The Washington times., 1906-04-15


my life. I know now what a
scourge you have been to your
country. Instead OF killing fools
you have been numbering the youth
and genius that are necessary to
make a people live and grow great.
You are a fool yourself. Holmes:
you began killing of the brightest
and best OF your countrymen three
generations ago. when the old and
obsolete standards Of society and
honor and orthodoxy were narrow
and bigoted. You proved that when
you put your murderous mark upon
my friend Kerner-the wisest chap
l e,er knew in my life"
The Fool-Killer looked at me-
grimly and closely.
You've a queer Jag" said he
cuTiOusly- ~Oh, yes; I,see who you
are now You were sitting with him
at the table Well, if I'm not mis-
taken, l heard you call him fool,
too"
Il did" said I. 81 delight in do
ing So II is from envy. BY all
the standards that you know he Is
the most egregious and grandilo-
quent and gorgeous fool in all the
world That's why you want to kill
him"
Would you mind telling me who
h1F
the old man.
laughed boisterously and then
stopped suddenly, for I remembered
that It would not do TO be seen so
hilarious in the company Of moth
ing but a brick wall
You are Jesse Holmes, the Fool
Killer" I said. solemnly. and you
are going TO kill my friend Ker-
ner. I don't know who rang you
up, but II you do kill him I'll see
that you are punished for f. That
is" I added, despairingly, If I
can get a cop 10 see you They
have q poor eye for mortals, and
! thinl, II would take the whole
force TO round up a myth mur-
derer"
We'll" said the FOol-Killer. brisk
", az must be going. You had bet
ter 90 home and sleep it OF. Good
night"
At this I was moved by sudden
fear for Kerner TO a softer and more
pleading mood. leaned against
the gray mans sleeve and besoughtj
him:
Good Mr. Fool-KiIIer, pleasel
don't kill little Kerner Why can't
you go back South and kill Con-
gressmen and clay-eaters and let Us
alone7 Why don't you 90 up on
Fifth avenue and kill millionaires1
that keep their money locked up and
won't let young fools marry BEL
cause one Of 'em lives on the wrong
street? Come and have 2 drink
Jesse VIII you never get on t
your iob?"
do you know this girl that yoL
friend has made himself a foe
about?" asked the Fool-Kiner.
'I have the honor" said I. ans
that's why I called Kerner q foo,
He IS a fool because he has waite
so long before marrying her. He
a fool because he has been waitIn
in the hopes Of getting the consen
OF some absurd two-million- dollar
fool parent or something of ths
sort"
Maybe" said the FooI-Killerz
maybe II might have looked a
It differently. Would you mind go
ing back TO the restaurant and
bringing your friend Kerner here?'3
"Oh, what's the use. Jesse"
yawRed. He can't see you. Hs|
didn't know you were talking to hirf
az the table You are a fictitious
character, you know"
Maybe he can, this time. WIN
you go fetch him."
"AH right" said I, but I've a
suspicion that you're lot strictly
sober, Jesse You seem 10 be waver-
ing and losing your outlines Don't
vanish before I get back"
I went back to Kerner and said:
There's a man with an invisible
homicidal mania waiting TO see you
outside l believe he wants to mur-
der you His name IS HeSsian Jones,
I think. Come along You won't see
him, so there's nothing to be fright
ened about"
Kerner looked anxious
why" said he, 81 had no idea
one absinthe would do that. You'd
better stick 20 Wurzburger. III walk
? home with you"
I led him to Jesse Holmes.
Rudolf" said the Fool-Killer, III
give in. Bring her up to the house.
Give me your hand, boy"
Good for you, dad" said Kerner,
shaking hands with the old man.
You'll never regret it after you