Evening journal., 1899-09-16

must nave SEEM lEe-iA'NttAtdhlnNt over
the table and hisslrg his words into
my face.
What would have happened if the
meaning OF his word had flashed, in
stead of dawning slowly, upon me
cannot think-I never want 10 know.
I3ni. coming upon n " worried brain
slowly. the meaning did not make me
start. and my visitor who evidently
realized he had spoken without think
ing how he spoke, pr obably trusted
had missed his second sentence.
To help him TO that be lief answered;
How could 1 have known the unfor-
tunate dyer had a partner 1 realize
my horrible mistake new, of course.
l ought never TO have written the book
without first inquiring whether my plot
would encroach too much upon actual
facts."
He did not seem 10 hear me. he wis
staring over my shoul der. deep in
thought. like a man who dreams 'his
thoughts.
"Bahl" he said. suddenly with gDeat
passion. "Iow did you learn all you
know, eh9 You could not have guess sed
what no one else had suspected"
81 fear do not understand yon,"
said. with smile.
"Iou liei You know you liel Do
YOU think have come here 20 be suck
led on such prevarications? Do you
think 1 brought this with me for any
reason but to get from you an account
OF how you discovered the purple spot
on my shirt, how you saw how It hap
pened, as you must have done, t'aough
YOU don't say so in your accursed story?
Can't you see, ingenious puppy, that /
mean TO know, and when / know 20
send you where you cannot run a man
down by novel-writing, nor Put the
law upon him? It's your life or minel"
"With all your threats" 1 said,
you're n big bit Of a fool, Mr Portman,
or else your mind is unhinged. The
book was mainly written upon the
merest conception Of my own, suggest
ed to me by a short paragraph. i have
already told You that. The manner in
which my murderer. John Saxon. was
brought to Justice for his crime was
pure fiction work. Now are you sat
isfed?"
"Noi" he replied. throwing himself
back in his chair. what you say may
be true; ] don't know. In any case,
your story has put me under the sus-
picion of the police and the people OF
Rochdale. ! am q marked man. I don't
doubt. Probably the poEce are hunt
ing me down now-nowl But they
won't find the shirt"
Probably you overrate the interest
the police and people of Rochdale take
in my novels and the death of yonr
partner" said, with an effort at calni-
ness not too easy 10 assume
Possibly dol" he replied, in a
hoarse voice, with a fugitive glance al
the door. but there is you to reckon
with nowl"
"Me?"
Eyes, you'll Do you think if'I knew
was as safe from suspicion as before
your book was written, l. could leave
you after what I've said TO you TO
night?"
''What do you propose to do, them
Give yourself over 10 the police, Ell p
1 asked ironically, for was weary OF
the terrible nervous strain.
ut is you or me, and. by my soul,
will seal your llpsr'
To my uttermost surprise he made a
sudden dash round the table at mei
but in the moment of his heightened
passion he forgot his revolver. thrust
out my arm and snatched 10 from the
table as / quickly lodged my assailant
and, steping back, / held the barrel in
his face.
"stand back, John Saxon. or fret
I cried.
He staggered back and leaned against
the wall.
"Give me the key, John Saxon"
said, sternly.
With his wild eyes fixed upon the re.
volver, he took the key from his pocket
and threw it upon the table. i took il
up and drew toward the door,
AS II he realized that the door would
open only to let him pass cut to the
gallows, he made a desperate, sudden
spring at me as, with my left hand,
slipped the key into the lock.
"stand back!" / cried, as pushed the
revolver into the hollow Of his ashy
cheek
"Stopl" he eiaculated hoarsely, as
with an impetuous gesture he pushed
his lank hair of his moistened brow
with both his hands "What are you
going to do, old man? A price. price
pricel A price-my life. III buy my
lifel A price?"
He crept toward me, shaking his
trembling arms above his head Sud
denly he stopped and his eyes started
from their sockets. He threw his CHR
forward as II trying to swallow som'
lump rising in his throat. Then, as
sprang to him, he twisted on his hee
I and fell ia a heap upon the floor.
A pricel Nemesis had refused hil
price for life.-Chicago Herald.
kissing All the Girls.
The ancient and unique customs con
nected with Hoch Tide were lately oh
eervol NJ Hunuerford The morn wa