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

said |. II wish I'd thought OF II before.
When he confessed TO me that he had
taken this bottle from my office tried
to find it. You will readily understand
why. Mr. Halstead'
II understand TINT you have been
criminally negligent" he retcrt~d.
"And let me tell you now that | am
done with you
He turned to Arthur and IN his char
acteristic, impulsive, headlong way
went on:
"You were never a favorits with me.
Arthur, but you're all I've got now.
You're the only one bound 10 me by any
tie Dora Melvin stnll have something.
with condition" He glanced fiercefy
at me- And you'll have the balance.
Arthur. Much good may 1t do you"
NO money viii do any one good that
comes IN this way replied Morrow.
with shudder.
Thomas said l, addressing the but
night Did he have anything In his
handr'
no. sir" he replied
Not this, for ins.ancsr said l, lay
ing my hand upon a small package that
was on the mantelplecs.
no. SIR" said Thomas. HE brought
that in day before yesterday. You re
member II. Mr. Morrow" he continued.
He took It into the library whore you
wero writing"
II had forgotten it. answered Nor
row. Are you sure. ThomasT'
'~rhls IL a serious matter" said l, lay
ing my hand on the buffers shoulder.
'Do not commit the folly Of beginning
the affair with faisehood.'
IT don't know why ] should lie about
It. SIR" he replied dossedg.
You saw him take this parcel into
the library" continued. by the way.
docs anybody know what's IN ft7'
Ny uncle interrupted to ask nnErfiy
what all this was shout
Grant me two minutes" saA I. And
then repeated my question.
There was no reply.
Thomas said I. what dA young
hr. Halstead DO with thi, parcel after
he took It into the ffsraryy'
saw MIN unite tDt stTlnx. nc Nh
swered. Then he took up a pen from
the table, bat I didn't see him write
anything
Did he write anything In the library
last evening" / asked, turning to Nsr-
row. who answered me In the negative.
"Are you sureT' insisted. lyon
were there all the time that he was
present"
Yes" was the answer. He didn't
write anything while was there.
Why do you askr'
Because this messae 50 on the card is
written with the Ink that is used in the
library and not with Jacks stylo-
graphic pen. There Is no ink In this
room that l can see."
What Is the purpose of these ques-
t1onsT demanded Mr.. Halstead.
Without answering him l took up
the parcel and removed the wrapper.
There was a dainty box within. and
upon opening that / discovered a small
plaque, beautifully painted. The de-
sign was in lilies of the valley. which
-,ssro- -Dora's fayorIte howcr--
"Unless I am greatly in error" said
1, "this farewell message on the card
was intended to be put into this box.
II was parting gift to Dora"
'Its purpose is obvious" said Mr..
Halstead. "It lay upon this table. and
This bottle of poison was on top Of 1t.
It was his last word, poor fellow"
~But why did he buy the plaque" l
insisted. WAS 1t for your For mel
For Arthur"
For her. OF course" said Mr.. Hal
stead
Then why did not the gift and tho
message go togetherT said l.
No one ventured a reply.
'T will tell you why" / continued.
This card was put into the parcel and
was taken out again, but not by Jack"
by whom, thenT' asked my uncle.
'.By some one who knew of its exist
ence and perceived that It would an
swer quite well the purposes Of sui
cide's last message"
Mr.. HaIstead caught me by the shoul-
DER.
"Do you mean to charge actual mur-
der7" he cried. "win you try to shin
your own guilt upon anotherT'
81 charge a willful and deliberate
murder" I replied.
by whomr' he screamed
let us see" responded. He rnust
have swallowed this poison just before
retiring. If he did not take It himself
In this room he must have done 80 else
where In this house Ho drank a glass
of wine in the library"
"And you brought It TO himY cried
Mr. Halstead. turning upon Thomas.
Yes, SIR" said the servant calmly.
Il served him and Mr.. Morrow"
And you tnted himr'
'T did not like him, sir, but nm not
a murderer" was the answer.
At this point DIR. Carr put In his word.
but the man died from these tnb-
let's" he said. "They were locked In
this private box. and he had the key"
Thomas" said 1, do you know OF
any other key to this boxT'
The man was pale as paper, but he
did not falter.
Yes SIR" said he. II happen TO hnve
seen Mr.. John unlock this box and lock
It again and put the key in this draw
err"
He stepped forward and opened a
small drawer in a desk, from which he
took key.
'T know when you saw him do that"
said l. at is heavens mercy to you
that you saw him. And | saw him too.
/ counted upon you remembering and
upon your honesty, Thomas"
II try to speak the truth, sir" said
the servant.
And now. Mr.. Halstead." said I,
"let me state this case as you see II, or
as you saw It at first. Jack came up
here; he opened this box in which he
had hidden the vial taken from my Of
fee; he dissolved some OF the tablets
I'm this tube and drank the fluid. Is
there any other possible way to pic
ture it?'
mo; certainly not" was the answer.
''Let me picture It for you" said l.
"He came to this room in better spir
its than usual. He went to bed in the
full confidence of waking on the NOR
row But instead he sank into q stu