The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-21

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Tell ME all you know about Philip
Arson. Ii interests me-"
Snap! The hard composition OF his
pipe was broken in two.
What a pity" cried Willie. SHAH
/ run and buy you new one|
No. my boy, no. l can manage.
Don't mind ME. / can't talk. but will
listen May the Lord have mercy on
me. will listenr'
He suffered that night as few men
have suffered. Many a murderer has
had 10 endure the torments of n haunt
ed conscience. but few can have been
narrowed by hearing their own sons
lauding To the sky the victims bene-
factions 10 themselves and TO their
dead mother.
He was master of his emotions suth-
GENTLY To control his voice. He pune.
tuated their recital by occasional COM
ments that showed he appreciated ev-
cry point He examined with interest
specimens of their work. for they I'M
derstood both the stitching and the
| stamping of leather and once he found
himself duly specializing as to what
career he would have carved out for
himself were he given In boyhood the
opportunities they rejoiced in.
But throughout there was In his sur
charged brain current of cunning
| purpose. First. there was Greiner.
away In the north, robbing dead man
and plotting desolation TO some girl.
| He must be dealt with.
Then he> the slayer. must DE slain
| and by his own hand lie would spare
| his sons as much pain as might be
| within his power.
He would not merely disappear, leav-
| ing them dubious and distressed. No.
They must know he was dead, not by
| suicide, but by accident. They would
| mourn his wretched memory. Better
that than live with the abiding grief
| OF the knowledge that he was Philip
| Ansons murderer
| He was quite sure now that the dead
would arise and call for vengeance II
| he dared to continue to exist. Yes.
that was it-a life for a life-a prayer
that his deeds might not bear fruit In
his children-and then death. speedy.
certain death.
Some reference to the future made
by Willie, the younger, who favored
his mother more than the outspoken
John, gave Mason an opportunity to
pave the way for the coming separa-
ton
81 don't want you two lads to make
any great changes on my account" he
said slowly. 1T is far from my in
tention TO settle down here and let
all your friends become aware that
you are supporting ticket Of leave
father. Yes, know. You are good
boys, and 1t won't be any more pleas
ant for me toto live away from you
than 1t would be for you-under-o-h her
conditions-to be separated from me.
Butt am In earnest in this matter.
I will stop here tonight just to feel
that l am under the same roof as you.
1t Is your roof, not mine. Long ago
l lost the right to provide you with a
shelter. Tomorrow l go away. have
some work to do-a lot OF work. Ii
must be attended to at once. or
course you will see me often. We can
meet in the evening-go out together
but live herewith you'll can't"
=. His sons never knew the effort that
this speech cost him. He spoke with
| such manifest hesitation that Willie,
who quickly interpreted the less pro-
nounced signs of a mans thoughts,
winked warning at his brother.
: He said, with an optic signal:
Not word now, John. Just leave
things as they are
, Under any ordinary conditions he
Z would be right. He could never guess
. the nature of the claims that encircled
his father, delivering him fettered to
the torture. bound hand and foot, body
and SOUL
At last they all retired to their
rooms, the boys to whisper kindly
t plans for keeping their father a pris.
: oner again in their hands, Mason to liz
; open eyed, dry eyed, through the night
mourning for that which might not be
The rising sun dispelled the DARK
2 phantoms that fitted before his vision
t He fell into a fitful slumber, disturb
D ed by vivid dreams. Once he was on q
3 storm swept sea at night on a sinking
ship, a ship with a crew of dead men
: and a dead captain at the helm.
I Driving onward through the raging
r waves, he could feel the vessel settling
more surely as she rushed into each
$ yawning caldron. Suddenly through
oil the wreck of flying spindrift he saw q
: smooth harbor, a sheltered basin, in
which vessels rode In safety. There
were houses beyond, with cheerful
!. watching the doomed craft from tbs