Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-04-01

told Gillespie to denouncc me yester-
day because today would be too late 1
meant that should confess everything
openly today, and I'm going to do it. 1
have merely been playing tricks"
you're excited, Donald" said his IA
ther, trying to soothe him. This mans
death should not affect you so. You are
in no way responsible for it."
We made our way to the street. Gill
lespie's body had been taken into
store, and the doctor who had pro-
nounced him dead was just coming out
again.
'The fellow had weak heart" said
he in answer to my question. The
blow which he got by falling against
that hitching post weakened it still
more. and liquor combined with the
heat of this noon finished him. There's
nothing unusual in the case"
isn't there. eh?" said voice behind
me-
turned and saw Kelvin, who raised
his right hand and shook finger at
Donald.
1--WE got no cause to take sides with
YOU" he said, but one thing Pm will
ing to admit: You are a wonder, n
wonder! That's what you arc"
"Mr. Kelvin" cried Donald in voice
of agony, 81 have eonfessed"-
Confess all you want to-" answered
Kelvin. II heard what you said to
that man, and know what has hap
pened to him. That's enough for me-"
But don't you see" exclaimed Don
aid, 50 coincidence was bound to come.
1t was certain. | couldn't go on in the
way / was going without having some
thing of this kind happen sooner or lat
err. never meant that he would die"
Kelvin was turning away, but Donald
sprang after him and caught his arm.
LET me tell you," he pleaded. 1.-THE
diamondsi l knew where they We're.
Some one told me. Some one in your
house heard noise in the night and
looked out of the window. And there
was Cobb digging II hole in the ground.
1t was dark, but she knew him by his
extraordinary shape. or course she
L ,
but when the diamonds were missed
she understood. Meanwhile she'd men
toned the incident to me. I'd confided
In her days before. had told her that
knew there was plot against my
father and that Archer was in it, but
Mr.. Harrington would never believe
the truth unless some awfully queer
THING NvoS Ipno tn
she agreed to help me. She saw in the
Cobb affair d chance for me to shine.
She'd mentioned the incident to me in
the morning before the diamonds We're
missed. She knew that | would know
what it meant. So when Mrs. Kelvin
insisted upon coming over to see me
Amy chimed in with her. And you can
understand the rest"
This may all be true" answered
Kelvin, "but it doesn't change my
opinion in the least"
when Cobb was let out of JAIL"
continued Donald eagerly, 'he went
| straight to your house and climbed in
through the library window. You
| caught him taking down some books.
What was the absolutely certain in
ference? Why, that the deed was in
that room and somewhere near those
books. Cobb had found it weeks ago
and had left It there because he could
| not think of safer place. / told
Amy, and she Struggled me into the
library. We found the hiding place,
with the deed and other documents in
it. We took them all out. OF course
it was certain that Cobb, having been
prevented by you from getting the
deed. would elude Reedy and return.
''Joe Harvey, as-,vo all understood,
was in this plot to blackmail you by
making n pretense of producing an
heir of Walmsley and then selling you
the deed. He had put up the bail for
| Cobb. When Cobb escaped from Rec
dy that evening, he got into your libra
ry and found that the deed was gone.
What could he do? Tell Harvey and
go back to Jail? Not at all. lie skip
ped, just as any other rascal would
have done. Then l went and bought a
skeleton hand Of young doctor over
in Solway, and, with the aid of that
old scar on the table, fixed up my
story
Kelvin sawed the air with his fin
ger.
"That doesn't explain the finish of
Mr.. Gillespie" said he.
But don't you see," cried Donald in
agony. Nothing can explain that.
It's luck, luck. It's mere chance. 1t
was certain to come some time.
was playing with fire."
you play with it too blasted well to
suit me-" said Kelvin, with decision.
Nov, Mr.. Harrington" lie continued,
"you understand that | didn't know
anything about Jim Bum except that
there was Il string on him and that q
little money would keep him away from
this meeting. l knew nothing about
the robbery. That's fiat. I'm not
oversqueamish, but l don't make part
nerships with thieves. In the first
place. it is not safe"
''Pll take your word for it, Mr.. Kel-
VIM" said l.