The Portland daily press., 1897-11-04
THE LAST CONFESSION,
Published by Special Arrangement
BY HALL CAME.


eighty thousand dollars to the Basba.
then you, Larby, you in your turn will
have to pay with your life to the people.
1t is your life against the life of the
Christian. So follow him, watch him.
silence him, he knows your secret-away /
Such was my notion OF what had hap
pensd at the Kasbah of Fee after had
passed the gates of the city. 1t was a
Wild vision, but to my distempered mag
1nation it seemed to be a plausible theory.
ana now. Larby, the spy upon the Amer
lean, Larby, my assassin-elect, Larby.
VINO to save his own life must take mine
Larby was with me. was beside me, was
behind me constantly.
What was L to do? Open my heart to
Larby, toll him it was blunder, that |
meant no man mischief, that l was acre
~ fastening back to my sick boy who
was dying for want of me? That was
impossible. Larby would laugh in nv
face and still follow me. Bride him
That was useless. Larby would take INV
money and make the surer of his victim.
1t was difficult problem, but at length
l hit on solution. Father, you will
pity me for fool when you hear it. I
would bargain with Larby as Faust bar
gained with the Devil. He should give
me two weeks of life, and come with me
to England. l should do my work here,
| and Larby should never leave my side
My boys life should be saved by that op-
GRAFTON which alone knew how to per
form. After that Larby and I should
square accounts together. He should
have all the money l had in the world,
and the passport of my name and influ-
ence for his return to his own country.
should write a confession of suicide, and
then-then-only then-at home-here in
my own room-Larby should kill me in
order to satisfy himself that his own Sc
nrQt and hn of 10 l.
safe for ever.
1t was mad dream, but what dream
of dear life is not mad, that comes to the
man whom death dogs like bloodhound
And mad as it was 1 tried to make i;
come true. The man was constantly near
mo, and on the third morning of our
journey drew up sharply, and said:
''Larbyl''
"Sidi," he answered.
would you not like to go on with me
to England" a.
He looked at me with his glittering
eyes, and gave an Involuntary SILVER.
l had awakened the mans suspicious in
an instant. He thought I meant to en-
tap him, But he only smiled knowing
ly, shrugged his shoulders. and answered
ciyilly, 81 have my shop in the Sok de
Barra, Sidi And then there are my
wives and my sons and my little Hoolia-
God be praised for all his blessings"
'Hoolia?" asked. ~.
"My little daughter, Sidi." 81
'How old is she?'' ss9~
"Six, Sidi, only six, but as fair as an
angel
II dare say she misses you when you
are away, Larby,' said.
You have truth, Sidi. She sits in the
Sok by the tents of the brassworkers and
plaits PUSHES all the day long, and looks
over to where the camels come by the
Saints houses on the hill, and waits and
Watches 81
"Larby," I said, ST too have child at
home who is waiting and watching. A
boy, my little Noel, six years of age, just
as old as your own little Hoolia. And
so bright, so winsome. But he Is ill, he
is dying, and he is all the world to me.
Larby, | am surgeon, am a doctor,
and If could but reach England
1t was worse than useless. l stopped,
for could go no farther. The cold gilt
| ter Of the mans eyes passed over me like
| frost over flame, and l knew his thought
| as well MS If he had spoken it. have
heard that story BEFORE he was telling
him, II have heard it at the Kasbah, and
| it Is lie and trick W
My plan was folly and I abandoned 1t
but was more than ever convinced OF
my theory.
This man was following me to kill me.
He was waiting an opportunity TO do
! his work safely, secretly and ef7ectually
His rulers would shield him In his crime,
for by that crime they would themselves
be shielded.
(To be con tinued.)