Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-27
DAILY SHORT STORY
IOriginal.l
AN AIIBI.

was driving a tempest ofesnowfakes
| The street lamps shone dim. Excep'
for the storm there was not n sound
| No football could,be heard ron the snow
and there was no one abroad.
had reached the tOwnEOf NJ. a. few
minutes before by trains and, finding
no conveyance ut the station, had
started to walk 10 myIhOtel.
Suddenly, midway between street
lamps, where Il was dark. Iran against
a man. l stood stock still. The snow
on either side of US was deep. and
waited for the man TO divide the way
with me. Instead Of that he began to
talk to himself incoheently, seeming
to be unconscious of my presence.
Horrible" he muttered, horrible,
Death-death that might be prevented
by a little loose change he may have
had in his pocket. and he wouldn't give
it. He's a dog, a murderer l hope 1
may see him burn with an everlasting
fire.
You seem in trouble" said in a
kindly tone.
Trouble, Isn't it trouble that there's
but one person in the world who can
help and who won't help? 1 told him
mother was dying; that 1 had been sent
to the drug store for prescription and
hadn't a cent TO pay. He told me to
get out
l remembered that all my change had
been spent, and l had only Il ten dollar
bill. l would go with the young man
to a drug store, pay for the medicine he
required and give him something be-
sides.
Come" 1 said, lead the way to
drug store"
Il only fear they are all closed he
said. It's very late
He led me to one drug store after an
other We found every one closed and
no one 10 answer Il night bell. l had
been with him nearly an hour. This l
knew, for l had arrived at ten minutes
after II and the town clock was now
striking l., and. having made failure,
l was obliged to let him 20 home with
out his medicine As we were about to
part l was fumbling in my trousers
pocket with my keys and other articles,
when l clasped Il silver half dollar
Here" l said, take this coin. It's a
pocket piece of the year of my mar
rlage. with my wife's and my initials
scratched on il. Take it. You'll need it,
and more"
He seized the piece eagerly, then turn
ed and vanished in the darkness.
2 ~
had occasion to go to NJ. again. l am
a lawyer by profession and had case
10 come off in court there Having
some time to spare at the courthouse
before my case would be called. stroll
ell into the criminal court room.
a man was being tried for the muir
der of his uncle. 1t seemed to be a very
plain case against the accused. He was
very poor and his uncle was very rich,
and the accused was sole heir at law.
The prosecuting attorney proved con-
clusively that the young man had every
inducement to kill his uncle from the
fact that the old man was making ar
engagements to leave all his property to
endow certain institutions. 1t did not
appear to me that the defense had any
case at all Indeed. the last person
known to have been with the murdered
man, and that only an hour before his
death. was the accused.
There were so many heads between
me aud the prisoner that l did not for
some time get n good look at him.
When did there was something about
his face and figure that was familiar
to me. The prosecuting attorney was
summing UP to the jury.
We have proved" he said, that the
prisoner was with the murdered man
as late as II O'Clock: how much later
we cannot prove, but no one saw him
leave. At half past II a cry was
heard; a maid entered the old mans
bedroom and found him dying. There
was a convenient door for the murder
er's escape without being seen. At
half past y the prisoner was arrested
on the street muttering maledictions |
against his uncle"
The last words brought back a pic |
tUre that had appeared to me on that |
stormy night three months before. l |
waited till the speaker had finished, |
then said 10 the judge:
Your honor. / am an attorney. I |
believe l can throw some light on this /
case and request your permission to /
examine the prisoner"
After much wrangling permission
was granted.
Have you ever seen me beforeP' 1
asked
Not that l remember"
Did I not meet you one night three
months ago when you were going for
medicine for your mOther!"
Il met a man II / could find him
I could prove my innocence"
What did you do with the coin he
gave you:"
Il gave il to my mother. 1t Is now
IN the hands of my attorney"
ON that coin" l said. turning to |
he jury. ARE my initials and those Of
my wife. II is half dollar coined in !
1891 l met this young man on the
night OF Jan 20 last q few minutes
after II and remained with him till |