The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-03-18

fore my crime. l overheard him once
as long ago as the early spring. I had
opened the door suddenly when his
back was toward it,"
"Why didn't you tell me, Jim Z" said 1.
"Tell you?" he echoed. would you
have believed it?''
L was silent. Therein had lain the
weakness of the case both for Bum
and for Donald. They knew that I
would not be convinced of Carts real
character.
ARCHER told me that Kelvin would
furnish any amount of money that
might be required" continued Bum.
"Nclvin was to know nothing about
any robbery. 1t was merely that the
J, money was needed, Now. what was I
TO do Mr. HnrrIngton9 Z. IS never would
asfee 10 vote my stock aeuinst YOU.
/ Not even the threat OF pffson could
make me do that. But i dii mt Ia s.
agree to absent myself from the meet.
ing. If you want to know lust whnt I
really meant to do, he cried. rising
and seizing me by sthe shoulder. II
meant to- so to New ,.6rk and Kill my.
self In M hotel .ere.s where no one
would kHoY 1e. But had their
pledge that me money which I had
taken from You should be refunded ~.
!. Considering that they hads $35O6o
3sofs II aired SAID = Donaltison. stdf
sSyhspst napch of. a srlc8s ~ fjtly Tor fi'6
<pntrol of4the br6noi ! $ Z srsfk nv Nv
1sgra0e md tiin thr0 81 y }fhs 6frs
J 61!Q, They prnha15 fS(j led 81 5iisess
xpie to nlanhxe i6t 3 s. =, % sc
him, ssf{d l. ssaGd lhows they faiiefIsf "a
count upon Donald: but. Jim. what
changed this crazy plan Of yours?"
Bum shuddered.
more and MORE" said he, Through
out all these terrible days have come
to fear Donald. l had no faith in him
at first, but that night at Kelvin's l
saw my own fate in it, Well, let me
finish. Last evening went quietly
across to Solway to take the train for
New York. No man can know what
misery endured. A traitor to my
best friend, ruined man, suicide at
the year or two that would be granted
me at the best! l was insane, truly
insane. l walked across to Solway,
and as l stepped up OH the platform
of the railroad station there I came
face to face with Donald.
'Ah, Mr.. Bunn.' said lie, 4 was
waiting for YOU
VI would have fallen If he hadn't
caught me in his arms. He lifted me
into a wagon, and when l got my
senses l found that Isaac Thorndyke
was there. We rode slowly back to
TunDridge, and upon the way Donald
told me everything that had happened
to me in these dreadful weeks. He
told me what 1 had said to Archer and
what Archer had said to me in our
most private conversations. He knew
my crime and my temptations and my
sufferings as they are known in heav-
en-. Do you think it's any wonder that
not only 1, who was at his mercy,
but Thorndyke also, who was merely
a spectator, agreed to do precisely as
Donald directed? l was hidden in
Thorndyke's house, and Donald drove
me over here this morning. We were
hidden across the street. Thorndyke
signaled to us from the window when
should come over"
$50 far as my part of it is concern.
ed" said Thorndyke, "this is all strict.
ly true. or course | could have no part
with Kelvin when such business as
this was doing"
And he entered into q weak explana.
tion and justification of his previous
conduct. He was interrupted by a
sound Of confusion outside. We ran
into the hall and saw men looking
from the window down into the street.
AS we went toward them Donald came
flying up the stairs.
UNCLE" he cried, taking my arm in
a grip that nearly broke it. "don't you
believe this! Don't you believe It! Fa.
ther, tell him that had no knowledge
OF 1t. didn't mean that the man
would der
"Not Gillespie" cried.
"Yes," answered Donald, with white
lips. "He's dead. He's been sitting in
his wagon before the door here for
hours stone dead, and no one suspected
1t. He was there by agreement with
Archer to stop Jim Bum in case he
should not keep his word-in case he
should not stay away from this meet.
Ing, as he had promised"
"Dead!' exclaimed.
"Its heart disease" said Donald.
Uncle, you won't believe that knew
1t? have no such powers. I am a
fraud-an absolute fraud-and when I
told Gillespie to denounca one yester-