Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-11-18
"IYho is. 1t::" he a.s.ad.

notifying the police. Sorry to disturb
you at this time of night, but you've
offered $1,000 reward for the murder.
er's arrest and l thought you ought
to be the firss to hear of any clue"
81 wasn't asleep" replied the old
man. "Come into my study and tell
me about it."
The tall, dressing gowned figure led
the way into a back room, found the
electric key and flooded the room with
light.
Now. then, Mr.. Hereward," he be-
gan. Then he broke off in surprise:
why, you're white as a sheet, man!
and you're trembling. What's the
matter?"
Il had an accident" answered the
reporter briefly. pointing to his band
aged hand. The pain was intolerable,
but he choked it back and tried to
speakly calmly;
The old man turned to japanned
cupboard on the wall. Hereward's g
gaze swept the book.lined walls, rest.
ing at last on the Uttered study table.
There his eyes contracted and he re-
mained looking tixedly among the
pile of letters and papers that strewed
the table. He had been in this room
several times before. but never had
anything in it interested him to such
an extent.
Meastime Mr.. schenck had brought
from the cupboard a large decanter
nearly full and two glasses. Placing
them on the table he sat down oppo-
site Hereward.
The reporter raised his eyes from
the table and looked keenly at the
old man.
You'll feel better for.a drink" said
Schenck. "Then you can tell me
about this new clew of yours.
AS he spoke Mr. Schenck lifted the
heavy decanter easily. and turning it,
filled both glasses.
Hes strong in the wrists for such
an old man: but why doesn't he let me
fill my own glass" wondered Here
ward, who was an adept in all points
of etiquette governing drinking bouts.
Then he noticed something peculiar in
the hosts method of handling the de-
can er. \ second glance showed him
that Schenck was manipulating II with
his left hand.
Hereward leaned forward as if to
pick up his glass. He picked up in
stead a long spindle from the table.
He turned this over once or twice,
noticing its massive base of carved sill
yer and the tiecks of rus on the long
wire
"You killed him with this" didn't
you. Mr.. Schenck?" he asked pleasant
ly, holding up the spindle.
The old man Sprang to his feet and
flashed a startled. indignant glance at
the reporter.
Hereward returned his stare with
utter Indifference. In the silence that
followed the two could hear the dis
tant roar of a Third avenue IL train,
and the muffled snoreS of some one
sleeping in the upper part OF the
house.
THAT was the clew l had," said
Hereward at last. This is the sort
of a wound spindle makes" unwind
ing the bandage from his hand. This
SPOT is like the one over your sons
heart. You see there's no use denying
anything. We have all the proof we
need" he ended, marveling at his own
daring lie.
There was crash as the decanter
slipped from Schenck's stiff fingers
and rolled gurgling about the foci
The old man sank back in hiskTnair.
his stern fortitude all gone. He buried
his face in his trembling hands and
shook from head to foot.
The gray old figure in the padded
gray gown moved Hereward to a mo-
mentary pity. Then the reporter ask
ed. with mild curiosity:
"Why did you 10 it?'
"IIe was drunk" moaned the old
man from behind his hands. "He
was drunk heard him shambling up
the street and climbing the steps-it
wasn't the first time I'd lain awake
for him. / let him in. He came in
here and I followed him. He was
drunk-and-and he said terrible
things to me. He said we were living
here on his charity, and he was sick
of listening to my lectures on drink
and sick of seeing his mother and me
pottering round. He said he'd turn
us out next day anL leave Us to starve
He often talked that way when he was
drunk. But this time he seemed to
mean it. And then-then he ordered
me out of the room and threatened to
beat me if | didn't 20. Me-his own
father. / am an old man. sir, and I'm
not the man 1 used to be-. 1 suppose
courage goes when strength goes"
He paused and a fresh shudder con-
vulsed his crouching gray form.
Throughout his broken, half whispered
speech Schenck had never removed his
hands from his face.
Hereward said nothing, but eyed
him intently.
"He staggered toward me-" mum
bied Schenck at last, taking up the
thread Of his story. my son is-my
son was-a strong man, sir, and very
violent sometimes. saw he meant
to strike me and-and l was afraid.
He was violent man, Mr.. Hereward."
"Well?' queried the reporter.
"And I picked up the first thing
that care to hand to defend myself
with. And the next thing knew there
he lay on the rug by the table all tunl-
bled together. 1t was horrible!'
And you pulled him into the vesti.
bule, and then hid the silver SO Il
would be thought that thieves killed
him?' finished Hereward with scarce
ly note of inquiry in his voice.
"Yes-yes. sir. Though l can't see
how you people learned all about it