The Lamar register., 1901-11-06
,pe else goes with me-"

tion in low tones between Sonntag and
some other party, who I surmised was
Skinner.
"Perhnps you will not object to my
approach, Nelson" a voice called out
as second pair of legs came down.
1--WE are all friends, true friends" 1t
continued.
There was something so familiar in
the sound of the voice that hesitated
in again uttering remonstrance.
1--WE are all friends" the man said
again, as his head reached below the
level of the floor. Dim though the light
was upon the stairs, recognized him
Immediately. and with loud call
sprang toward him.
"Mr. Perryl Oh. thank God, you
have comet" I stepped unthinkingly
on the plank at the bottom. and he
came down to me and grnsped my hand.
Don't mind that. 1t cannot hurt
you," 1 remarked, as the warning voice
again sounded out. just MS though Its
services were longer needed.
81 know it cannot" Mr.. Perry re-
marked, with a smile. Here Scnntag
and another man brushed by US, and
went to Jackson's PROSTATE body.
"Will you look here. sir?" Sonntag
called, motioning for Mr.. Perry to ap-
proach.
"My God! It is Jackson! How terri
BILE! Is he dead? Who did it?" asked
Mr.. Perry, glancing up at me. Were
you compelled to shoot him, Nelson?"
mo, 1 am thankful that no mans
blood is on my hands. Although I
came very near shooting him."
Then 1 explained how Jackson had
been killed. I told nothing about Mr..
Morley's connection with the affair.
They listened intently, and then Sonn-
tag, carrying jimmy, went to the door.
"Will you two stand to one side 2"
Sonntag called out. "That shooting ap-
paratus might go of again in getting
the door open"
The bundle of papers which had
fallen from the dead mans grasp was
picked up by Sonntag's companion and
handed by him to Mr.. Perry. Then the
man turned to me, and, bestowing a
smile upon me at the astonishment he
evidently saw depicted on my face, went
to Sonntag's assistance.
No wonder I was amazed. For the
man was he who had played such a
treacherous game upon Florence, had
tried to shoot me, and had escaped my
wrath few minutes before-Skinner,
the station agent at Sidington.
"Ah, here is some of it, Nelson-some
of the stolen bonds!" Mr.. Perry ex-
claimed. in excitement. Perhaps we
may recover all of them. don't sup
pose there is any hope Of getting back
the money" he continued, with sigh.
"Oh, well, the bonds stolen amounted to
s5OO,OOO. II we get them back, it will
be something"
Then he hurriedly stepped over near
the door TO watch Sonntag and Skin
ner leaving me to my thoughts.
Poor Florence! My heart was rent
when I pictured her grief. And my
promise to Mr.. Morley that she should
never hear anything against her ia
ther to cause q diminution Of her love
and respect-how was l to keep that
promise, when the father lay there in
yonder room. shot to death by his part
ner, his tool, his pupil in crimeP
Here another pistol-report sounded,
followed by an exclamation Of satisfac-
ton from Sonntag, for Immediately the
door swung open.
"Now, then, Mr.. Conway, you can
investigate this mystery" he said. com.
ing toward me.
While Mr.. Perry and Skinner were en-
gagged in searching for the cause of the
voice and the pistol-shots, Sonntag
spoke in low, earnest tones:
where is the man who came down
after you?" he asked.
1 pointed toward the inner apart
ment.
What, did jackson lock him up
there? How did he succeed" Then he
paused, and, holding the lantern higher,
gazed thoughtfully in my face. Dead,
too? You don't mean to tell mel"
nodded my head.
Lord Almighty" Sonntag ex-
claimed, and then turned slowly from
me and joined the two at the door.
.rMr. Conway, come here" Mr.. Perry
called to me. "See," he said, when ]
came up, "here is the voice."
On one side of the door was q wooden
box. in which was a phonograph.
"You observe this wire," began Skin.
ner. "It is attached to the instrument,
and runs down seemingly in the
ground. Now I'll go and step on the
plank and see If the wire is not moved
and the phonograph set a-going." he
did so, and a clock-work arrangement
was set in motion which communicated
with the instrument.
LET us see what pulls the wire, said
Mr.. Perry.
We went over to the plank, and saw
that Skinner had raised it SO we could
look underneath. There was a steel
spring under one end, which was com
pressed when a weight was put upon
the plank. The compression operated a
loro. ,,,bi inb r,Illled the wire attached to