Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-09-03

low in every way. \ great grief that
he had had OF late had brought us close
together. and held him to be my best
friend.
"DeadT l exclaimed. AN accidentT'
Suicide" was the reply.
/ was conscious of surprise in the
midst OF my confusion, for this servant
had hated Jack with the unforgivlng
persistence Of an Indian since a day
long ago when my cousin had exposed
him In trifling delinquency.
dressed with all haste and hurried
across to my uncle's house, accompa-
MED by the trembling servant When
we entered l saw a group at the head
Of the broad stairway. Mr.. Halstead
was upon the topmost stair and tow
cred above the others.
Upon lower stair stood Arthur
Morrow, son Of the late Mrs. ualstead
by a former marriage A step or two
higher and ascending was DR.. Norton
Carr the old physician- OF the family.
As | approached the stairway my uncle
extended his long right arm over the
heads of the others and shook his fin
ger at me.
This Is no better than MURDER he
cried. "Yop are responsible for this"
what do you meanr / demanded.
Come here, and I'll show you" he
replied in choking voice.
We entered Jacks bedrpom. The
poor fellow lay there in he bed, his
mortal part reposing in the Anal sleep.
Mr.. Halstead paused by the heed OF
the bed and tapped with lids finger up
on small table l came forward and
looked down. There lay little vial
containing white tablets und beside II
a small tube. There was q label on the
vial, and knew what was marked up
on it-"Morphine. one-half grain; Dr.
Halstead."
"He got these things of you" said
my uncle. II call It murder What pos
stble excuse? You knew that he was
heartbroken for Dora. She is going
away; he has lost her You have seen
how he has been of late"
II did not give him this" said l.
How can you imagine that l would do
such thing? He took them out Of my
Office"
"And you knew itv' thundered Mr..
Halstead. you knew 1t, and you
didn't tell me! You made no effort to
save him. Why did you suppose he
wanted this poison7 Had he any prop
er need OF this drug"
l shook my head.
81 loved him." said my uncle, laying
his hand upon the dead mans breast
''He should have had the bulk of my
fortune, and you knew It You ruined
his hfe'-
You are mad to say sor' l exclaimed.
He sneered at me.
why is that girl going away7- he
demanded do you think don't
know, Because penniless rascal has
won her away from my boy her4. She
couldn't marry you because you hadn't
the money to buy her a roof and her
bread. But you would have had a lit
tie at my death and were content to
wait"
"As long as have known Dora"
said with all the earnestness at my
command, II have never spoken one
word OF love to her. Do you suppose |
would step In and rob Jack? Why.
you yourself have praised me for my
loyalty to him.
81 was deceivedr' he cried. "You
were too deep FOR me. You have
caused his death. Look at this"
He picked up from the table card
upon which was written in Jacks hand
the simplest possible message, Good
by, Dora"
The tears sprang to my eyes, but 1t
was necessary to control emotion In
this crisis. | turned TO DR.. Carr.
"There can be no doubt as to the
cause of deathl 2" asked.
He did not reply in words, but bent
forward and tapped the vial with his
finger.
Tell me how 1t happened" asked.
"Who saw him lastT
It was Thomas, the butler, who re-
piled. He seemed to have risen
through the floor at my elbow.
'He was out during the evening, sir"
he said I'VE don't know where he
was. 1t was near midnight when | let
him in. Mr.. Morrow was writing in the
library, and Mr.. John went In there. l
brought them glass of wine. 1t SEEM
ed to me, If may make bold to say so,
that Mr.. John was in better spirits
than usual"
"T thought so, too said Morrow.
1--WE talked awhile of ordinary topics.
l didn't notice that Jack was depress-
ed. He seemed quite like his old self.
We sat together for half an hour, and
then he came up here " bed,
snoap nnyI,n,Iv know ~ asked ''why