The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-08-23

uou ucdIu lIOm jim. 1 consulted
his lawyer, but all he knew was that
Jim had told him that if he did not
hear from him inside of five years to
consider him dead. Four of the five
had already passed.
Late one stormy January night I
was hurrying home and thinking of
my inviting open fire and easy chair
when some one touched me on the
shoulder. "Don't you know me, old
man?"
"By all the gods of Greece, JIM"
almost shouted. Yes, it was Jim, but
If he had not spoken | would not have
known him. His hair was gray. His
form gaunt and his face had weary.
tired look. 1 almost wept as thought
OF the old Jim and of how he was
changed.
"Come right home with me-" said
and we hurried on. We were soon
seated before blazing fire and then l
listened to story which even now
thrills me. [ did not speak, but wait
ed for Jim to tell me. "Well, old man."
he said, II met him" Then he stopped
and gazed at the fire for fully five
minutes. He finally aroused himself
and said: II followed them to Europe.
London first, then Berlin, Paris, Monte
Carlo and from there to Switzerland.
L got sick in Berlin and they had six
months start, but picked up the trail
again and went on. In Switzerland-"
he paused again for moment-"Alice
died. From what l learned then and
found out afterward, Maxwell became
tired of her there and told her the
truth, that was true to her. 1t broke
her heart, she died in three weeks. I
stood by her grave ana freely forgave
her all, but swore never to rest until
she was avenged and have kept nv
oath"
L shuddered as he said it. His eyes
blazed and his hands cljnched, the
passion was in him yet.
"My task was now more difficult" he
went on, she could move from place to
place easier and he seemed to feel rest
less as he kept moving about great
deal. At last met him in Naples. I
was so changed he did not know me,
which was just what 1 wanted. [
struck up friendship with him and
when l had all my plans laid invited
him to my rooms. He accepted and
went to his doom. AS we sat at the
table l told him story-my own story
then he knew me and you should
have seen his face, it went green with
fear. He attempted to rise, but had
a pistol to his head before he could
move. sit STILL l said, and hear me
out He collapsed rather than sat in
his chair. First L said, 4 want the
truth. How did you get my wife to
believe you?' 1t was as L thought.
He had forged letters and had used
other means which do not matter now
to win her. He begged for his life but
laughed at him. If you were man,
| said, 4 would fight you and give you
a chance for your life, but as it is 1
shall kill you like cur. You see that
glass of wine. 1t contains a deadly
eastern poison. You will drink it and
be dead in exactly five minutes and no
one can ever tell what you died Of 1
had laid keen Italian dagger ON the
table and as Ispoke lowered my pistol
and picked up the dagger. Drink said
'or by God I'll stab you to the heart
He knew there was no escape. With
trembling hands he lifted the glass
and drained it. My eyes never left his.
In five minutes he was dead 1 left
him and came away; no one knew me
or knew that had been in the city.
came directly here. That is ALL"