had leaned his side against tn,
area ratings for support. His breathing
was terrible, and every now and the1
he gasped, and clutched his haPds to
gether.
IF you come to see me tomorrow, per
haps you may not come alone?"
Hamburg flushed. He did not want {,
make his confession just now.
perhaps I may not" he said. Good
by now"
"Goodby; and thank you for your good
ness. You know whom hope to see will
your
"Yes."
"WhoY'
"Pallas-Athena, of course"
"Of course"
(To be continued)