Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-02-22

ana sat down at the other side of my
table, laid his revolver in front of him
and began TO bite at his nails. | waited
his pleasure silently, wondering what |
could best do.
Its like this" he said. so suddenly
mat he startled me out of my thoughts.
Il had partner. That partner gets
| droNled al our works in a butt of pur-
ple-not blue, mind you-dye. You see
the bare facts mentioned in the papers
| this is what YOU say and write story
| about it, You make me. John Saxon
Of your accused book, murder my part
ner. and you bring nue. to justice, ehi"
Yes, that's it." | replied as easily as
| could. Il offer you my sincerest apol-
ogies for the unpleasantness It must
have caused you, but | assure you, on
my honor, | never dreamed that YOU
really existed, or ! should not have
used such a plot
But YOU must have known. You
must have seen" he cried, leaning over
the table and Kissing his words into
my face
What would have happened if 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 / an
swcred;
How could | have known the I'M
fortunate dyer had n partner? | realize
my horrible mistake now, of course.
without first inquiring whether my
plot would encroach too much upon
actual facts"
lie did not seem TO hear me. He was
staring over my shoulder, deep in
thought, like Il man who dreams his
thoughts.
''Rah" he said suddenly, with great
passion. How did you learn all you
know. eh? You could not have guess
ed what no one else had suspected"
II fear / do not understand you"
said, with smile.
you lie! You know you lie! DO
you think | have come here to be
sucked on such preyarications? Do
you think | brought this with me for
any reason but to get from you an ac-
count of how Won discovered the pur-
pie spot on my shirt; how you saw
how it happened, as YOU must have
done, though you don't say SO in your
accused story? Can't you see, in
genious puppy, that | mean to know
and when | know to send you where
you cannot run man down by novel
writing nor put the law upon him ?
It's your life or miner
with all 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, suggest
ed to me by Il short paragraph. | 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 salts
fiedY
NO" he replied, throwing himself
back in his chair. "Nhat YOU say may
be true. don't know. In any case.
your story has put me under the suspi-
cion of the police and the people Of
Rochdale | am Il marked man, don't
doubt Probably the police are hunting
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 ut calm
ness not too easy to assume.
Possibly | do" he replied, in a
hoarse voice. with furtive glance at
the door, But there is you to reckon
with now"
"MeT
Eyes, you! DO you think if knew
was as safe from suspicion as before
your book was written | could leave
you after what I've said to you to-
nightT
"What do you propose to do, them
Give yourself over to the police chE' /
asked ironically. for was weary Of
the terrible nervous strain.
1T is you or me. and, by my soul, !
will seal your lips
10 my uttermost surprise he made
sudden dash round the table at me, but
in the moment Of his heightened pas
sion he forgot his revolver | thrust
out my arm and snatChed it 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 sternly.
With his wild eyes fyed upon the re-
volyer. he took the key from his pocket
and threw Il upon the table took 1t
up and drew toward the door
4