The Holly chieftain., 1904-04-22

ed into two portions, the lower con-
tanning drawers and the upper being
shut in with doors, which were fitted
with brass lock and fastening
1t was old and much scratched, and
had apparently seen considerable use;
but must have been a good article
originally. He took the candle in his
hand and. crossing the room, inspect
ed ii closely. There is look about
it'-holdins the candle up higher
''as though it might have a history
attached TO it. 1t looks s"-with sud
den impulse-.'as though it might be
trusted to keep secret" He put the
candle upon the mantelpiece close by
and again resumed his burglarious
operations. Il shall soon be able TO
pass muster as an experienced house
breaker, at this rate" he remarked to
himself, with grim irony, as the lock
turned traitor and the door, swinging
open, revealed a number of drawers
within, each garnished with a lock
and brass handle Which should he
attack first? Much time had already
been wasted, and at that moment, as
though in answer, the clock on the
mantelpiece chimed three, while the
| clock in the hall without repeated the
hour after it.
Il will try the third first" he said,
and inserted one of his skeleton keys
into the lock. This drawer-the
third in order from the toi-on being
opened showed itself strangely
enough, to contain three articles, all
of a widely different character.
These We're large and bulky en-.
velope, a revolver and small bottle
of coiorless fluid. The young man
could not repress an exclamation OF
surprise and triumph as his eye fell
upon these.
The secret he had been in search of
SO long lay ready to his hand-the
! proofs of the crime We're there wait
ing for him to grasp them. He knew
it, and yet hesitated. The shock of
the discovery seemed to paralyze his
hand, so that for an instant he was
unable to stretch forth and take pos
session of what he believed would
rake him master of a mans fate.
At last he put out his hand. which
trembled as he did so, and took up the
revolver. 1t was a siX-chamber revol-
yer. and a glance showed that one
ony of the chambers had been dis
charged.
A fierce, hungry look came over his
face as he noticed this, and, laying the
weapon down, he searched for some.
thing which he always carried about
him-the conical shaped bullet which
had been discovered in the stuffing Of
the fourth carriage from the engine
He dropped it into the empty cham.
ber, which it fitted exactly.
Proof number one!" he said, with
grim joy, as he felt the dreadful thirst
for blood return upon him with all its
former strength. He laid the revolver
down and took up the small stoppered
bottle. What was this, and what bear
ing had its contents upon the matter!
He removed the stopper and inhaled
the contents carefully. A strong and
unmistakable odor of bitter almonds
greeted him. Prussic acid, beyond
doubt! What did this point to? Thera
seemed to be only one answer pos.
sible-Suicde A means of escape
provided in case of the worst happeL-
ing. He replaced the stopper and
placed the bottle by the side of the
revolver, while he took up the third
and last article This was the envel.
ope before mentioned. 1t was large
ard thick and sealed in no less than
three places. On it, in place of an
address, were written the strange
words: "To be burned unopened.
after my DEATH"
To be burned, unopened, after his
death!-what did that mean? Why,
if it were to be burned, unopened, had
he put himself to the pains of writing
it? For that the envelope contained
the completed copy of the true nara.
tive and confession of the strange
tragedy" he had not the least doubt
But why had he described it as tha
strange tragedy? Cowardly and de
! testable it might well be-but why
strange?
cat any rate so far from its beina
burned, unopened, he said, aloud. Il
will now myself"
He held the letter in one hand and
with the other he was about to breab
the seals. when voice cried:
Stop"
ITO be continued)