Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-06-28

r
No. 4 of the Series
rcoNTINUED.1

Done? What have l done:" The
unhappy wretch came out into the
light with bloodshot blinking eyes and
a bloody shirt front. You know
you've seen-but III tell YOU if YOU
like. I've killed a robber; that's all.
I've killed a robber, a uSurer, a jackal.
a blackmailer, the cleverest and the
cruelest villain unhung. In ready 10
hang for him. I'd kill him again."
And he looked US tiercely in the face.
a fine defiance in his disSipated eyes,
his breast ~heaving, his jaw like a
rock.
"Shall l tell YOU how it happened?"
he went passionately Oh. Hes made
my life a hell these weeks and months
past. You may know that. \ per
feet he'll. Well, tonight met him in
Bond street. Do you remember when
l met You fellows? He wasn't
twenty yards behind you. He was on
your tracks. Rafles; he saw NE nod to
you and stopped NE and asked me
who you We're. He seemed as keen as
knives to know: l couldn't think why.
and didn't care either. for l saw my
chance. l said Id tell him all about
you if he'd give me a private inter
view. He said he wouldn't. l said he
should and held him by the coat By
the time l let him go You We're ont of
sight, and l waited where l was til!
he came back in despair. l had the
whip hand of him then. l could die
tate where the Interview should be.
and l made him take me home with
him, still swearing 10 tell him all
about You when we'd had our talk.
Well, when we got here l made him
give me something 10 EAT. putting him
off and off. and about ~ o'clock |
heard the gate shut. l waited a bit
and then asked him If be lived alone.
"'Not at ALL says he. Did You not
see the s%ervant:'
81 said Id seen her. but l thought
I'd heard her go. If l was mistaken.
no doubt she would come when she
was called, and l yelled three times at
the top of my voice. OF cours there
was no servant to come. | knew tlat.
because l came to see him one night
last week. and he interviewed me him
self through the gate, but wouldn't
open it. Well, when l had done yell
ing and not a soul had come near US
he was as white as that ceiling. Then
l told him we could have our chat at
last, and l picked the poker out of the
fender and told him how he'd robbed
me, but, by God, he shouldn't rob me
any more. l gave him s<hree minutes
to write and sign a settlement of all
his iniquitous claims against me or
have his brains beaten out over his
own carpet. He thought a minute
and then went to his desk for pen and
paper. In two seconds he was round
like lightning with a revolver, and
went for him baldheaded. He fred
two or three times and missed. You
can find the holes if you like, but l hit
him every time. My God. was like
a savage till the thing was done, and
then DIDN'T care. | Welt through bis
desk looking for my own bills and
was coming away when you turned up.
l said | didn't care, nor DO l.. But |
was going to give myself up tonight
and shall still, so you see | shan't give
you fellows much trouble"
He was done, and there we stood Oh
the landing Of the lonely house. tie
low, thick, eager voice still racing and
ringing through our ears. the dead Llul.
below Il in front Of US his iulteu-
itent slayer. | knew to whom the in.
penitence would appeal when he had
heard the story, and | was n1t mis-.
taken.
That's ali rot said Eatt1eS, speak.
ing after u pause. We shau't let you
give yourself up"
You shau't stop me. What would
be the good: The woman saw l.". /,
would only be a question of time, and
] can't face waiting to be taken. Think
of it-waiting for them to touch yoy
on the shoulder. No, no, no. I'll give
myself up and get it over
His speech was changed. lie fal
tered, foundered. 1t was as though {
clearer perception Of his position lat
come with the bare idea of escape
from it.
But listen to me- urged Raffles
"We're here at our peril ourselves
We broke in like thieves TO enforce re
dress for a grievance very like y9ul
WI But don't you see! We tool
out a pane-did the thing like reyula!
burglars. Regular burglars will ge
the credit Of all the rest"
"You mean that | shan't be suspect
ed?"
81 do"
"But | don't want to get off SEQ
free" cried Itutter Historically. "l'y,
killed hin. know that. But il wa!
in self defense; it wasn't murder
must w up and take the "onsc
quences. shall go mad II | don't"
His hands twitched his lips quivcrcd
the tears were In his eyes. Raliics tool
him roughly by the shoulder.
Look here. you fool II ia" three n