Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-09-14
that you really existed, OF should not

have used such a plot. !"
But you must have known! You
must have scent he cried, leaning over.
!. the table and kissing hisssword sss into
my face. q
What would have happened if the
meaning of his words had flashed, Sim.
stead of dawning slowly, upon me I
cannot thinkI 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.
M To help hint that belief answered: 3
How could ] have known the unfor-
Esstunate@ dyer had a. partner. I realize
my horrible mis- Ike now, of course.
4 ought never to have written the book
wit bout 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! hesssaid, 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 I do not understand you," T
said, with a smile. s.
You lie! You know, you lie! Do
you think I have come here to be suck.
led on such presentations? Do you
think I brought this with me for any
reason but to get from you an account
of how you discovered the. purple spot
on. my shirt; howsyou 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 I
mean to know, and when u 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" T said,
you're a 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?"
"No!' he replied, throwing himself
back in his chair. What you say may
be true; I 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, 1 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 I said, with an effort at calm
ness not too easy to assume.
Possibly I do!'' he replied, in al
hoarse voice, with a fugitive glance at
the door. Gut there is you to reckon
with now!''
s'Me?" -. = IN
eyes, you! Do you think if I knew 1
was as safe from suspicion as before
your book was written, I could leave
you after what I've said to you to-
night?'
What do you propose to do, then?
Give yourself over to the police, eh %'
I asked ironically, for was weary of
the terrible nervous strain. a
1T is you or me, and, by my soul, I
will seal your lips!"
To my uttermost surprise he made a
sudden dash round the table at me,
but in the moment of his heightened
passion he forgot his revolver. thrust
out my arm and snatched it from the
table as | quickly lodged my assaiiant,
and, STEPPING back, held the barrel in
his face. Z
.'Stand back, J. ohm Saxon, or I fre!"
I cried. II
He staggered back and leaned against
the wall. s.
.saive me; he key, John Saxon" I
said, sternly. n
4 With his wild eyes fixed upon the re-
volver, he took the key from his pocket
and threw it upon the table. IT took it
up ands drew toward the door. Is
As:if 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, I
slipped the key into the lock.
I ssstand back!'' I cried, as pushed the.
revolver into the hollow Of his ashy
cheek. a
''Stop!' he calculated hoarsely,. as
with an impetuous gesture he pushed
his lank hair off his moistened brow
with both his hands, 'sWhat are you
going tosdo,. old man? A price, price,.
price! A price-my life! I'll buy my
life! A price, 81 !
II He crept toward me, shaking his
trembling arms above his head. Sud-
denly lie stopped, and his eyes started
from their sockets. He threw his chin.
forward as if trying to swallow some
lump rising in his throat. Then, as I
sprang to him, he twisted on his heel
and fell in a heap upon the floor.
"a A price! Nemesis had refused his
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