The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-01-08
1t, let fate assume the responsibility.

Inc practlcal tnlng Tor MIN 10 do now
would be to destroy the evidences Of his
involuntary crime. He dragged from
his pocket the handkerchief with which
he had wiped wha blood he could from
his fingers and thrust it among the
glowing Goals in Johns stove. The
overcoat pocket in which he had con-
cealed that ensanguined hand was stain
ed with blood. He cut it out and burn
ed it also. Then he very carefully wash
ed his hands and poured the redeemed
water slowly among the ashes in the
bottom of the stove.
Not until now did he observe on his
table letter that had arrived during
lis absence 1t was from John Latham,
written at st. Louis and dated three
days before. In it the writer said:
have Just returned this far from Tennessee
and snatch q moment to send you an impor-
tant pointer. If Wall street has dealt kindly
with you in my absence, so that you have
means to operate with, would advise you to
go your length on Memphis and Southwestern.
1t Is an apparently dead stock now, but GER
tain authoritative report, that shall have to
make when get back, will send it up like a
rocket. am violating implied requirements
will keep it strictly to yourself under all cir
cumstances. l am anxious to help you, but
must not be known as doing so. Do not neglect
to take advantage of the chance, for it is a
sure thing.
What bitter mockery it was, Ches-
ter thought, that such an opportunity
should have come to him only after he
had been utterly banlrupted in pocket,
hope and soull How different would be
his position now had the happy accident
of such information come to him when
he first plunged into stock speculations,
when he had So, 900 to invest. 1t would
have made him rich, honored and hap
py man today instead of beggar, q
thief, murderer.
His self recognition as thief brought
beck to him remembrance of the wallet
lie had distracted from the dead mans
breast, of which he had not thought
since taking it until now. He plucked
it from his pocket and opened it. The
contents almost took his breath away
with surprise They were only five bank
bills, but four of them were of the de-
nomination of $500 each and the fifth
upns of 81 900
Why, with this sum, he thought ex>
citedly, and the ''pointer" he had just
received he could avenge himself upon
Wall street and make fortune at o
single dash. Then he would marry Irma.
She nor no one else need ever know he
had accidentally killed her father Three
thousand dollars? No, it was the seed
~ ,,1.1 hot l. oil
thrust into his hands.
His transports ceased suddenly and he
sat pale, trembling, as if a specter had
risen before him. Could he dare to use
that money? Prudent men, he was well
aware, made a habit of recording the
numbers Of large bills passing through
their hands, and if Banker Willmarth
did so-as was to be expected of a man
so methodical in his habits-this money
might be fatal trap. His confidential
clerk might be able to give the numbers
of those five bills to the police, and the
person who should attempt to pass one
of them would be seized, convicted,
hanged for murderl By the way, was
that the only danger to be feared? What
if the banker should not have been quite
dead-if help had come to save him--if
he should even now be so far recovered
as to be directing the police? But NO.
That could not be. The old fellows
head struck the jagged rock with such
force as must have split his skull and
killed him outright. Oh, yes, he must
be thoroughly dead, thank God!
Notwithstanding his perturbation and
mental distress the thought flashed up
on him:
"What an anomaly! Thanking God
that a murder has been successfully per-
petrated. Well, why not? We thank
God for the good we receive-regardless
if our good has been the harm of some
other person-and surely the getting of
that money is q great good to me. At
least it would be if could be assured
that the numbers ON those bills would
not denounce me-"
That brought him back to the starting
point in his hideous circle Of necessity.
His torture was that of Tantalus. For
tune, all he had ever dreamed of and
more, smiled alluringly at him, and he
did not dare to take the first step to-
ward possessing her. Starvation threat