Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-08


most saturEine moods, and was de-
clined. Bluebirdville with all It's win
ter dreariness seemed more conEenial
to his mood. but as the time of cheer
drew nigh. the feeling of Inconsistencies
that comes TO all lonely beings Mt that
date, IL at no other overwhelmed him,
finally deciding him to spend the sea-
son In san Francisco where he would
have at least the sight and sound of
the city's holiday cheer to alleviate his
lonllness.
He had no intimate friends
and few acquaintance in
the place, and on Christmas eve he
sense of loneliness by n sight OF the
city's holiday bravery. The business
streets were ablaze with Elittering
lights and gorgeous window dressings,
and throngs crowded the sidewalks
smiling, eager. jostling each other with
good natured unconccrn. The sight of
them. with their arms loaded with
holiday bundles carrying their sugges-
lions the cherry hearthstones and home
ties, deepened that sense OF desolate-
ness which had brought an unusual
tightening to his heartstrlngs, and af-
ter pushing his way along tho prin-
cipnl thorourhfares for n time, he found
ii a relief to turn into the Quietcr
streets. His aloofness from tho aims
and feelings of the happy, animated
thrOngs, made him feel alien and out
of-place there.
He had spent other holiday Seasons
in strange cities. when 1t had not
brought Il 1.-THE of the sensitiyeness he
felt now; and he knew that the unusual
stress was due to the fond dreams he
had lately pictured of n new life, which
was to have brought to him the blessed
gifts of love and home happiness. 1t
made him doubly bitter. as he thought
of the ill-chance that had taken from
him the cup of happiness that seemed
at his very lips. For the case seemed
hopeless, now, with every clue d6s-
troyed, and the girls own determine
of odds. Lucky Milton Macy" the
newspaper had called him In the per-
sonal that had heraided his arrival,
telling Of the good fortune that had
made a millionaire of the needy civil
engineer in the space Of a year.
in life-if he were to see no more the
blue eyes that had shed the first warm
ray of actual happiness into his life.
He had grown more morOse as he
walked on, thinking 1t over aud turned
with an impatient scowl as some one
jostled against him suddenly on the
narrow sidewalk.
1t was man carrying n parcel in his
arms hut though Macy had moved
side, he did not pass, but continued to
walk along closely at his side.
There We're people passing on the
sidewalk, but not. enough to excuse the
mans keeping at his elbow; and Macy
had Just concluded that the individual
had INDUCED in strong form of
Christmas cheer, when the man. turn
ing suddenly toward him, spoke:
do you see this parcel across my
arm?" he said in an easy, confidential
tone, such as a friend might have used
in discussing the holiday sights. or any
other common theme. 1T is n pistol,
and my hand is on the trigger, If you
cry out, or attempt to move away from
me, / will kill you. Go on" he Kissed,
as Macy half halted. II am on the
verge of hell, II you do not save me-
and If you fail me--you shall die with
me as surely rs there Is heaven on
hight" He turned his haggard face
and burning eyes full upon Macy as he
spoke, and the latter, with a vague idea
that lunacy was pictured in them, and
the certain one that however it might
be, the man was in a deadly mood
walked on beside him.
Instinctively he glanced at the par
eel the man carried. 1t lay across the
arm nearest him and through the
broken edges of the paper he asw the
end of pistol, with the muzzle point
ed within six inches of his heart. Macy
quiet. was far from being deserted. and
Macy knew that he had but to cry out
to bring a half dozen to his assistance
but before they would be able to real
iZe sufficiently to reach and aid him
the man would have ample time to send
n bullet through his heart To attempt
to grapple with him seemed equally
hazardous as his assistant had evil
IDENTIFY counted all costs, and would act
upon the turn of finger.
Walking leisurely along with his
head turned in seeming carelessness
toward Macy, the man was watching
him as alertly and cautiously as a
cat. Despite the seeming absurdity and
hazard of the situation, the stranger.
so far, had the upper hand; and Macy
found himself conscious of half Curl
Gus interest and zest in the adventure
as he waited to see how it all might
end. While he was undoubtedly at a
disadvantage himself-yet he was so
far not more so than the other, as
any attempt to carry out plan of
violent robbery in sight of the passers-
by would, by calling their attention to
his desperate purpose Illustrate his own
ends. The problem was, what scheme
had he resolved upon to carry out his
ends? The man did not leave him long
in doubt.
81 will give you instructions as what
j wish you TO 90, ne Stiiu, anu Sou
will carry them out, without giving me
trouble, or suffer what | have threat
ened. l will tell you once more not to
delude yourself with the thought that
don't mean to carry out my purpose.
1 have been planning this for suflS-
cient time to count all the odds and the
costs of failure: and that i have at
tempted this in the face of them, should
convince you that will make you suffer
first, If the end is to be failure"
you say you have planned this
some time ahead" said Macy. Does
that mean that you know me?'
81 saw in the paper when you arrived,
and have been watching you ever since
for this chance. selected you. because
you are rich. because you have no
family to suffer for your loss If / am
obliged to kill you-because 1 knew that
with a stranger l had the chance of
finding you alone, and therefore able
to take you off guard, as l have to-
night. When you LETT your hotel this
evning l was behind you, and | have
been at your elbow ever since"
What do you propose doing?" asked
Macy with increased curiosity. .
81 am going TO take what money you
have with you, and if It is not sufficient
for my needs,l shall exact pledge from
you to supply me with more"
Macy smiled. Lunacy, without n
shadow OF doubt, was responsible for
his unique adventure.
Don't think that ! am insane-or
joking" said the other as II reaching
his thought; 81 mean simply that am
going to try the experiment of taking