Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-12-07

ner near the building, where he re-
mained leaning against 4 letter boz
and smoking cigar until the postman
came to make his first collection Of the
morning.
II will give you $780," said sendal to
the postman, IF you will let me look
at the addresses in that box"
There WINS u bank note In his open
hnnd. The letter carrier glanced along
the empty street.
BE quick about It," said he, unlock
ing the box.
Scndal rnn his eye over the letters
with Amazing speed.
"Tllnnk you" said he. do you col
lect from the other over there?"
"les, but
Sendul put more money into the
mans hand. and they walked together
past the Aldlne to the other letter box,
whose contents the reporter scanned
in the same way.
81 am looking" said he, "for letter
which contains nothing but a playing
card. You can tell by feeling the en-.
velope. II you find such letter in
your rounds this morning note the ad.
dress and let me know. 1t would be In
scrawling hand, but something like
this" And he gave the man IN envel.
ope. "Thats my name. Inform me II
you learn Of anything that you think
Id like to know. aud don't tell anybody
else. There is money in this for you"
He returned to the Aldine and stood
for minute or more staring up to-
ward the windows Of Ross room. He
was thinking upon question which
he had asked of Frances Bond that
morning and the answer which she had
| given. 1t had required considerable
tact TO ask the question aud receive
the answer without the knowledge OF
the landludy or the physician.
bradford Aldrich had prosecuted
you Will, his attentions." he sud. "Did
you like him?"
81 hated him." the girl had replied
"Hc had done ull lie could to take Bert
away from me-" This through clinched
teeth and followed by flood Of hyster-
ical tears.
ROSS would have married her." said
Sendal to himself ns he ascendsd the
steps Of the Aldine. Poor girl, she
was on the right road at lastr'
He went up to Ross room. where the
policeman whom he had seen there be.
fore was doing in a chair.
"You know me-" said Sendal. I'm
NIL right, ehY'
"Yes. Mr.. sendal," was the reply
you've always used me well.'
go into the bedroom and shut the
door,"
The policeman blinked Mt him Will
sleepy eyes. Then he obeyed the com
| mand.
sendal went to the open window and
looked out. Then he glanced up and
down the street and in ten seconds had
climbed out Of the window. II was a
perilous feat. but he succeeded in
reaching the top Of the raised awning
just below. When he re-sntered the
room he had n sealed envelope in his
hand. 1t was addressed in scrawlins
hand to Frances Bond. sendal care.
fully opened the lappet by rolling a
lead pencil under It and discovered
that which he had expected to find
the nee Of hearts which had been miss.
ing from the pack.
There was nothing else to write
on" said he to himself. "All the pa
per on the desk was covered with ink
and Bert was afraid that he wouldn''
live to find his keys and unlock draw
er. He had one envelope In the Mttl'
drawer upon the right. That WASH
locked. That accounts for the pape
band"
He glanced at the face Of the carr
and found it covered with this mes
sage:
Love. am dying. Aldrich did it
For you. He loved you. Make him
pay: in agony; in money. Make him
pay. can't get out. He has locked
the door. want you alone to know
the truth. II can get to the window
somebody will mall this. I love you
My soul will be near you. r. The
last words were scrawled ON the bacl
Of the card.
"Aldrich went out" muttered Senda
to himself. HE waited across thu
street till Colby answered ring and
the coast was clear. Then he crept uI
to this room. He shot Ross, locked the
door from the outside and threw in the
key over the transom. Then, when
Colby came up In the elevator, Aldrtcf
crept down BY the stairs. 1t was des
perate risk. but-he did it On tn,
whole. 1t was well considered"
He returned the card to the envelop,
and put 1t into his pocket.
"All rlght- be called to the police
man. You may come out now"
It was about two years after tn,
event that Sendal told me this story.
"You may publish It II you want to-
said he. II don't care. I'm goini
abroad. The others are dead"
"Aldrich Is dead. l know" said !
with shudder he went crazy
beat his brains out against the wall o
his room or something like that. l re
member the story"
Against the brass post Of his bed,
believe" said Sendal. lighting a cigar
I'VE drove him to It: frightened hir
insane; frightened him to death.
sent him a picture Of the electric chai
every morning for ak months. Tha
was one small detail OF the process
We got more than half his money.
don't know Just what became Of II
Frances gave 1t away in some sort o
charity. We never spent any Of II, 0
course. 1t was q mere punishment
you know. Ross had suggested II
Frances merely lived to execute venge
ance; that was all. Aldrich was NOR
afraid Of her than he was Of me. sh
died within month after he was gon
nothing to live for, you understand
1t was better 50. poor grim fact, yer
satisfactory all around 20 for as sue
thing could be-"
1t was morning. The attendants
the club were putting out the light
Sendal rose and stretched himself.
"0oodby!' said be- II vail today
| 81 h,,A