Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-01

and there appeared man, somewhat d.
shoyeled as to hair and general appeara. &c
and with eyes that were wild, but Fever
theless tho man whom sought.
II introduced myself, stated my busi-
ness and then began to talk facts and fig
ures with him. For a time no seemed to
follow Inc, but frequently / caught him
looking toward the door of the private Of
fec and making slight, seemingly involun-
tary movements in that direction. Finally
he excused himself and went into tho 9TH
er room. l was somewhat surprised and a
little i'll at ease, but remained where was,
although the time was passing rapidly. and
l wanted to get out of the town by the
next south bound train.
Suddenly heard tho slamming of a
desk cover in tho next room and almost
Immediately afterward the report of pis-
toll shot. At tho first sound had started
to my feet, and at the second rushed to
the office door and burst it open. What q
sight met my eyes! / can SEQ it yet Just
ms wildly as at that moment. The inner
Office was tiny room, and tho only fur
nishings were an Office desk with q roll top
and In front of it an ordinary swing chair.
Beside this chair, face downward, lay tho
manufacturer with his blood streaming
from terrible wound in his left temple.
For the moment was paralyzed. My
first thought was that murder had been
committed, but the sight of q revolver "
ing just beyond the tips Of the fingers of
the outstretched right hand convinced me
that it vas a suicide. But wasted little
time In conjectures Although l hated to
do so, rushed to the side Of the fallen
man, turned him over on his back and
felt for his heart. There was not an ap-
parent pulsation. Death had been almost
Instantaneous.
1.-The man was dead, and I was alone
with him. And then the danger of my sit
uation dawned upon me. Hero was, a
stranger In the town. My name was
known, because / had registered at the ho-
tel. But then that would do me no good.
Fully half n dozen persons knew of my
visit to the place, because had inquired
the direction of that number of people,
Tho man was dead. All the circumstances
would lead to the suspicion that was the
murderer.
'The situation was appalling. stood
still In the center of that room with the
body OF tho dead man before me and
thought rs never before. could not go
away. That would DO but another bit of
circumstantial evidence. was afraid to
summon help because feared to face tho
first person. knew that they sometimes
executed justice somewhat summarily in
the south, and had no desire to ornament
the limb of some tree or the crossbar of a
telegraph pole for o crime which / had not
committed.
but plainly must do something. II
matters were delayed, some one might ap-
pear upon the scene. Some way of escape
must DO devised and at once too. Sudden
~ remembered the slammiDg Of the desk,
and something told me that the secret of
the matter might be contained in il.
turned TO the desk and tried the rolling
top. IT was locked tightly and refused to
bulge. 1 seemed to be foiled in this direc-
ton, but was certain that the secret of
tho whole thing was in that desk, and so,
horrible as the task was, / searched the
pockets of the dead man and finally found
the desired key. With feverish haste /
threw open the desk and almost shouted
as saw there, lying in row, three open
letters. Hastily scanned them, and then
/ knew that was safe.
~ WIS " SASS Vi pitipttitittu bulCluo.
The letters were addressed to the mans
wife and to his two partners. All told of
unsuccessful business ventures and of his
fear to face those who would lose because
OF his acts. And fortunately for me there
was brief note lying near containing a
hastily scrawled apology to me for his act
with an expression Of his hope that would
not be at all inconvenicnced by it.
The reading of these letters gave me
courage. / ran to the Office door and
shouted for help. a passing man came to
my aid and soon others Joined us. They
knew the man, and it was only matter
OF few minutes before matters were
Strengthened out all right as far as was
concerned. l had to remain over until the
next day to appear before the coroner's
jury and tell my story. That duty per-
formed. packed up and took the ilrss
train for home.''