Mexico Missouri message., 1906-05-10

"Coms, siri" he said, in voice OF sup.
pressed passion. END this fares. II
my safety Is so important to you, arrest
me and have done with ~"
The man regarded him with cold
stare.
Excuse me, sir" he said, grufiy. Il
don't know you"
The oflcer shrugged his shoulders,
and turned indifferently to view Of the
landscape. Stackhouse bit his lip; his
anger vanished; he became moody. His
eyes were cast down, and he no longer
looked about him.
When theferryboat reached the other
side, the ruined banker disembarked,
and for time wandered aimlessly about
the water front. His hands were clasped
behind him and his head hung down
He walked like an old man.
With the same outward bearing he
took a ferry boat back to the city, and
set out once more upon one OF his inter
mlnable walks. There was a new feature
added to his conduct. At nearly every
drinking saloon he stopped and ordered
liquor. His walk became unsteady, but
he went on like a man who had definite
end in view. The frequent visits to the
saloons puzzled Thomas at first. Sud
denly he had an inspiration.
1.-THE letter from his wife was terri
bic blow to him. He seeks oblivion.
This is his second effort to obtain it.
The first was death, and it was denied
him. The second, though temporary, is
quite as effective, and will be secured
when he has imbibed a SUFFICIENT guam
tity of alcohol"
Thomas began to have vague hope.
His suspicious became certainty very
soon, Thornton Stackhouse entered at
last a third-class hotel at the North End,
and paid for room. The call boy came
down after few minutes fora bottle OF
brandy, and Stackhouse locked himself
in the room with it.
Even the experienced Thomas shud-
dered. That man who had occupied
the position in the world Of the late
junior partner OF North & Stackhouse
should be reduced to an extremity OF this
kind, filled him with a feeling akin to
pity But nothing shook his resolution
Whether It tended to save this miserable
exile from responsibility or to give him
the final kick which should destroy his
] last hold of the bushes on the brink of
/ the precipice, the bit,of evidence now in
Stackhouse's possession must be Sc
cured.
A private word or two in the ear of the
proprietor secured the reporter room
on the second floor, Immediately adjoin-
ing that occupied by the man in whom
all his interest conferred. There was a
communicating door, but it was locked
on the other side. Against this door
the reporter remained listening, con-
occurring, planning, for quite two hours.
The audible evidences OF Stackhouse's
presence had for some time ceased.
Thomas realized that 1t was time to act.
He began great clamor upon the
door. There was not sound In answer.
Thomas left his room, and sought out
the proprietor.
"You know me, don't you Thomas,
Of theGlobe? All Well, want to save
you trouble. There is every reason to
believe that that man in the room next
to mine has made away with himself"
MOI exclaimed the proprietor,
aghast
Quite so, sir have suspected him
for some time. can account for the
sounds / have heard in no other man.
ner, They suddenly ceased, and for
some time have been making noise
enough to raise the dead He doesn't
4 resDoYld
Within four minutes the door Of Mr..
Stackhouse's room was forced, and half
a dozen men rushed into the chamber.
Stackhouse lay upon the bed, motion
less. His coat and vest were thrown
carelessly over the chair.
HE isdrunkR cried one Of the detec-
tives.
HE IL dying, said Thomas Where
are his papers? We must have his
name"
With admirable GOODNESS before them
all, Thomas took pocket-book from the
coat which lay upon the chair, and was
proceeding to investigate its contents
An authoritative hand was suddenly
laid upon his shoulder, and one OF the
detectives whispered in bis ear:
Are you crazy, Thomns? What is
the matter with you? YOu know well
enough who the man Is, None of your
tricks, please. Put back tina. pocket
book
The reporter had faint fush IN his
cheeks. but he yielded without protest
The square white envelope was al
ready n his possession,
An hour later he read the letter. III
contents nlled him with astonishmeni
and excitement. II was certainly moi
what he expected, but It seemed to him
pregnant with possibilities He hast6ued
to iind John Iamn; but the ofIee 81 the
detective was closed, and he was unabl,
to locate him.
"It's fatel" cried Thomas. Il shat
act alone, ana. fortune helping me,