The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-12-25
.8 A g
"A Hand In the DARK.
[orig1nal.l

i [Original.l
When my father, who had been .
very wealthy man, died insolvent his
children were like persons thrown into
deep water without having learned te
swim.
Had It not been for my mother and
sisters would have got on well
enough. | was Young. and strong and
perfectly willing to work. But they
must live. Mother was too old to do
anything for herself, and, aas to ny lis,
tiers. 1t was before the admission Il
the various fields which are now open
to women. secured an agency for
the sale of sewing machines. One day
went home and found the family all
being turned out Of the little cottage to
which we had been reduced for non.
payment OF rent. I had sold that day
q machine for which l had collected
the money. | paid the rent with II.
There are cases where the penalty
for dishonesty seems very harsh. That
a appropriated the sewing ma.
chine funds soon became known to my
employers. ! was given twenty-fou1
hours to make good the deficiency OF
submit TO arrest. There was no way
in the world to say myself. or !
naturally sensitive disposition, to "a
behind bars was more than I could en-.
dure. resolved on suicide.
owned a revolver which l had u
chased i'll the hnlcyon days. | had .
few cents necessary to buy cartridges.
Following a plan usuul TO suicides for
the purpose of l~esseniay as much as
possible the shock to those who love
them. Went to Il hotel. registered and
asked for a room, The tour was for
q o'clock in the evening. but 1t was
In December and as dark as midnight.
The clerk assigned me to Il room. and
I was sllOH5il to it by ii bell boy. RI
was In 4 wing Of the hotel at the end
OF q di1nly lighted hall. MY conductor
found the door unlocked and opened It. !
entered alna Shut the door behind me
was III absolute darkness, which was
what | p~referred-that Is, II a man
about to die has any preferences.
My knee rubbed against a chair.
took hold of it and sat down with my
Face to it's back. and dropped my head
on my hands. My mind of course was
on my misfortunes Had | not been
suffering from Il partial temporary in
sanity | might have seen the folly OF
my course. 1T would have beer better
for ma to disappear. Then II might
still be OF use 10 my mother and sis
tiers. This did not occur to me. MY
mind hail hnpnnla uNtu,,atna rx,i%h - ~
subject-atiest. handouts, prison bars
am a believer In the power OF purely
temporary physical conditions to force
n into crime, and such condition
suffered from.
Presently | Strengthened up. put my
hand to a hip pocket and took out my
revolver. There was no necessity for
q light. | could do what I intended
through the sense of touch. Indeed. !
did not care. as some suicides have
done. TO shoot myself standing before
a mirror. dreaded to see the hor-
rible expression that was on my face.
! slowly raised the revolver, my finger
on the trigger. intending to place the
mlzzle against my temple. Just As
felt the cold steel Il hand grasped my
wrist.
Doubtless nothing could have &C
CURED better calculated to bring me
to my senses. The spell in which my
mind had been caught was suddenly
broken. Surprise vas the FIRST sensa-
ton, curiosity the second. Neither had
anything to do with the monomania
that had possessed me. I had sud
AonIv hoan tv,,,SFnrrod into q Rvon
thinking Il noticed first that the
hand about my wrist was small and
soft. 1t must be u woman's. But
what was a wolnpn doing In that room,
and how did she know that l had
raised 4 pistol to smy head? She might
have heard me corne in and sit down,
but 1t would have required light to de-
noiseless motion. Not for q mo-
ment did ] fancy that some one from
dead had come to IA me. The
hand was warm. human. and felt
human currents passing from tn
owner to ME. What has required 0
whole paragraph to tell flashed
through ME in nm instant.
WHO are youY' | asked.
zone whom God has doubtless TENT
to save you from a crime" came the
reply in a low musical voice.
Il will strike u light"
please don't. am under the care
Of an oculist. He has placed me In
darkness preparatory TO an operation.
| have been here all day without q ray
light entering my eyes. for. In add.
lion to the room being d%arkened, my
syes have been b%andaged. Hearing
some n enter, | lifted the bandage
been so long in perfect dark.
less. my sight is very strong. have
'een you. though dimly, from the first
can see YOU now. Hadn't l better
ling for some one to take you awayr'
mo: l Will go alone. There Is no fear
hat | will act as | Intended. You have
'elieved the mental strain under which
suffered"
1 gave her a brief account OF thu
'auses that had led up to my intended
She exactcd a promise from
ne to so to her father aud tell him the
tory. Including my adventure with
Ter, giving me a ring as a token.
her and kept my promise. I was
a check to pay my Indebtedness.
With another for Temporary reo,,ire-