Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-11-08
the table and kissing his word. into


the table ana kissing his words into
my face.
What would have happened IL the
meaning of his words had flashed, in.
stead of dawning, slowly, upon me
cannot think-r 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 I an.
swered:
GLOW could have known the unfor.
tunate dyer had partner? 1 realize
my horrible mistake now, of course
ought never to have written the
book without first inquirlng 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 guess
ed what no one else had suspectedv'
Il fear do not understand you,"
said, with a smile.
You lie! You know you lie! Do
you think / have come here to be suck
led on such presentations? Do you
think 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 accused
story? Can't you see, ingenious puppy,
that 1 mean to know, and when 1
know to send you where you cannot
run down man by novel writing, nor
put the law upon him? It's your life
or mine!"
with oil your threats / said,
you're a big bit Of fool, Mr.. Port.
man, or else your mind is unhinged
The book was mainly written upon the
merest conception of my own, sug-
gested to me by a short paragraph.
have already told you that. The man.
ner In which my murderer, John Sax.
on, was brought to Justice for his
crime was pure fiction work. Now are
you satisied?"
mol! 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 marked man, I don't
doubt. Probably the police are hunt.
ing me down now-now! 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" said, with an effort at
calmness not too easy to assume.
Possibly do!' he replied, In a
hoarse voice, with fugitive glance al
the door. "But there is you to reckon
with noww
"Me?"
Yes, you! Do you think If knew
i was as safe from suspicion as be
fore your book was written I could
leave you after what I've said to you
to-night?'
What do you propose to do, them
Give yourself over to the police, eh?,
asked ironically, for was weary Of
the terrible nervous strain.
ut is you or me, and, by my soul,
will seal your lips!''
To my uttermost surprise he made a
sudden dash round the table ut me,
but in the moment of his heightened
passion he forgot his revolver. l
thrust out my arm and snatched II
from the table as / quickly lodged my
assailant, and, stepping back, held
the barrel in his face.
Stand back, John Saxon, or frey'
I cried.
He staggered back and leaned
against the wall
"Give me the key, John Saxon /
said sternly. i
With his wild eyes fixed upon the
revolver, he took the key from his
pocket and threw 1t upon the table. 4
took 1t up and drew toward the door
As IL he realized that the door would
open only to allow him to pass out ia
the gallows, he made a desperate, sud.
den spring at me as, with my left
hand, slipped the key into the lock
Stand back" cried, and pushed
the revolver into the hollow Of his
ashy cheek.
stop" he calculated hoarsely, as
with an impetuous gesture he pushed
his lank hair off his molstened brow
with both his hands. what are yor
going to do, old man? A price, price
price! A price-my life! I'll buy my
life! 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 IL trying to swallow some
lump rising in his throat. Then, as
sprang to him, he twisted on his heel
and fell in heap upon the floor.
A price! Nemesis had refused his
price for life.
Preaches fn q Red Robe.
The Rev. A. w. Hobson, pastor OF
an independent church in Lyons, Neb.
is known as 1.-THE Man in Red,n from
the fact that he always breaches in q
red robe "When peODle ask mep he