The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-04

speak again.
do you know the man who DID
comni. this crime?" and his eyes burn
ed into my very brain. as It were.
II DO not"
Have you not the faintest idea?"S
NO. ] have none"
"Do You think OF a person who might
know Of the murderer"
You refer. l presume. to"
"Watklns."
"And you think he could tell the
facts, do vou?" |t#
perhaps, but the man Is a lunatic."
For the space OF minute my strange
visitor remained silent as II pondering
over 'we!ghsy problem, and finally he
lifted his face to mine and continued:
II have plan In mind. 1t may seem
ch!merlcal to yon. but to me It Is plan
Astounding In points of feasibility. / will
not encourage You. my young friend,
by making a positive guarantee OF sue
cess, but think 1t will do no harm to
attempt 1t. II we can arrange meet
Ing OF the attorneys who represented
both sides In your late trial. with stem
ographers and notaries, think might
succeed; but at the best, It would be
dangerous" XII
How can It be done?"
81 will attempt It all on condition"
"Ies. yes, and that Is"
That vou trust me implicitly"
How could do otherwlse?"
Good! Be ready Tomorrow at noon.
II my influence counts for anything I
will be here. Until then-hope"
In answer to bis summons the turn
key appeared. and my visitor left ME to
ponder over the strange happening Of
the last half hour. Who was he? l
must wait and see.
At the appointed time / was ready.
In fact. 1 had been ready for hours,
and TO the credit OF the stranger. be 1t
said, he was prompt. With him came
two burly officers in citizens dress.
These men locked arms with me and we
marched out TO closed carriage that
stood awaiting US. We were driven
rapidly over the smooth pavement un-
I'll we reached the asylum.
The dark-visaged stranger led us rap
idly to room. The attorneys. nota
rles and one or two others were there.
Placing his black satchel on the table
the man turned and faced the expectant
audience. .fa
Gentlemen. you are probably won
dering at the unexpected procedure.
am about to attempt feat that you
may say was conceived In the wild
flights OF n disordered Imagination, but
which. nevertheless, I maintain Is not
Impossible. 1t Is nothing less than to
hypnotic n human SOUL II l succeed
1t Will be victory of 4 finite substance
over an infinite spirit. True, 1t Is the
soul OF lunatic. but does that make 1t
any the less a soul? 1t is not dsor-
dered soul that causes those rawlings
you hear-it Is u shattered mind. am
ready"
The warden led us through corri-
dor that opened into Il somewhat wider
landing. Opening door on the left.
we stood before cell in which We saw
the lunatic, Watkins. covering In the
farthest corner. ever and anon giving
vent TO his grating. demoniacai laugh.
AS we approached, he raised his staring
eyeballs and broke out into II passionate
storm OF maniacal fury. The stranger
stood and watched the heaving form
silently for moment.
1T Will be necessary to drug him."
What for?" asked the warden, me-
Chemically.
do you think you will understand
the better II tell you? Well. l must
have his mind. disordered though 1t be.
under complete subjugation. l must
WEI poNct III SOlIle way lHe Highly
force that now dominates his mental
capacity. He has but u. single idea
and must first control that, then, per-
haps-the other. BY means OF drug
have with me shall put his nervous
system into q state OF equilibrium. and
while In that condition, 1 may be able
to-MAY, You understand"
The warden nodded his head. and the
stranger proceeded to open his black
satchel. from which he produced q mass
OF soft, waXy substance. Striking u
match on an iron bar he held the mass
In the flame until 1t became glistenlng
black In color, while dense fumes OF u
peculiarly pungent odor rolled up from
it.\ Slipping his arm deity through
theNbars he thrust the fuming mass be-
Meath the nostrils OF the maniac. Scarce
had he done so when the unhappy Great
ure rolled heavily on the floor. and only
his deep breathing broke the silence.
The stranger stepped inside. sitting
calmly on the floor In front Of the mo-
tionless form. Five minutes passed
then ten. Then the form stirred, the
limbs twitched spasmodically, and the
pale eyelids seemed to hover as IL half
inclined to open The man bent over
and gazed lntently at the face beneath
him. Some one scraped foot on the
threshold. which brought forth an
angry exclamation from the silent
stranger. and then all became still once
more.
A minute licked blythe man bent
closer-and then, the maniac opened his
eyes. Inst.nctively We drew back. while
for the space of half minute the two
men gazed into each others eyes as II
in mortal combat. Then the weak sue
cumbpi TO the strong.
Get up!" commanded the stranger.
Slowly. as II studying the advlsoDlllty
of complying with the order. the huge
form staggered to Its feet, and stood
tremblingly, staring at the dark face
with the piercing black eyes.
sit down on that chair, pleased"
Watkins obeyed.
watkins, you are sane man! You
arc not a lunatIc. Do yoE--" 1t was
enough. The staring eyeballs took on
n look of intelligence, and the man
sprang to his feet. hastily surveying his
surroundings. He seemed to be slightly
dazed at the sight OF the iron bars that
walled him In. and put out his hand to
touch the padding OF the cell. Then his
eyes fell on me, and the effect was mar
velous. Clapping his hands TO his fore
head he reeled against the padded wall.
and sobbed Ike a child. Then he spoke:
"Oh. Why did you not hang him?
Bethune. mean. He murdered Canton!
He did It,"
The officers gripped my arms little
tighter, and the cold sweat oozed from
my brow AZ heard his Infamous words
The stranger stepped forward md
spoke to the stenographer. whose nlm-
Bile pen was made ready In n twllnklng.
Then the stranger turned his piercing
glance on Watkins. and. In voice
shaking with intensity, said:
watkins, I want TO ask you q ques-
So, md uant n candid answer Who