The Princeton union., 1900-07-26

Wilson and Skinner holding a whis-
pered conversation. The younger
mans face was toward me, and as
his eye caught mine there was SO
much pity and sympathy in it that
could not help feeling some wonder.
.'To think of it all happening on my
grandfather's place, whose character
was as far removed from anything
criminal as heaven is high above
earth," finally managed to murmur,
unwilling to state the real cause of my
emotion.
"Is he quite dead?" Mr.. Perry asked
again, turning to Wilson. For an
swer the detective pulled back his coat
and vest and pointed to the shirt bos-
ON, which was dyed with the life
stream.
"You see," he answered, quietly,
"quite dead. Shot through the heart"
"Did Jackson do it?" the president
asked, turning to me. I nodded my
head.
"Why should he? What was Mr..
Morley"
Fortunately, Skinner, who had arisen
after his whispered conversation with
Wilson, and gone pol1ing about in the
corners and behind the empty barrels
and boxes, here uttered shout which
caused us all to glance in his direction.
He was tugging at some object inside
of a barrel, and soon brought out
large valise, which from it's apparent
weight and plethoric appearance was
stuffed full.
"Ah, that looks promising!" ejacu-
lated Mr.. Perry, starting eagerly for
ward.
The valise was deposited on the floor,
and the president went down on his
Nnees, in great excitement, to tumble
with the catch.
"Let me get at it, said Wilson.
While the two were endeavoring to
open the bag, Skinner came to where I
was standing, and, gazing down on the
dead man, said, in soft tones: ''This
will go hard with the young lady,
; There was nothing particularly
striking in his words, but the tone of
his voice had so much genuine feeling
, in it that voluntarily turned and ex-
tended my hand.
II hope you'll forgive me-" said.
"You bet,' he replied, grasping my
: hand. 'You did pretty near choke the
, daylight out of me, though. What a
grip you've got!", he added, with a
bright smile. "But then that's all
right. I'm thankful you didn't shoot
I was going to tell you who I was, as
there was no use for further conceal
ment from you, but you didn't give me
any chance"
"Why was the whole affair kept from
me SO carefully?" I asked.
The question, for some reason, EN-
barrassed Mr.. Skinner.
'I guess Wilson thought you were {
h little hot-headed, and might give th'
thing away by too much zeal,' he final
ly replied, lesitatingly.
/. I regarded him closely, for some
how I felt sure his answer was not ;
y true one; but he was gazing at the bod.
. at his feet in seeming sorrow.
y Then he shook his head, and agai,
r murmured: II tell you this will Gu
l.. the young woman up terribly.'
{, 1T will indeed. And who is to tel
her!" exclaimed, in anguish.
'That is your duty, Mr.. Conway. Sh
wouldn't take it the same from anyon
II else as she would from YOU" The:
n he continued, earnestly: eyes, your
|; the one to tell her, and the only on
p who can give her any comfort-if ther
is any to be had. Poor lady! I hop
lr you won't think me too forward in say
u ing that she thought a good deal c
* you; she was so anxious to get 20
:e cleared, and kept imploring me all tn
IN time to hurry up and find the real rol
W bers."
. Bless my dear loves kind and trr
IS heart! And now to have her swet
r. young life plunged into such grief an
H. sorrow! It seemed cruel, oh, mo!
u cruel!
ST I again grasped SINNERS hand an
Ut pressed it. my God, how can I te
d. her!" exclaimed, the tears starting
g my eyes.
&c Nelson! Nelson!"
~ It was Mr.. Perry who called, and WI
came up to me with his face aglo,
-. GAS far as hasty examination goes,
- have reason to believe the greater pa
of the bonds are here, minus the inte
~ est coupons for the past year. II
~ rascal must have converted those in
- cash; anyhow, they are gone"
% ;s $50 it did pay you for responding
ho quickly to my telegram remarl1e
'0 "Your telegram!" he repeated,
"A surprise. 'I received none.'
t1n Then I explained to him, and whe1
had finished he said: "Why, you 81
m the reason I did not receive it was tn
h+ I was already at Twineburgh. W
&c son telegraphed me this morning, a,
nc I came up on the noon train"
11v "Mr. Perry came into the office h;
ed an hour after you left" replied n
nv Wilson. II sent the dispatch after
:, :, left here"
1;l- "How did you know Jackson wor
come to the cellar tonight" I askt
his curiously.
u" Mr.. Wilson glanced around before g
for swering. Then he sunk his voice do,
ter low, as though afraid he might