The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-21
CHAPTER xxx.

The round had come full circle. By
various chances and a train of circum-
stances for which he could not ac-
count he had been turned from his first
intention, and was being brought back
stage by stage to the very spot he had
thought il his duty to fly from. was
this fate? He began to think so, and
no longer so much as dreamed of Strug-
Cling against it. But he felt very much
dazed. and walked away through the
now partially deserted streets with an
odd sense Of failure that poorly COM
pensated him for the hope now present
within him of seeing his mother again,
and being once more Caleb Sweetwater
of Sutherlandtown.
He was clearer, however, after few
blocks of rapid walking, and then he
began TO wonder over the contents of
the ietter he had, and how they would
affect its recipient. Was it a new dan
ger he was bringing him? Instead of
aiding Mr. Sutherland in keeping his
dangerous secret was he destined 10
bring disgrace upon him, not only Dy
his testimony before the coroner, but
by means of this letter, which, what
ever it contained, certainly could not
bode good to the man from whom 1t
was deigned to wTest $500.
The fear that he was destined so to
90 grew upon him rapidly. and the
temptation TO open the letter and make
himself master of its contents before
leaving town, at last became so strong
that his sense of honor paled before II,
and he made up his mind that before
he Ventured into the precincts of Suth-
erlandtown he would know just what
sort of a bombshell he was carving
into the Sutherland family. To do this
he stopped at the first respectable lodg-
ing house he encountered and hired a
room. Calling for hot Water-'p piping
hot" he told them-he subjected the
letter to the effects of steam, and pres
emily had it open. He was not diSap-
pointed in its contents, save that they
were even more dangerous than he had
anticipated. Captain Wattles was an
old crony of Frederick's, and knew his
record better than anyone else in the
world. From this fact and the added
one that Frederick had stood in special
need of money at the time of Agatha
WebbS murder. the writer had no
hesitation in believing him guilty of
the crime which opened his way to
fortune and though under ordinary cir
CumStanceS he would. as his friend
Frederick already knew, be perfectly
willing to keep his opinions to him
self. he was just now under the same
necessity for money that Frederick
himself had been at that fatal time,
and must, therefore, see the color of
$500 before the day was out. if Fred
tlIEh dtSiltN 10 nave Ddlilt htpl
out of the Boston papers. That it had
been kept out up to this time argued
that the crime had been well enough
hidden to make the alterations thus
offered an important one.
There was no signature.
Sweetwater. affected 10 an extent he
little expected. reseaied the letter. made
his excuses to the landlord and left the
house. Now he could see why he had
not been allowed TO make his useless
sacrifice. Another man than himself
suspected Frederick. and by a word
could pIecipitate the doom he already
saw hung too low above the devoted
head of Mr.. Sutferlands son to be
aVerted
Yet I'll attempt that. too" burst
impetuousiy from his lips. IF l fail.
] can but go back with a knowledge of
this added danger. If / succeed, why. l
must still go back. From some person
and from some complications it is use
less TO attempt flight
Returning TO the clubhouse he had
first entered in his search for Captain
Wattles. he asked If that gentleman
had vet come in. This time ne was
answered by an affirmative though
he might almost as well have not been,
for the captain was playing cards in
q private room. and would not submit
TO any interruption.
He will submit to mine'' retorted
Sweetwater to the man who had told
him this. "Or wait; hand him back
this letter and say that the messenger
refuses to deliver it.
This brought the captain out, as he
had fully expected it would.
why, what" began that gentleman
in furious rage.
But Sweetwater, laying his hand on
the arm he knew to be so sensitive.
rose on tiptoe and managed to whisper
in the angry mans ear:
You are card sharp. and it will be
easy enough to ruin you. Threaten
Frederick Sutherland and in two weeks
you viii be boycotted by every club in
this city. Twenty-Five hundred dollars
won't pay you for that"
This from a nondescript fellow with
no grains Of a gentleman about him in
form, feature or apparel, The captain
stared nonplussed, too much taken
aback to even be angry.
Suddenly he cried:
How do you know all this? How do