The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-01-12

ed figures, with their heads UroopInS
helplessly forward on their corded
breasts, looking like silent efdgies Of
the dead.
Mopping his perspi-ing brow, Adolph
now turned his attention to the machine
that had startled him so when he first
came in. He carefully examined its
mechanism to see that everything vas
right Going to the cupboard, he tool.
up false bottom and lifted carefully
out a number Of dynamite cartridge:
that the two sleepers had stolen frori ::
French mine These he arranged in 9;
battery, tying them together. He raiseS:
the hammer of the machine and set the
hand so that the blow would fall IN Go
minutes after the machinery was set IL
motion. The whole deadly combination
he placed on a small table, which be
showed close in front Of the two sleep
ing men, This done, he sat down on s.
chair patiently to await the awakening.
The room was situated at the back OF
the house and was almost painfully still,
not sound from the street penetrating
to it. The candle burned low, guttered
and went out, but Adolph sat there and
did not light another. The room was
still only half in darkness, for the moon
shone brightly in at the window, re-
minding Adolph that it was just a
month before when he had looked out
on moonlit street in Paris while his
brother lay murdered in the room be-
low. The hours dragged along, and
Adolph sat as immovable as the two
seated before him. The square of moon
light, slowly moving, at last illumined
the seated form Of Picard, impercep-
tibly climbing up, as the moon sank,
until it touched his face. He threw his
head first to one side, then back,
yawned, drew q deep breath and tried
to struggle.
.sLamoine!'' he cried, "Adolph!
What the devil is this? I say, here!
Help! I am betrayedr'
"Hush," said Adolph quietly. "Do
not cry SO loud. You will wake La
moinc, who is beside you. am here.
Wait till light candle. The moon
light is waning. y
"Adolph, you fend, you are in league
with the police!''
''No, [ am not. I will explain every
thing in moment. Have patience. -
Adolph lit candle, and Picard, rolling
his eyes, saw that the slowly awakening
Lamoine was bound Ike himself
Lamoine, glaring at his partner and
not understanding what had happened,
hissed:
.sYou have turned traitor, Picard!
You have informed. curse your'
"Keep quiet, you fool. Don't you sec
I am bound as tightly as you?''
"There has been no traitor and no In
forming, nor need of any. A month ago
tonight, Picard, there was blown into
eternity good and honest man, who
never harmed you or any one. am his
brother, Adolph Delore, who refused to
make your internal machine for you. l
am much changed since then, but per-
haps now you recognize me?''
"I swear to God, - cried Picard, "that
did not do it! was in London at the
time. can prove it. There is no use in
handing me over to the police, even
though perhaps you think you can ter
rorize this poor wretch into lying
against me-
ssPray to God, whose name you SO
lightly use, that the police you fear
may get you before am done with you.
In the police, strange as it may sound
to you, is your only hope, but they will
have to come quickly if they are to save
you. Picard, you have lived perhaps
So years Oh this earth. The next hour
Of your life will be longer to ycu than
all these years. y
Adolph put the percussion cap in its
place and started the mechanism. For
few moments its quiet tick tick was the
only sound heard in the room, the two