Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-03-05

the colonies-South Africa, for exam
ple-young lawyers had brilliant oppor-
tunities.
elf you'd like to go there he said,
I've no doubt, with a little capital, a
clever man like you could get a grand.
practice together very soon. Or you
might buy a share in some good estab-
lished practice. l should be glad to let
you have $500 or even a little more If
that wouldn't satisfy you, and
II stood aghast. Why should this
man, almost a stranger, offer me $500,
or even more If that wouldn't satisfy
me? What claim had 1 on him? Ii
was very generous of him, of course.
but out of~the question. I was at least
a gentleman and had a gentleman's
self respect. Meanwhile he had gone
Numbering on in a halting sort of
way and presently let slip a sentence
that struck me like a blow between the
eyes.
"I shouldn't like you to bear i'll will
because Of what has happened in the
past he said. Your late-your late,
lamented mother-I'm afraid-she had
unworthy suspicions-I'm sure-it was
best for all parties-your father al
ways appreciated
II set back my chair and stood erect
before him. This groveling wretch.
forcing the words through his dry lips,
was the thief who had made another
of my father and had brought to mis-
cradle ends the lives of both my par
enB! Everything was clear. The crea-
ture went in fear Of me, never imagin-
ing that l did not know him, and
sought to buy me off-to buy me from
the remembrance of my dead mothers
broken heart for f5OO-f5OO that he
had made my father steal for him! l
said not a word. But the memory of
savage of this browning insult
to myself took a hold upon me, and l
was a tiger. Even then l verify be-
lieve that one word of repentance, one
tone of honest remorse, would have
saved him. But he dropped his eyes,
snuff1ed excuses and stammered of 'un-
worthy suspicious and mo ill Will
L ASI ~ oItilllllS1. iSoCltllN liz ooh
ed up and saw my face and fell back
in his chair sick with terror. l snatch
ed the pistol from the mantelpiece and,
thrusting it in his face, shot him
where he sat.
"My subsequent GOODNESS and quiet
ness surprise M now. l took my hat
and stepped toward the door. But
fhorn wnrn upinnc an tho c4oirc T1,n
door was locked on the inside, and |
left it so. l went back and quietly
opened a window. Below was a clear
drop into darkness and above was
plain wall, but away to n side, where
the slope of the gable sprang from the
roof, an iron gutter ended, supported
by a strong bracket. 1t was the only
shut the window behind me, for people
were already knocking at the lobby
door. From the end of the sill, hold,
ing on by the reveal of the window
with one hand, leaning and stretching
my utmost, l caught the gutter, swung
myself clear and scrambled on the
roof. l climbed over many roofs be,
ASAS 1Od1lNs III oh ohJolllAS ollCCl, q
ladder dashed perpendicularly against
the front of a house in course of re-
pair, and l availed myself of it.
II have taken some time and trouble
in order that you $50 far as I am aware
the only human being beside myself
who knows me to be the author of
Foggatt's death) shall have at least
tho ron0nc of ornra icinr pov oriron NJ
it's just value of culpability. You see
the thing, Of course, from your own
point of view-I from mine. And 1 re.
member my mother! Your obedient
servant, SIDNEY MASON."
I read the singular document through
and handed it back to Hewitt.
"How does it strike you?" Hewitt
asked.
mason would seem to be a man OF
very marked character" I said. Ger
tainly no fool. And, if his tale is true
Foggatt is no great loss to the world"
"Just soft the tale is true. Person.
ally I am disposed to believe it is"
"Where was the letter posted?"
"It wasn't posted. 1t was handed in
WILL LII OluSlS llOuu luC LULU uOOl
letter box this morning in an unstamp,
ed envelope. He must have dropped II
in himself during the night"
"Where do you suppose he's gomez"
Impossible to guess. Some might
think he meant suicide by the expires
sion beyond the reach ever Of youl
abilities Of search but I scarcely think
he is the sort of man to do that"
"What shall you dol?
"Put the letter in the box with the
casts for the police. Fiat justitia, yor
know, without any question Of senti
ment. AS to the apple, 1 really think
If the police will let me, I'll make yor
a present Of it. Keep it somewhere as
a souvenir Of your absolute deficiency
in reflective observation in this case
and look at it whenever you feel your
self growing dangerously conceited. Il
should cure you"
OF Mr.. Sidney Mason we lever hear6
another word. The police did thei1
best, but he had left not a track be
hind him. His rooms were left almosr