The Afro-American advance., 1899-09-16
pleasure silently, wondering what

pleasure silently, wondering what I
could do best.
Its like thisl" he said, so suddenly
that he startled me out of my thoughts.
Il had a partner That partner gets
drowned at our works in butt of pur-
ple-not blue, mind you-dye You see
the bare facts mentioned in the rapers
(this is what you say!), write story
about it. You make me, John Saxon of
your accursed book, murder my part
ner, and you bring me to justice, eh?'
Yes, that's il" replied. as easily as
l could. II offer you my sincerest
apologies for the unpleasantness it
must have caused you; but l assure
you, upon my honor. | never dreamed
that you really existed, or snould not
have used such a plot"
But you must have knowni You
must have seen!" he cried, leaning over
the table and kissing his words into
my face.
What would have happened II the
meaning of his words had flashed, in
stead of dawning slowly, upon me
cannot think never want To know.
But, coming upon my 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, probably trusted |
had missed his second sentence.
To help him to that belief answered:
How could | have known the unfor-
tunate dyer had a partner. l realize
my horrible mistake now, of course.
| ought never 10 have written the book
without first inquiring whether my plot
would encroaeh too much upon actual
facts"
He did not seem to hear me, he was
staring over my shoulder, deep in
thought. like 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 l do not understand you,"
said. with a smile.
You liel You know you liel Do
you think have come here to be. suck
led on such prevarications? Do you
think l 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, though
| you don't say so in your accursed story?
Can't you see, ingenious puppy, that l
mean to know, and when 1 know to
send you where you cannot run man
down by underwriting, nor put the
law upon him? It's your life or mine!'
with all your threats" | 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
ed to me by a short paragraph. l 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
| isfied -
"No!" 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-
Rochdale. / am marked man, don't
doubt. Probably the police are hunt
| ing me down now-now! But they
won't find the shirt"
probably you oyerrate the interest
the police and people of Rochdale take
in my novels and the death of your
partner" said, with an effort at calm
mess NOT ton pogy N nCgpunp
Possibly ! do" he replied, in al
hoarse voice, with a fugitive glance at
the door. "But there is you TO reckon
with now!"
"Me?"
"Yes, you! Do you think IL I 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 to do, then2
Give yourself over TO the police, en- ?"
| asked ironically, for l was weary Of
the terrible nervous strain.
at is you or me, and, by my soul,
will seal your lips!"
To my uttermost surprise he made
but in the moment of his heightened
passion he forgot his revolver. thrust
out my arm and snatched il from the
table as quickly lodged my assailant,
and, STEPPING back. held the barrel in
his face.
"Stand back, John Saxon. or fire!'
! cried.
He staggered back and leaned against
the wall.
Give me the key. John Saxon" !
said, sterniy.
With his wild eyes fixed upon the re-
yolver, he took the key from his pocket
and threw il upon the table. took il
up and drew toward the door.
As If he realized that the door would
open only to let him pass cut TO the
gallows, he made 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.
"Stop!" he CALCULATED boarsely, 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 man2 A price, price,
price! A price-my lifel III buy my
life! \ price,
He crept toward fne, shaking his
trembling arms above his head. Sud-