Daily camera., 1901-06-21

prehefdcd hear the scene OF the fhtlf4
der, having 6h his person more mon.
ey than seemed to the authorities
compatible with his dress. Philip
Parker did not deign to make any
statement regarding the affair, nor
did he evincc the slightest interest in
it. Maloney was convicted and
hanged.
About this time Parker took into his
employ Millard French and made him
his business agent. He called him his
private secretary. but gave into his
hands nearly all the details of his es-
tate. Never sociable with his neigh
bors, he became, after the murder Of
Mack, more taciturn than ever. He
spent most Of his time in his library
even avoiding his daughter, who for
merly had been his one companion.
French took hold of the Parker es-
tate with an energy which soon pro-
duced good results. The revenues
were increased, the place put in good
condition and Parker was relieved of
ali business details excepting that of
signing bank checks. He was highly
pleased with his acquisition and in his
silent, distant way came to like and
to trust him.
After French had been there some
five years Parker was taken violently
| i'll. One night when the Dread Messen-
ger was expected every moment and
the doctor had informed him that the
chances were he would not see anoth-
er day, Parker sent everyone from
the room except French and there, in
the shadow of eternity, he told the
story; how. crazed with rage at the
blow he had received, he had watched
his opportunity and met Mack in the
lonely road. Leaping from his horse
he had struck him in the fact with his
whip, whereupon Mack had drawn
knife and terrific battle ensued,
which ended in his driving his blade
into the heart of his antagonist. Then
came the thought of the consequences,
scandal, arrest, the possible blemish
ing Of the Parker name. This last
thought was uncomfortable and he had
hastily rifed the dead mans pockets
and thrown the contents into n stream.
Then came the apprehension Of the
tramp.
"My God! if you knew how I suf-
fered," cried the sick man, fixing his
horror-stricken eyes on French's face,
and how prayed that he would not
be convicted! And when he was exc
cuted | nearly went mad. But held
my tongue. l could not bear the
thought of having the Parker name
buffetcd about in n criminal court, and
of making myself the center of the
vulgar curiosity of the county. So I
kept still and let the innocent man be
hanged. ! have never known a mo
mcnt's peace since then, and I cam
not go into eternity alone with my
guilty secret. l trust you to keep it,
and I will leave in your hands fund
which l want you sacredly to devote
to the defense of friendless men ar
rested for murder"
But Philip Parker did not die and
when he recovered his health his sus-
picious mind turned upon French. The
fear that he would tell his guilty Sc
cret preyed upon him until it became
mania and he finally resolved to take
desperate action to forestall any word
his manager might drop. With infinite
cunning he arranged a series of situa-
tions which seemed to point to an en-
bezzlement by French. Then he had
him arrested, and, with remorseless
energy, pushed the prosecution until
the bewildered secretary found HIM
self in the penitentiary. The hardest
blow was the letter from Helen Park
er, to whom he had avowed his love
and plghted his troth. She upbraided
him for his deception and said she
would never see him again.
Five years later French left the pen
Iitentiary with the stern determination
TO be revenged. He wrote Parker that
he was coming to Bradyville and tear
the mask from his life of supposed re-
spectability. Half way to Bradyville
he relentcd at the thought of the
grief he would bring to Helen. Leav-
ing the train he wrote another letter
to Parker stating that he would leave
his punishment with God and his own
conscience.
But Phillip Parker never received
that letter. The first one came as
death warrant upon the fears and APP
lprchensions of the years; something
gave way and he never spoke after
ward. He was found by 4 servant after
he was stricken, alive but helpless. Be-
fore he died he indicated that he want
ed paper and pencil and wrote in
scrawling letters the message to his
daughter that French was innocent.
How much Helen Parker suspected
she only knows, but the moment the
funeral was over she took journey
and returned with husband.
California state Is $50 miles long,