Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
The LongworthY Confession.
lOriginal.1


said. Longworthy had come into the
house that day, and Desmond was to
go out OF it in the morning. Longwor-
thy's body was found in the library
shot through the heart, while Des-
mond's revolver, one chamber empty,
lay on the floor. When they arrested
Desmond, though he had not been in
formed of the murder, he did not seem
surprised; the pallor on his face deep
ened; there was a wild terror in his
eye; he made no denial of his guilt.
Desmond had every motive for the
crime. Longworthy had turned up to
deprive him of an estate he had sup
posed belonged to himself. Desmond
had loved katherine Page, who must
marry the heir to the estate or forfeit
her own property, worth a million.
The prisoner bore himself as one liv-
ing in the horror of n crime. What
passed between him and his legal de-
fender was n secret, but after n con-
ference the lawyer put in the plea of
insanity and on this depended solely
for acquittal.
The trial was short, the defense be-
ing confined TO Il theory advocated by
the prisoners counsel that Desmond
had been made temporarily insane by
the loss of fortune and the woman he
loved. The plea was considered weak.
first, because it was not proved that
Katherine Page had decided to throw
him off to save her fortune; second,
because the criminal insane are not to
be tolerated by society. The jury were
out two hours, all this while discussing
the leaving of the pistol where it was
sure to inCriminate the murderer, then
returned to the court with a verdict of
guilty.
Desmond was in prison a long while
awaiting the execution of the death
sentence His counsel worked for him
with all the zeal of one confident of his
clients innocence. This was surprls-
ing, for, putting in plea of insanity,
which was by no means subStantiated.
the lawyer virtually confessed that the
deed had been committed by Desmond.
One day the lawyer hurried into Des-
monds cell and told him to prepare
his mind for a relief which was so
marked. so unexpected that 1t would
him with n piteous expression of in
quiry.
''Some time ago." said the lawyer, 81
received n note from one who agreed
to confess to the Longworthy murder If
punishment could be fixed beforehand
at few years Since then 1 have been
working night and day TO secure the
terms. This morning secret papers were
signed agreeing to Il sentence of ten
years. and the real murderer has con-
fessed.
"Confessed,' said the prisoner Won
derlngly who did the murder?'
THAT is secret which belongs to
the state"
THE murderer's motive?"
'That, too. is a state secret"
Desmond walked out OF prison Il free
man. He was in a singular position.
The man who had supplanted him was
dead. and he was again in possession
of his estates. He asked after RATHER
inc Page and was told that she had
gone on long journey and had left In
structions that her whereabouts should
be concealed from him. This only deep
ened the gloom In which he dwelt with
out bringing out any expression of dis
satisfaction.
a year passed. One morning Des-
mond took up n newspaper and read:
A man died yesterday, who before his
death made n written confession that he
had killed the person supposed to be
Philip Longworthy. but who was Philip
Devlin. Devlin. by means of forged pa
pers obtained possession of the estate of
Arthur Desmond, who was tried for his
murder. The confessed murderer was to
have shared in the plumber. AS he did
not, he went to the house from which
Desmond had not yet departed and, OBJ
tanning Desmond's revolver killed Long
worthy, leaving the weapon to turn sus-
picion to another. After Desmond's con-
viction a woman confessed the crime and
is now serving a sentence of imprison-
ment.
The woman? She had confessed a
crime she had not committed. There
came suspicion that this was sacri-
fee with which in some way Katherine
Page was linked.
Desmond seized his hat, eager to find
some one who would unravel the mys-
terry. He was about leaving the house
when he received call from the at
torney who had defended him.
"Have you seen the article asked
Desmond.
yes. L have come to announce that
she who suffered disgrace and impris-
onment that you might live, Katherine
Page, has this morning been set free
and is waiting for you at her house"
When Desmond entered the room
where Katherine Page awaited his
coming he found her as much under
the control of deep feeling as he was
himself. Till the real confession she
had not known whether Desmond was
guilty or innocent, though she had not
the slightest doubt of his innocence.
Now her own personal freedom was
restored to her with his vindication
and a restoration of her former sur
The two without a word
were locked in a long embrace. The
world that had been dead for them
had again sprung into life.