The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-07-06
THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY.
By R0DRIGUEs OTTOLENGUL
Author of" An Artist IN Crime. "" ~ Co,a,., ..
Evidence" n Modern Wizard"
Final Proof" Etc.
Copyright, 1896, by G. p. Putnam's Sons. All
rights reseryedl

MIR. Mitchell, taken entirely by sur
prise, hesitatcd for moment as to
what he should do, and In that mo-
Ment Slippery Sam succeeded IN turn
ing the knob Of the door with his othcr
hand, and second later he had opened
the door and PASSED out. Mr.. Mitcbe,
sprang after him aud went out unon
the stoop, only to see the fellow run.
ming of In the darkness. lie stood
looking after him, realizing the utter
Mseiessncss of following, and rendered
gyfr the strange accurronce. '''H =
What did slippery Sam know Of tho
Mora murder and Of this woman that
he should be so frightened when he
learned that Mr.. Mitchell was interest
ed In the affair?
Mr.. Mitchell had just asked himsc
this question when he thought he
heard angry voices and then a sound
ms OF men struggling coming from the
direction In which Slippery Sam had
run of. He went down q step or two
and leaned forward. listening. when lie
was thoroughly startled to hear
piercing shrek. followed by the sound
Of feet rapidly rccedlng. Without re-
turning to the house for his hat he ran
rapidly down the street, determined to
Investigate the matter. Less than a
hundred yards away he came upon the
body -of man ying bonoa.h -4..--+
lamp. his head In a pool Of blood.
Turning him over 50 that he could
sss tho face, he was Mortified to dis
cover that 1t was Slippery Sam.
As Mr.. Mitchell bent over him he
III
preston Of deep agony on his counte-
nance. Evidently he recognized Mr..
Mitchell, for he attempted to speak, but
after one or two vain efforts hia w
terances were completely shut off by
q rush of blood from his mouth. With
one last effort he placed his hand to
his side, whore he had been stabbed.
and then rolled over unconscious. Mr..
Mitchell noticed knife upon the pave
ment and, picking 1t up. was sure that
1t was the same with which the man
had threatened him. Could this 10
suicide? Impossible, for he had plain
ly heard man Eunning off. besides
the sound Of q struggle.
This was destined to be night Of
surprises to Mr.. Mitchell, for Just at
this critical moment Mr.. Barnes came
pp and stood staring at the scene be-
lore him.
"What Is this?" asked the detective.
''This is murder, believe" replied
Mr.. Mitchell.
"Murderw calculated Mr.. Barnes,
not Mt once comprchending what was
meant.
ayes; that is Slippery Sam. He Is
either dying or dead. Help me to lift
him into my house, and I will explain
more fully"
Between tlfem they carried the bleed.
ing man into the house, wherenpon
Mr.. Mitchell requested Mr.. Barnes to
call the nearest physician, and while
the detective was gone he did what
he could to stanch the blood. Very
shortly after Mr.. Barnes returned with
the doctor, who, after examining the
wound, declared that nothing could be
done, and within half an hour the un-
fortunate crook had breatbed his last.
Left alone with Mr.. Barnes. Mr..
Mitchell related all that had passed be-
tween himself and Slippery Sam and
expressed the opinion that his death
was a misfortune, since he evidently
knew something OF the Mora anair
which I'm time they might have ex'
tracted from him.
"Yes, indeed" said Mr.. Barnes. "This
is perhaps serious obstacle In our
path, for one or two things are evil
dent. Either this man has been put
out Of the way because Of what he
knew or else he was the guilty man
himself"
81 do not quite follow that last de
duction," said Mr.. Mitchell.
"Oh. ] mcaa," said Mr.. Barnes, "tha
either this murder has or has not &
connection with the Mora affair. If j
has, then the true murderer may have
been ut work here disposing Of dan
gerous witness. If 1t has not-that II
to say, II this killing Is entirely apar
from the other-then we must conside
the mans fright when he learned o
your interest in the Mora murder.
account for 1t by the possible supposi
tIon that he was the guilty party"
"How readily you. abandon you