Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-22

speotor solemnly. II arrest you FOR the
murder OF John Wolcott!"
The man gave a gasp of terror and
nut his hands before his eyes.
1.-THE proof" he cried. Have you
the proof"
''Yes-and mors," Numbered
Barnes The conscience money that
John Wolcott was honest enough to
return 10 the United States govern
ment has been the means OF convict
Ing his murderer. Gates, you were
the man who made the lying entry by
which TIE customs swindle was made
possible You were the man who
gwore 10 the false valuations. Don't
deny Il. You can't. As soon as VOL
colt discovered II he made restitution,
little thinking the money that was
kept from the government went, not
10 the firm. but into your pocket. r.
mo more; no morel" shrieked tho
wretch IN his seat. Il did it. but It was
not promedidated. j swear 1t before
Cod"
How did you come to visit the
house the night this--thls thing hap
pened?" asked Barnes.
Gates lifted up a white face and
looked at his questioner pitifully.
81 had become heavily involved In
stock gambling" he walled; "and was
at the end Of my rope. That afternoon
| asked Wolcott for a small amount
20 tide me over told him | must
have 1t before the banks opened next
day. confessed that If | did not
get II would be ruined. His unsatis-
factory reply was. See me In the
morning. That night some devil
tempted me TO go to his house TO make
a final appeal. | had to have money"
From that point the murderer pic
tured the story of his crime with a
vividness that fascinated his hearers
once or twice he arose TO illustrate
some point in his narrative. During
the recital he appeared 10 forget his
own personality In the absorbing in
terest of his story. 1t was as II he were
relating an incident in the life OF am
other man.
Gates began by telling how he had
discovered the front door OF Wolcott's
house open. Walking In he found
himself In the darkened recessed hall
way, He called softly, but received no
reply CHANGING upward he noticed
thin streak Of light radiating from
the closed curtains OF the door leading
10 the library. once again he called.
but the only response was the echo OF
his voice as II came along the high
ceiling stairway For a few seconds
he stood there indeterminate. then.
turning sharply. walked up the heav-
lily carpoted steps
He paused at the landing for mo-
ment then, stepping forward, parted
the curtains slightly, The shadowy
room was plainly but substantially
furnished. A telephone occupied a
niche In the far side Of the apartment.
A few feet away the old man sat at
small table. engrossed In writing.
a student lamp with n green shade
threw an uncanny reflection upon his
bowed head and wizened face
Gates was about to make his pres
ence known when his quick eye detect
ed an open safe, with pigeon hole
filled with bank notes. Even at that
distance II was plain that they repre-
sented a small fortune. The sight
choked the words of greeting ere they
reached the intruder's lips. He stood
silent, and peculiar sensation passing
through his frame caused him to trem-
bic violently, He tried to speak again.
but his heavy tongue refused to do his
bidding. Put money In thy purse"
quoted demon within him. Quick on
the heels of this thought came a sud-
den feeling of resentment against VOL
colt. Here was a man almost on the
edge OF the grave. boarding up needless
wealth Bitterly he contrasted this
with his own pressing necessities and
barren hopes.
In those few seconds of thought he
not only yielded TO the temptation. but
planned every detail of the theft. Out
side the circle OF the lamp the room
was In emi-darkness. The safe was
az Woleotts elbow and out Of his sight.
He stlll bent over the table, and the
only sound to break the deadly silence
OF the apartment was the monotonous
scratching OF his pen. Gates crept into
the room on his tiptoes. He held his
breath az he moved step by step In
the direction of the safe. He was al
most within arms length, another
move and he could reach the money
and silently creep out OF the house and
into the night. He reached over, and
the next second large packet was
clutched In his trembling grasp.
At that critical moment his head
came within the zone Of light reflected
by the green shaded lamp and threw
the shadow of his profile on the wall.
simultaneously the old man, paused In
his writing for O word. looked up and
beheld the strange reflection. He
jumped to his feet with all the nervous
energy Of his quick nature. and, turn,
ing. faced the Intruder.
In his haste the sheet of paper OH
which he had been writing fell to the
floor. II the old man felt any fear he
did not show IL. He Strengthened up
his bent form IN an attitude OF def
ance. Tho skin about the long, thin
nose seemed drawn tighter than ever,
He peered at Gates with the searching
look peculiar TO near sighted persons.
Like d flash look of Mortified recognl-
ton overspread his leathery counte-
nance The thin Inns pursed up into
an expression OF ineffable contempt.
"You--you BASTARD" he cried, in a
choking voice,
He tried to say more, but the words
would not come. He made one Wild,
fren2led plunge at Gates, who stood
there like man In trance. The PAN
therlike spring OF his victim aroused
the thief Gates tried to thrust him
aside and, failing In this, reached out
his riPht hand and grasped Wolcott By
the throat. In that moment the thief
Was fiiel with an implaCable and I'M
reasoning hatred. He pressed until
Wolcotts eyes looked as II they would
leap from their sockets. Suddenly re-
morsefuL he withdrew his hand. Thus
released, the merchant, staggering to
one side, made a rush for the telephone.
He lifted tho receiver with palsled
hand but before he could utter a word
fell on the floor unconscious.
A feeling Of terror overwhelmed
Gates. lie dropped down on his hands
and knees and raised the old man TO
@ sitting posture with his back propped
up against tho wall. Wolcott was UNI
conscious and gasping for breath. Gates
tore away his collar and crayat by
sheer force. He called out TO him to
speak. but the head of the old man.
unsupported olled from side to side
emphasizing its CHASTITY expression or
horror and contempt. A glass OF wa
ctr stood on the mantle He seized II
and dashed part OF It IN Wocott's face.
He tried 10 get few drops down the
throat Of the PROSTATE man, but the
clenched teeth would not open. Sud-