The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-27
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'Circunnsantial Case;|
The Asouaas Hevelstts ii Tour chspsrs

Tho Astoriaa's novelette, n -Four chsptsrs


Jack waiting with tho patience Of a
man who expects his quivering nerves
10 bc cauterizcd at any moment by an
electric current
Az lcngth Mr.. Pope laid aside his
glass and fixed bis eyes on tho puta.
tive cuiprIt
did you hc quoried, discover amy
points between ow- noble and your
duplicateT"
"Nonc whatever except a slight do
preston vn tho diverse side and q
smaller diameter in my specimen at
certain pointn. Otherwise, for all that
] could see. they were substantially
Identical" " q
Tho librarian was deeply moved.
After pacing the floor once or twice be
abruptly turned upon bis heel and
faced bic prisoner with the pcrenip-
tory request. "Lct me sec your knife
Jack produced II.
"As I thought, II contains file
blade Of finely tempered steel. Scar
borough DO went on, II have known
you for several years am old enough
To DO your father. and 1 want 10 treat
you as ! should wish another man TO
treat my son under like circumstances.
All cnthnslastic collectors arc, In q
sense. monomaniacs. | can see re-
morse--no, mean regret written
upon your face now. Admit that an
ovcrmastering influence mofnentarily
overcamc your reason and for single
instant clonded you conscience. Own
that your alleged duplicate OF so rare
n piece IL the coin which you pretended
10 have lost and which you hive per.
haps iiled, With h view TO destroying
It's identity. and give you my word
TINT what has transplrod between w
Just now shall never pass my lips. !
win dismiss tho officer. I win even
undertake that the coin shall be luck
lily found and restored To Its place.
And, more than that, you shall not
lose my friendship. I.myself can un-
tlcrstand the strength OF temptation.
for though II bas never happened 10
assall me iust as Il has you today, |
have sInncd In ways that have been
perhaps less cxcnsablc,"
The voice OF the old man was trefnu-
lous. His eyes were moist, and as he
ceased speaking he laid his hand gen
tiy upon the shoulder Of the mQn whom
hc believed to have been detected In
grave crime
Y Jack appreciated the nobility OF char
acter which underlay his words and at
the same time perceived that there was
a way to escape the impending thnn.
derbolt. whose fall seemed inevitable.
That the geld noble that he had drop
ped would DO ultimately recovered he
had no doubt. In that event Mr.. Pope
would discover that his suspicious had
hccn III founded, and his own reputa'
tlon would be cleared. But should he,
Jack Scarborough, whose life had hlih-
crto been blamclcss except Ia 30 far
as d few OF the minor escapades OF
ebulllent youth might have east a light
shadow across Il, confess himself a
theft Neyerl Rathcr-ycs. thou
sand times--arrcst and arralgnment.
the handouts and the grated door.
The librarian had left him to himself,
seemingly trusting to the voice OF the
cuiprit's conscience. He stood gazing
out OF the window, through which arose
tho confused clarnor OF the street be-
low, where wealth and penury, virtue
and crime, hope and despair jostlcd
each other In an III assorted crush Of
humanity.
AT the sound Of Scarborough's voice
he turned around.
"Mr. Pope" said JACK, do not think
that underestimate your kindness,
can never forget It, and ! thank you
for Jour wei meanr oner But havs
spoken the literal truth. ! have moth
Ing to say In variance from my orig
inal statement"
''Then you force me to the most bit.
ter task OF my life. Scarborough. |
knew your mother In her girlhood.
Nothing but chance prevented our mar
ringe, You are her veritable image,
For her sake / long to save her son.
Think am willing to do for you what
I believe I would do for no man on
earth except her son. for have seen
no other woman whom cared to mar
ry. But IL you persist In your obsti-
nate refusal OF my offer ! must hand
you over to the police. must. The
case against you is too plain to admit |
Of question, The officer Is waiting al
the door, DO you stlll reject the one
avenue Of escapey'
Jack was more deeply moved than he |
cared to show, but his self respect re. |
tained Its ascendency. ,ss 5sse NJ |
"Mr, Popc,' and his voice was firm.
II did not know that you had ever |
been friend of my mother, but II you |
were my father you could not persuade |
me to the confession OF q crime Of
which am innocent" lI
'Then must do my duty, at any |
personal cost" And, throwing open
the door, he beckoned the policeman
to enter, Officer" said he, this is
your prisoner will accompany you |
to the station and prefer charges" |
Before being locked In cell Jack
obtained permission to communicates