Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-02-03

that fact" said Hendricks "Mr. Ben
ton had but two ohildren--you and
your sister. If you are not guilty, sus-
picion may fall on her,.
The color ran into Ralph's face. He
clasped his hands together, and his
handouts ratified.
"Rotl" he exclaimed. Neither Of us
is guilty Hendricks, you are on the
point Of making an ans Of yourself--a
loud, braying, conspicuous ass You
have not made many mistakes during
your career, but you have made one In
me, and when l have told you all you
will admit it. ! would have come to
this at once, but to be frank I did not
think it would be necessary or that
what l was trying to keep concealed
was anybody's business except my
own"
Ralph paused for breath, for he had
been speaking rapidly. He glanced sus-
piciously at Lampkin and Kola.
"These gentlemen are your confden-
tial friendsY' he added.
"They are," responded Hendricks
"You need not fear them. They can be
trusted"
Ralph's face had become serious The
bantering quality had left his tone.
1T is a humiliating thing to have to
knuckle to you, Hendricks, but there
s nnpiea s 'i Il l don't show my nanac
You are going to have big surprise.
You are going to find that you are
away off the track. I did not want to
tell all I know about my fathers death
l was afraid If did 1t would be impos-
sible to keep certain fact connected
with it secret. I have sweetheart,
Hendricks, and don't fancy having
her name brought into the papers as my
fancee while l am under suspicion. nor
do particularly relish being arrested
for the murder Of my own father. So
here goss:
ION the night he met his death I
was coming home from the city at
about ten minutes past O'Clock. I was
Just turning the corner Of the fourth
street from our house, on the way from
the station, when heard report Of a
revolver and saw a red fash in the d.
reotion Of the north walk in our gar
den. You know there are few houses in
that vicinity, and I had clear view
across the vacant lots
Fearing that something had gone
wrong, FASTENED homa. I entered at
the side gate because it was the shorter
way to the north walk. crossed the
grass and came upon my father lying
exactly as you saw him on the morning
of the inquest. The revolver you found
in the shrubbery was BY his side.
II had no sooner seen him than !
knew he bad committed suicide. I had
heard him threaten to do it often and
knew that he had at last given way to
what seems family failing. My "a
theirs father took his own life, and so
did one Of my fathers brothers. ;"
Ralph Benton studied the faces
around him.
"You are all surprised" he went on.
II knew you would be. In bending
over my father to see if life were ex-
tinct noticed an envelope pinned to
the underside Of the lapel Of his coat /
tore it of, struck match and hastily
read the contents Of the envelope It
was a short statement to the effect that
nothing had lately gone to suit him;
that he had quarrelsd with Mr.. Allen;
that his own children did not love him
and wanted him out of the way to get
his money He said he was obeying an
uncomfortable impulse to end his life
by his own hand, that he believed the
inclination was hereditary and that he
had not been free from it one moment
since his brother had killed himself in
Harlem five years ago He ended BY
few words to his sister, my Aunt
Martha. He told her that he knew she
had been contemplating suicide for the
same reasons that had actuated him
and begged her to hold Oh as long as
she could, but that she need not count
on ever defeating the will Of Provi-
dence, which had deoreed that every
one bearing the name Of Benton should
die by his own hand. My father was
really not in his right mind"
A white, desperate expression had
captured Ralph's face. He drew o deep
breath and then continues:
II don't know what the law is on
this point, Hendricks, but deliberate
ly took it into my own hands. 1t co.
Cured to me that no one else had
heard the report Of the revolver and
that was the only one who knew OF
the accident Like f1ash it came over
me that could do good deed in COW
ering up the fact that my father had
killed himself. My sister and ! have
read several books by certain philoso-
pher who claims that hereditary be-
liefs, such as my father possessed, can
be overcome with reason and constant
habit of banishing all morbid thoughta
believe you teach something Of that
kind, DR.. Lampkin, in your practice,
said Ralph, directing his words to the
doctor. II think have seen something
Of it in the papers.
Lampkin nodded.
"You and your sister were certainly
doing the correct thing" he answered
1T seems to me-
go ahead with your story" inter-
rupted Hendricks, q little look of dis
pleasure in his eyes.
"You can guess the rest" said the
young man. Il remembered my aunt's
peculiar tendency and was sure she
would take her life, in spite of all We
could do, if she discovered the manner
Of my fathers death and his insane
message to her. noticed that my feet
were making impressions in the sand
and just then saw the swing. I did, Of
course, thoughtless thing when / toss
ed into the grass the revolver my IA
Their had used, but it really did not o.
cur to me at the moment Il was fright
fully agitated) that it would throw sus-