Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-10

output in the northwest-contracts that,
heretofore, had been gobbled up by another
railroad company-the Northern. There
was but one thing for the Northern to do.
it must buy out the c. T. and A., and at
once or lose its prestige and a very large
proportion of its business. The majority in
control of the c. T. and A. were ready and
anxious to sell, for that road had obtained
its contracts for the present year by sub
terfuge that might not be successful in the
next. 1t was now only question Of so
forcing the issue as to get the highest
price.
In twenty minutes the great operator had
the whole plan before us, and had practi-
cally pledged himself to push c. T. and A.
present market price. and to do it so that
the Northern would never suspect, until
ultimately forced to take It in at the high
est price. More, he agreed to accomplish
the desired result in few days-a week at
the outside.
''This will be a difficult thing to do, gen.
tlemen. and 1t is absolutely essential that
not one word Of this shall be divulged out
side this room" He shook his head with
serious portent as he said 1t.
As he did 30. something in my head snap
ped in a peculiar way. 1t was the same
sensation that had felt on the occasions
me. as he expressed it. But was interest
ed in the railroad scheme, and attached no
particular Importance to it at the time.
The magnate paused and looked at each
one Of US deliberately and searchingly in
turn. When he came to me he sprang up
out of his seat.
''My Gody' he exclaimed. Who's that.
In heavens name7 That-thats not Nor
toni The others s5ar5so bi Ioi low MS
That's not Morton" they cried in uni
son. "Who Is it?'
Something had failed mel didn't know
what-but I didn't wait to find out.
realized one important thing, and that was
that that room was not the place for me
to stay. sprang from my chair and made
for the door. It opened as reached 1t, and
q man entered. I nearly knocked him down
as sprinted through. 1t was Morton-the
I heard a hubbub within. but shut the
door and hurried out. In two minutes l
was on the street and mingiing with the
crowd.
looked at my watch. It was nearly
twenty-five minutes to 4. My man had
charged me at noon, ana ought 70 nave
lasted q good twenty -four hours at the out
SIDE But hadn't. The scheme, like hum
dreds Of others. must be, vitality detective In
spots. st
hastened to my ONCE. When entered
It policeman was waiting for me-
HE was run down by q ftruck-a heavy
one.' he explained, as he handed me a card
and a piece Of paper. I'VE found your card
that one-on him. sir; and thought that
you might know him. There's his name
think-at least we supposed it was-on that
paper. SIR" Indicating the one had in my
hand. Hes dead, sir; he was instantly
killed" aJte%
I looked at the slip OF paper. It was a
printed, time-worn handful. dated twenty
years before. It was headed by the words.
I stared at the bill Suddenly knew why
he had sought me out! MY thoughts went
back twenty years; baeksto the old town OF
Monroe; back to the time when I used to
step upon the stage IN the old opera mouse
and spend fifteen minutes tying Rollpiller
up in fifteen hundred knots-knots that
Rollpiller was unable to unloose in less
than fifteen seconds Rollpiller, magi-
cian." had never forgotten him-I never
shall.
The officer touched me on the arm and
came back to tho present age and genera
| ton. M
"Would you mfnd coming round, sir?'' he
said. 'They told me to ask you. :"
Invent and saw him. There he was. poor
| fellow, In his frlll-dress suit, broken and
battered to pieces I stood there and look
| ed at his face and. sure enough, recOg-
nized him now. It was the face Of my old
| magician, the friend Of my youth. ! felt 9
|, double sorrow at his loss.
/ stood for long while looking down
| upon him. Suddenly turned to the at
/ tendant.
what time dill this happen?s I inquired
| 'It was just twenty-five after 3, sir, wher
| we picked him up-and he was dead"
| Twenty five minutes after 3! 1t was tht
Identical moment that had felt tbs
strange click In my head as sat with tn