Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-02


tinued the burly rufian, his rage rising
every instant and distorting his usually
ugly features into state Of brute-li like
hideousness that seemed to strike terror
into the very soul Of the covering figure
seated opposite him "You want to put
that business on my shoulders don't you,
he roared. you had not thing 70 do with
it ehl Ross the crook he and not Saun-
dsrs the gentleman, did the business tor
old --."
For Gods sake Ross" cried Saunders,
as with a courage born Of desperation he
clapped his hand over the angry mans
mouth just as he In his blind and ungov-
ernable rage was about TO shout out the
name of the murdered Frederick Allwine
hold your peace man, you don't know
who may be listening to you Have you
taken leave of your senses" he continued,
his courage rising with the very despera-
ton Of the case, that you must needs try
to get us both into trouble Of the worst
possible kind, he added, as he removed
his hand from over Ross mouth as that
worthy, considerably cooled after the first
exhibition of his rage had subsidized. now
seemed to realize what he might have di-
vulged to any one within hearing distance
of his bnll-like voice. But while Ross
gave no further vent to his feelings by
means Of words, his deep breathing and
the fierce malevolent looks he bestowed
on the trembling Saunders certainly ar
gued i'll for that gentleman In days to come.
Now that you have recovered your
senses" began Saunders, Il will explain
my meaning to you in regards to my saying
that you should care less--if that we're
possible--than even myself in bringing up
that business of that dreadful night Now
what I meant" continued Saunders evil
IDENTIFY plainly knowing what he really did
mean, but cropping about to find some
plausible explanation with which to pacify
the surlY brute before him, and hitting
upon a reason which he supposed would
answer his purposes he proceeded thus
what 1 meant was this, that while 1 was
just as much to blame in the affair as
you"--
80 you admit your share in the xii
I mean in the affair." do your answered
Ross his slumbering anger apparently ap-
peased by Saunders admission, 81 thought
as you intended to wash your gentlemanly
hands of the whole d--n business and
leave me to bear the burden alone" he
added sneeringly.
u meant nothing Of the kind " replied
Saunders, assuming a very much injured
air as he saw the anger disappearing from
the face of Ross; what meant was this"
he was continuing when abruptly stopped
by Ross with the inquiry as to whether he
considered himself Just as much responsible
for the Allwine affair as he, Ross, was; he
did consider himself just as guilty; all right,
then, what he said now was to let the mat
ter rest, and to talk of whatever business
Saunders had come to see him about.
This last named gentleman could with
difficulty conceal his exultauon at the
peaceful outcome of what had at one time
threatened to assume most dangerous con-
didon of affairs for himself. He had all
along reasoned to his own satisfaction that
Ross was alone responsible for the dastardly
assassination of old Frederick Allwine. He
calmed his own cowardly fears with the
argument that while he had, it was true,
placed his hands upon the old man, yet 1t
could hardly have been for more than a
few moments at the most; for his struggles
Immediately thereafter with young Harold
Allwine engaged his whole attention and
exertions up to the very instant that he and
Ross were frightened of by the timely ap-
pearance Of Benedict Gordon and Charley
Browne, and then, he further reasoned, that
Ross had already confessed the fact that he
had struck the old gentleman several severe
blows with his blackjack" beside strang-
ling him with his great muscular hands
While Saunders stilled whatever conscience
he possessed, by means of the above argu
ments, yet nothing was farther removed
from his thoughts than to allow the savage
Ross to gain an inkling as to what he really
believed regarding the Allwine murder and
it is needless to state that he deeply re-
gretted the unfortunate slip of the tongue
which had caused him to partially betray
himself TO his rufianly partner in crime
But he consoled himself in the belief that
by his adrois manoeuvTe in declaring that
he was equally as culpable as Ross himself
in the murder that he had removed what
ever suspicious that worthy may have en-.
tertained about him, and upon the whole he
reasoned after turning the matter over in
his mind several times, that perhaps he may
have established himself frmer in the
opinion Of Ross. His further meditations
were cut short by Ross himself, who
roughly inquired whether he did or whether
he did not consider it high time to talk over
that there business which had 'brung' him
down there tonight"
Saunders being thus reminded of his
purpose in visiting Mother Riders, now
drew his chair up to the one upon which
Ross was seated, and leaning over until his
face almost touched that of Ross, began to
talk in low tones to that evil-looking per-
sonage
Whatever information Saunders had 70
impart to the older scoundrel il seemed to
agree wonderfully with that gentleman,
judging from the satisfied grunts Of approval
he every now and then allowed to escape
from him and now leaving the two arch
conspirators deeply interested in their evil
plotting, we will proceed to the next chap
ter Of our story
fTo be continued