The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-05-12
y NE night, just as it was growing
dusk and the lengthening shad-

HlII1EGItItG1ta1 ta1tiEGiEAIfGlEA
~ NE night, just as it was CROWN
dusk and the lengthening shad
ows brought weird memories t
me, l was disturbed by the rafting O
cab which stopped at the door with
loud whoa" from the driver and pul
that brought the horse on it's launches
A man sprung out of the cab, and
hastily running up the steps, pulled
frantically at the door bell Although
1t was nearly dark 1 had time to dis
tinguish the features of one of the lead
ing lawyers Of the city.
As my servant showed him into th,
front parlor, by the window of which
was sitting, he came forward, and
grasping me by both hands, said: "Mr
Martinot, we need no introduction; We
both know each other professionally SC
weh~that a personal acquaintance is
unnecessaryp" -.
motioned him te a chair. 81 will
be seated" said he, "but only lone
enough for you to get ready to go with
me. L want you to go to the Tombs
i
called to see you, is there. He is in the
shadow of the gallows. The moose is
around his neck.''
1t is no unusual thing for me to be
called by a professional man, and there
lore L gave no thought to the case as
We were rattling through the streets,
out the impatience of the lawyer was
such that he would not allow the cab
man to slacken, even upon the slippery
pavements. We were nearly there be-
fore he mentioned the case. He seemed
unable to talk from nervousness. When
the shadow Of the Tombs fell upon the
cab he turned to me and said:
Il can tell you only one thing about
the case; my client is innocent. That Is
absolute. In his confession to me he
could explain nothing; he only knows
that he is innocent"
With this brief prelude followed my
guide up the stairs leading to the
Tombs and into the somber gallery that
runs along murderers' row. In the last
cell, surrounded by not more than ten
square feet of space, sat my man. He
occupied wooden chair, and when the
turnkey unlocked the door he gave no
sign excepting to bury his head deeper
in his hands and groan.
AT a glance l saw that he was gen
-tleman. He was a man in the prime of
life, not over 40, we'll dressed, clean
sshaven and handsome. This 1 saw in
spite Of the dark gloom upon his coun-
tenance, for never in my life had 1 seen
such abject despair shown in the face
of a human being.
At the sound of the lawyers voice he
lifted up his head, and at the mention
of my name ray Of hope seemed to
come across his countenance He rose,
shook hands with us both, and beck
oned us to seats on lis rude cot.
"Now," said the lawyer, leaning back
land leaving us face to face together,
tell Mr.. Martinot everything that hap
pened that night and conceal nothing
from him. Tell him just as you have
told me-"
Looking me straight in the eve and
beginning at the very beginning,
Franklin Jarvis told me his story:
81 am manufacturer of dress
goods said he. "My business carries
me down into Barclay street and the
lower quarters of the town, and on that
account I rise early every morning.
For many years my wife has not break
tasted with me.
1--WE were married fifteen years ago
=and our story is an old one. We mar
ried in poverty and were happy. We
grew to wealth and were Indifferent.
When fortune began to smile upon us
my wife became ambitious and longed
to shine in the social set of which we
had read only a little and in gilded
paragraphs.
Il opposed her and we quarreled.
sometimes gently, but more often bit
terly. Our words at times rose high.
and wh,n, as on recent occasion, she
showed great extravaganza in her at
tempts to get into high circles, 1 would
leave the house and not return for q
week at 4 time. Thus it grew steadily
~on for the last five years, getting worse
and worse.
Il will tell you now," said he, hesi-
tating and half apologetically, "that for
the las: FIVE years. since our trouble be-
gan, | have been employing my spare
time in a little amusement when l
: have very rigidly kept secret from my
: friends. I have been writing stories.
. During these periods when my wife
and 1 were estranged and neither of US
would humble ourselves enough to
make the first approaches, have with
drawn from home, and, taking up my
quarters in hotel, have amused myself
evenings writing fiction. This has been
my pas:ime, as other men drive horses
or seek the billiard table. My stories
Fhaye been in print and doubtless you,