The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-31

feeleQ, ana then IN an instant all be-
came clear again. My senses returned,
and ran forward to seize the fiend
who was little ahead of me. He was
rushing up the steps of the elevated
railroad. l ran after him, mounting
three steps at time, but reached
the platform only in time to see him
enter train and to have the gate
slammed in my face as the guard pull
ed the signal cord. Well, was pow
erless for the moment, but the craving
for blood was in my heart and would
not be appeased. The first reckless
impulse of madness, however, had
passed and now gave place to cunning.
went back to the house where Nor
ton lived, and searched his closet for
suit Of clothing which would serve
as disguise. l found what you all
now know as the plaid suit. My OBJ
Ject in wearing that was to create the
suspicion of Morton's guilt, for had
determined to kill old Mora, and the
deed was already accomplished in my
mind. He would be shown to have
had provocation by the clever detect
ives who would investigate the case.
1t would be discovered that the old
man had stolen and abandoned the
infant, and that would suffice as a
motive. So wore the suit and has
tened to Morals house, the location Of
which was well known to me.
81 saw the Waterman and did not
consider at the time why it was that
he made no protest when deftly I'M
locked the door with what he prob
ably thought was key. OF course he
imagined that l was the son. 1 went
In and soon found old Morals room.
He was in bed. He had the club be-
side him and sat up as I entered. In
stantly he began to abuse me, to taunt
me with the loss of the child, which he
boasted of having put out Of the way.
1t was then and from the words which
he addressed to me in the darkness,
supposing that was his son, that I
discovered his relationship to my Lii
ian's lover This was new and terri
BILE shock to me. Again turbid sea
of blood engulfed me. The room seem
ed Illuminated as with glare of red
| fire. saw the old man sitting there in
his bed, saw the club at his side, and
sprang suddenly upon him and seized
it. Then desperate struggle began.
He. too, caught hold of the club, I
wrestled with him and finally over
| powered him. He fell to his knees, and
swung the club upward and swiftly
downward. Whether struck him once
or many times will never know, and
| 1t is immaterial. The first blow prob
ably ended all. AS soon as he was
still lighted the gas and ransacked
his desk. found the will and imme-
diately realized that it would be a pow
erful weapon in certain emergencies.
1t could be used to blackmail young
Mora in case he should escape the sus-
picion of this crime. This brings me
to the plaid suit. put it on over my
own clothing, but after entering the
house 1 slipped it off, lest blood should
fall upon it. Before departed put
| 1t on again, for knew then why the
| Waterman had permitted me to pass,
and I hoped that he would see me
again as left"
Il see. You wished to cast suspicion
upon young Mora. That is why when
we were discussing the case, you ex-
pressed the opinion that the son had
committed the crime?"
mo. You are only partially correct.
At the time of the murder I thought
only of protecting myself. The crimi-
nal impulse controlled me, and the lit
tie good that is in me was inactive for
the time. But later I had no wish to
see young Mora suffer. / needed not
that for my own protection, and his
death would have brought suffering to
Lillian"
"But you certainly expressed the
! opinion that Matthew Morals son kill
ed him?'
Il did, and it was the truth. Mat
thew Morals son did kill him."
what do you mean?" exclaimed Mr..
Mitchell
Il am Matthew Mora's son." said
Preacher Jim.
"You-his SOM"
eyes; am the son Of Matthew Mora
and Margaret Crane. My mother al
Ways SoAlcu lie N1dILueW. you were
wrong when you expressed the opin-
lon that my mother cut out my ia
theirs name from those letters. found
the letters one day and so learned the
truth. Later on l cut the names out
in order that the secret might not be
discovered by any one else.'
"This is indeed surprising revela-
ton. You Matthew Morals son! 1t is
like tale of fiction. And how very
just is it's ending. The man was MUIR
dered by the very child whom he had
abandoned after bequeathing to him a
heritage of crime"
Yes, in the eyes of the law I am a
murderer who should be hanged. Per-
haps in the eyes of the Almighty Fa-
Their | am an instrument of justice.
Now that have told you all you will
more readily comprehend the craving
for blood which seized me when in
this monster, who had thus cruelty
4 nlsl(GSs,,.