Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-27

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COMO visitors to my little den. He. he.
ConcSiving him, of course, to refer to bur-
glars,G could not help wondering at the
forced land hollow character of his laugh.
AS we\went down the stairs he said: I
think VIE know one another pretty well
now, Mt Mason. Ell? And IL l could do
anything to advance your professional pros
poets i should be glad of the chance, of
course. / understand the struggles of a
young Professional mamie, he!' 1t was
the forced laugh again, and the man spoke
nervously. L think he added that If you
Will drop in tomorrow evening perhaps
may have little proposal to make VIII
your
Il assented, wondering what this proposal
could be. Perhaps this eccentric old gem
tleman was good fellow. after all, anx-
ious to do me good turn. and his awk-
wardness was nothing but o. natural deli
eacy in breaking the ice. / was not so
flush of good friends as to be willing to
lose one. He might be DESTROYS of putting
business in my way.
Il went and was received with cordially
that even then seemed a little over-effusive.
We sat and talked of one thing and another
for long while, and l began to wonder
when Mr.. Foggatt was coming 10 the point
that most Interested me. Several times he
invited me to drink and smoke, but long
usage to athletic training has given me a
distaste for both practices. and declneu-
At last he began to talk about mysell. he
was afraid that my professional prospects
heard that in some of the colonies-South
Africa. for example-young lawyers had
brilliant opportunities.
If you'd like to go there, he said, I've
no doubt, with a little capital clever man
like you could get grand practice together
soon Or you might buy a share in some
good established practice. l should be glad
to let you have $500, or even a little more,
If that wouldn't satisfy you, and
Il stood aghast Why should this man,
almost a stranger. offer me GIQ0 even
more. If that wouldn't satisfy me? What
claim had on him? 1t was very generous
OF him, OF course, but out of the question.
l was at least, a gentleman and had a
gentleman's self-respect. Meanwhile he
mad gone Numbering on, in halting sort
OF way, and presently let slip a sentence
that struck me like a blow between the
eyes.
"' shouldn't like you to bear ill-wilI be-
cause of what has happened in the past he
said Your late-your late lamented
mothef-Im afraid-she had unworthy sus-
picions-Im sure-it was best for all par
tes-your father always Appreciated
L set back my chair and stood erect be-
fore him. This groveling wretch, forcing
the words through his dry lips. was the
timer who had made another of my father
and had brought to miserable ends the lives
of both my parents. Everything was clear
The creature went in fear of me, never i'm
agining that did not know him. and sought
to buy me off-to buy ME from the remen-
heart
Tor i5Oo-G50O that he had made my father
steal for him! I said not word. But the
memory of all my mothers bitter years,
and savage sense OF this crowning insult
to myself, took a hold upon me, and / was
tiger. Even then l verify believe that
one word of repentance enc tone of honest
remorse, would have saved him. But he
dropped his eyes, snuffied excuses, and
stammered of unworthy suspicious and no
Hl-will' l let him stammer. Presently he
my fa nd fall ho1y
in his chair. sick with terror. 1 snatched
the pistol from the mante-piece, and,
thrusting it in his face, shot him where he
sat
surprise me now. 1 took my hat and step
ped toward the door. But there were
voices on the stairs. The door was locked
on the inside. and I left it SO. 1 went
back and quietly opened a window. Below
was clear drop into darkness, and above
was plain wall. but away to one side,
where the slope of the gable sprang from
the roof, an iron gutter ended, supported
by strong bracket. 1t was the only way.
l got upon the sill and carefully shut the
window behind me, for people We're already
knocking at the lobby door. From the end
of the sill, holding on by the reveal of the
window with one hand. leaning and stretch
ing my utmost, l caught the gutter, swung
myself clear and scrambled on the roof.
climbed over many roofs before l found,
in adjoining street, a ladder dashed per-
pendicularly against the front of house in
course of repair. This, to me, was easy
opportunity of descent, Notwithstanding the
boards fastened over the face of the lad
der and l awaited myself of it.
Il have taken some time and trouble in
order that you $50 far as I am aware the
only human being beside myself who knows
me to be the author of Foggatt's DEATH
shall have at least the means of appraising
my crime at its just value of culpability.
How much you already know of what l
toIl I ,sAr1cy
hardened and fagitous, I make no doubt,
but 1 speak of the facts as they are. You
see the thing. of course, from your own
point of yiew-I from mine. And remem-
Der my mother,
Trusting that you will forgive the odd
freak of a mana criminal, let us say
who makes confdant of the man set to
hunt him down, beg leave to be, sir, your
obedient servant,
SIDNEY MASON"
read the singular document through and
handed it back to Hewitt.
How does it strike your Hewitt asked.
Mason would seem to be a man of very
marked character" 1 said. Certainly no
fool And, if his tale is true, Foggatt is
no great loss to the world
Just soft the tale is true. Personally
I am disposed to believe 1t Is.
Where was the letter posted?'
TT wasn't posted. 1t was handed in with
the Others from the front door letter box
this morning in an unstamped envelope He
must have dropped it in himself during the
night. Paper" Hewitt proceeded, holding
it up to the light. Turkey mill, ruled
fooscap. Envelope, blue, official shape,
Prizes watermark. Both quite ordinary
and no special marks.
Where do you suppose he's gone?
Impossible to guess. Some might think
he meant suicide by the expression beyond
the reach even of your abilities of search,
but l scarcely think he IS the sort of man
to do that No, there is no telling. Some
thing may be got by inquiring at his late
address. of course; but, when such a man
tells YOU he doesn't think you VIII md
him. YOU may count upon its being a diff
fcuit job. His opinion is not to be de-
spised."
What shall you do?'
put the letter in the box with the casts
for the police. Fiat justitia, you know
without any question of sentiment AS TO
the apple, / really think, If the police VIII
let me- I'll make you present OF II. Keep
If somewhere as a souvenir or your ap-
solute deficiency in reflective observation
In this case and look at it whenever you
feel yourself growing dangerously conceit-
ed 1t should cure YOU.
This Is the history of the Wlthered anu
almost petrified half apple that STANDS III
nv cabinet among a number OF hlnt nm
nIements and one or two rather nne ola