The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-01-10

| under the convlcts scruNnlzlng gaze. II
suspected you at the time. but sufficient
proof was lacking and | was condemned
instead. This old suit Of mine, which dis
| appeared SO mysteriousEy, tells its own
tale. All, you tremble, lying 6end, cow
ard, murderer! By heaven, ZIP
Mercy, mercy" yelled Chapman, in an
excess Of fright, for Grahams finger had
moved toward the trigger of his revolver.
| "Bah! You are not worth the trouble, "
sneered the c1 convict, contempt visible
| in every feature, and as for mercy-is
that all you think of now? Get up, you
| groveling coward, and go and sit at that
table"
Chapman obeyed sullenly.
| Write a full confession of the crime
Begin 4, George Chapman, do hereby
confess that Richard Graham is wholly
innocent of the murder of Sir John Ora
| ham. which took place on the evening of
Dec. 8. 1882. and Now go on and fin
ish. | give you two minutes to do it in
lie then sat down in a chair opposite.
Presently Chapman looked up, and his
face was CHASTITY to look upon. He hand.
| ed the paper to Graham, who read it
carefully through.
"Good"' he said. "Now tell me what
became Of Rose Aylesworth. Did your
treachery succeed as well in that quar-
ter?"
"Yes."
you lie! Take care, or, as there is 8
heaven above US, will shoot you dead"
you mistake my meaning" Chapman
said hurricdly, alarmed at the tempest of
passion in his enemy's eyes. "She be-
lieved in your innocence. l had no power
over her"
Thank God!" burst Involuntary from
Graham's lips. as she still at the old
house," he asked presently, and in his
excitement he half rose from his chair.
Eyes: but she shall never be yours"
And quick as lightning Chapman leaned
forward to seize the revolver which lay
on the table. But Graham was still
quicker and snapched it out of his grasp
before he had time to pull the trigger.
$50 you want to commit second muir
der, nay friend" he said cooly "Gome
let us have little confidential chat in
stead. | want to know what's been going
on in the world during the last ten years
Why, man. you look about dead with
fright. I assure yoH l have no intention
Of killing you; that is, if-but at present
| am dying fer drink. Have you any.
thing that-ah. yes. | see, whisky and
Soda just the thing! BY Jove, it's long
since had such a treat as this" he said.
raising the glass to his lips.
Suddenly he felt himself seized from
behind. In second he had turned like
a wild animal upon his assaiIant. nnd 8
deadly struggle began. Chapman had
managed to jerk the revolver ont OF his
advcrsary's hand. and it WAS Grshum's
,hinat To l-nav, hitpepl% hnr ha
on and his antagonist.
Both Hen were strongly built, bUt
Chapman had some little advantage in
height. Graham. however. was more
agile. AID the manual labor Of ten years
prison life had added to his natural mus.
cnlar strength. Chapman was getting
the advantage when there was sound Of
footsteps in the passage outside, and n
loud. peremptory knock sounded on the
door.
Open. in the queens name" said a
sharp. Sruff voice.
Chapman jumped to his feet. with a
smotherpd oath. then he fell back against
the wall. terror depicted on every feature
for Graham had sprung to the door and
unlocked ii. End three of the prison off
GERS entered the room. They closed
quickly around their prisoner. but to
their surprise no resistance was offered
With quiet smile. Graham turned to
hem and said:
IL am sorry to have caused you so
much trouble. gentlemen, but | had no
choice. | was a desperate man and re-
'""t.d to desperate means. But see here
this will explain matters" handing the
paper "7nta i.ir,- George Chapman's con.
'"ssi"n tn one az the otIit RS.
AT that r.ulncii 4 lead report rang
through the room. Ii th7 confusion Ck.0
man had picked IN tho revolver uarr
eeived. and nnw he i;r stretched on IT,.
floor with bullet wound in his temple
He passed Judgment upon himself
"Oh. Dick. Dick And Rose .Ayles-
worth, with a glad. low cry. took the con.
yict's closely cropped head between her
two hands and kissed his thin, sunkcr
checks. As he looked up into her face
beautiful in its loving tenderness. all the
horror Of his convict life faded away into
obliVion.-Woman's Life.