Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-31
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
At the Eleventh Hour.
BY r. II. Nathan.

In the foyer, stretched upon a couch
which had been hastily procured, lay a
man painting for breath, a human
wreck, a common thief caught in the
act, his life's blood tracing odd ara
besques on the tessellated floor, dying
of heInorrhage, the result OF a futile
scuffie.
The head usher silently returned
with a physician, and a central detec-
tive was already at hand, an ambu-
lance alarm having been turned in
Suddenly the criminal looked up and
Struggled for breath. \ stimulant re-
vived him. and he made an effort to
hoarsely:
Doctor, for heavens sake keep the
breath in my body awhile longer. L
have something to clear myself of be-
fore CO."
After brief pause he continued:
1--WE been n coward. a damnable
coward. oh, merciful heaven, let me
purge myselfr'
AS the physician tenderly raised the
dying mans head there was seen
through the torn neckband of his shirt
the CLINT of an ornament, a keepsake of
some sort.
Il was welded but two years when
when-I forged my employers name
the old, old story, weak fool easily
led. ISwas Observation-Disclosures
twenty years. My poor-young-wif
I-never saw again
His voice fell to a mere husky wills
per:
''She died Of grief-shame. Ny baby
1 afterward learned was raised in an
asylum-my only glimpse of heaven
in their pictured faces-a tiny minia-
ture-which 1 claspcd about my babes
neck. It's duplicate L wear"
His hand fastened itself convulsively
at his throat:
But the child! Oh, just heaven. she
is woman now, and have wrecked
her happiness
His eyes closed as he fell back, ex-
hausted.
The little group stood silent. Faint
echoes of applause fioated in. The de-
tective glanced at the physician in
quiringly. The latter shook his head,
murmuring, His span is nearly end
ed"
A short pause ensued, during which
the physician employed every means
available to infuse n little vitality into
the already doomed man. At length
his labor was rewarded, and the criini-
nal resumed his narratives:
81 saw her-kissed heri oh, heaven,
how like her mother, 1 had but just
been released-a stranger in my own
country, an IShmaelite-every door
turned against me-criminal stamped
on every feature-hungry and weary.
skulked into the shrubbery of n villa
witnessed the tender parting of q
husband and wife - heard him give
explicit directions as to the fastening
of doors. 1 loitered about till dusk.
1t was easy TO effect an entrance noise
lessly. 1 crept to her room, where 1
surmised valuables were kept The
lamp burned low. By its-its dim
light 1 could see on an easel opposite
me a life size crayon, the counterpart
of my miniature"
The physician started, and a dull
flush burned on his face. He appeared
about to collapse. Not noticing the
others emotion, the dying man con-
tinued:
Like a mailman I sprang to her
side. She lay in n heavy sleep. At
her throat caught the CLEAN of gold
the rich framing ola miniaturer'
He sank back exhausted. The ply
stefan did not stir.
Like one in a trance, he saw the de-
tective wipe the blood stained lips;
heard him mutter at the delay of the
ambulance; saw with fascinated gaze
the dying man revived, fictitious
strength pulsating through that vast
ed body; heard as in a dream the mar
rative resumed:
"WKdly 1 caught her in my arms
my babe. my Notwithstanding her
to my throbbing breast-one last ca
ress. Then-then 1 fed. She must
never know her father. And then 4
hoarse cry. A pair of powerful hands
throttled me. See. bear their cruel
imprint yet, while a voice Kissed:
Wretch! Houndl You thought me
away-safeY Then turning to the poor
stunned creature clinging to the heavy
easel, at which she clutched in her be-
wilderment, he cried, You whom 1
have loved, nay, idolized" With a
frenzied cry, realized all.
1--WE fought-he for vengeance, 1,
God forgive my cowardice, Tor nDer-
ty.
81 dared not speak. By a superhu-
man effort 1 escaped him-dashed
through the low window. From there
1 leaped over the balcony. Poor cow
ard! Torn and bleeding, 1 hid once
more in the welcome shrubbery, only to
hear him revile my innocent babe
pitilessly, mercilessly, as one reviles an
abandoned creature. My punishment
was hellish."
The man writhed convulsiyely and
fell back dead.
With an agonized sob, the physician
stumbled across the PROSTATE body,
and as the detective stopped to raise
him he caught the faint, whispered
words:
sPasoualina-wife-m God forgive