The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-16

I
window According TO the contract,
enumerated, the jurist was TO stay in
the cell exactly fifteen years-from II
O'Clock. November IA, 1870, until II
O'Clock, November Ia. 1885. The slight
est effort on the part OF the jurist 10
break his contract in any way was TO
free the banker from his obligation 10
pay him the two millions
Tomorrow at IL o'clock he is to be
free. According to the agreement. I
have TO pay him two millions. II 1 give
him the money am a ruined man"
Fifteen years ago he had countless
millions in his possession; now he was
afraid 10 ask himself whether he had
more money or debts. Risky specula-
lions had reduced his affairs to insig-
nifcance-and the once fearless self
confident. proud millionaire now shud-
dered each time the stocks rose or fell
THAT accursed wager!'' muttered the
old man. elasping his head in despair.
why did not that man die? He is forty
years old now. He will take way from
me the last l have, he will marry, he
will enjoy life, he will speculate on the
exchange and I. like beggar. will look
on with envy, and will hear every day
the same phrase: I am obliged to you
for the happiness of my life. allow me
TO help YOU No: that is too much!
The only thing that could save me from
disgrace and bankruptcies the death
/ Of this mani"
The clock struck 3. Everybody was
asleep in the house, and nothing save
the rustling of the trees near the win
dows broke the silence of the night.
/ The banker walked over TO the safe
noiselessly and took out the key OF the
| door. which had not been opened for hf-
teen years. Then he put on his
coat and went cut of the house.
| 1t was dark and cold in the garden.
/ The rain was falling brisk wind blew
1 into his face. The banker strained his
sight. but be could not see anything.
When he came up 10 the wing he called
the guard twice. No answer followed.
Evidently the guard had gone to sleep
| in the kitchen.
"If I have courage enough 10 carry
out my Intentions" thought the old
man. then the suspicion would first OF
all fall on the guard
He CROPPED his way 20 the staircase
and TO the door. and entering the hall
way leading to the cell he lit a match
Not a soul was there. The seals on the
door Of the cell were unbroken-
/ A candle was burning dimly in the
prisoners room. The prisoner himselt
was seated by the table. Only his back
his hair and his hands could be seer
/ from the window. Open books lay scat
/ tered on the table, on the arm chairs
/ and on the rug Five minutes went by
and the prisoner did not stir. The banker
/ tapped on the window with his fingers
/ but the prisoner remained motionless
1 Then the banker cautiously removed IN,
/ seals from the door. and placed the key
I in the keyhole. The door soon opened
with creak The old man expected Il
{ hear a cry of surprise but some three
minutes passed and all was as silent al
before Then he resolved TO enter III.
! cell
/ BY the table sat the jurist-a skele-
/ ton. with long locks and a long beard
! The color of his face was yellow. hi:
! cheeks were sunken. and the hard which
supported his shaggy head was so thir
that IL was terrible TO look at. His hal
was already besprinkled with gray. anC
! looking at his emaciated face no on,
would believe that the man was but fort,
4 years old. He was asleep. Be
/ fore him. on the table, lay a sheet o
paper
Poor mani" thought the banker III
sleeps. probably dreaming of millions
II is sufficient for me 10 throw this half
+ dead man on the bed and to choke hin
slightly with a pillow, and the creates
experts could not find any signs of al
unnatural death. But let me first reaC
over what he has written here"
The banker took the sheet of paper
from the table and read the following:
Tomorrow at IL o'clock I regain m!
freedom. But before l leave this room