Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-09-23

had missed his second sentence.
To help him to that belief answered:
How could have known the unfor-
tunate dyer had a partner. 1 realize
my horrible mistake now, OF course.
] ought never 10 have written the book
without first inquiring whether my plot
would encroach too much upon actual
facts
He did not seem TO hear me, he was
staring over my shoulder, deep in
thought, like a man who dreams his
thoughts.
BAH" he said, suddenly with great
passion. "How did you learn all you
know, Ell? You could not have guessed
what no one else had suspected!''
II fear do not understand YOU"
said, with a smile.
You iei You know you liei Do
you think have come here TO 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 il hap
pened, as you must have done, though
you don't say so in your accursed story?
Can't you see, ingenious puppy, that 1
mean 10 know, and when i know to
send you where you cannot run a man
down by woodworking, nor put the
law upon him? It's your life or minel"
with all your threats" 1 said,
you're big bit of fool, Mr.. Portman,
or else your mind is unhinged. The
book was mainly written upon the
merest conception of my own, suggest
I \, II, I
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?"
mol" he replied, throwing himself
back in his chair. what you say may
be true; 1 don't know. In any case,
| your story has put me under the sus-
| picion of the police and the people of
Rochdale. am a marked man, 1 don't
doubt. Probably the poEce are hunt
ing me down now-nowi 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 your
| partner" I said, with al effort at calm
ness not too easy 20 assume.
Possibly I dol" he replied, in a
hoarse voice, with a fugitive glance at
the door. "But there is you to reckon
with nowl"
'Me?"
Eyes, you'll DO you think If knew ]
was as safe from suspicion as before
your book was written, could leave
you after what I've said to you to-
night?"
What do you propose 70 do, then I
Give yourself over to the police, eh p
1 asked ironically, for 1 was weary OF
the terrible nervous strain.
ut is you or me, and. by my soul.
will seal your lipsl"
To my uttermost surprise he made q
| sudden dash round the table at me
but in the moment of his heightened
passion he forgot his revolver. thrus'
out my arm and snatched it from the
table as quickly lodged my assailant
and, STEPPING back, / held the barrel il
his face.
"Stand back, John Saxon, or fire!'
I cried.
he staggered back and leaned-agains
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 poke
; and threw it upon the table. 1 took j
up and drew toward the door.
; AS If he realized that the door woul'
. open only to let him pass cut to tn
gallows, he made desperate, suddei
spring at me as, with my left hand,
slipped the key into, the lock.
"Stand baclI" cried, as I pushed tn
revolver into the hollow of his ash
cheek.
"Stopi" ne calculated hoarsely, a
; with an impetuous gesture he pushe
his lank hair off his moistened bron
with both his hands. what are yo'
going to do, old man? A price, price
pricei A price-my lifel I'll buy m
lifeI A price?"
he crept toward me, shaking hi
trembling arms above his head. SUD
denly he stopped, and his eyes starts
from their sockets. he threw his chi
: forward as If trying to swallow som
lump rising in his throat. Then, as
;. sprang to him, he twisted on his he'
and fell in heap upon the floor.
A price Nemesis had refused hi
> price for life.-Chicago Herald.