The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

~You nay well believe that my heart hammered
hard as crept wariIy this lair Of crime-enge
dered insanity definite intention OF clear scheme o.
action was not mine at the moment more tnan 1naL
I hungered with appetite sharpened Sy years o.
starving bitterness stamp utterly out Of existence
this nan who had blasted my lie; beyond that
nurssd q vague notion OF somehow getting evidence
with which clear reputation Noiseiessiy IlItea
self when had gained the wall OF the strange stFuS-
trre and peered IN through slit IN the plated cane
A pit5ful and shocking spectacle met ny view kind
OF hammock hung across part OF the Toon and al
the Interior the walls seemed covered with spenoo
many coIored wings There were odd rustic chairs
rude table other curious things tnst INSANITY might
have contrived-
But the mani He was kneeling before chair,
with wild eyes and such face! God spare me suea
another sighti left severed az the eooV'
the severed portion lay upon the table; cr-'nsoneo
knife lay upon floor Obviously he bad a-aPutatea
the arm where M bullet had shattered 1t the night BE-
fore now stanched the arteral flow Go not know
De was PRAYING nct 70 God, but 10 his wife whose
life he had taken. And his words They were surely
the most appealing things ever wrung out Of hu-
man heart All my rage and hunger for revenge
fell fat IN Though man had not been able 70
pronounce punishment upon this vOlatoT OF universal
law Nature, with uEfailing equity had pushed
him down from the human plane he had forfeited
and made him one with beasts Bis abassment was
inexpressibIe sense the suffering he must have
passed through reach this deplorable plight came
surang 10 the door and called his name
"No language that might summon. no train
OF clauses formulated could wholly picture the
scene that followed He lesped up and drew back
ouivering with terror Dead nan, go your graveF
he shouted I have suffered enough! Why need
you hunt ne down? Isn't It enough that she should
follow me with red gap IN her neck7 she keeps
screaming through the wound that you cannot rest
as the dead should, wiki the galloEs rope stn chok-
ing you, Why didn't they remove the moose when
they buried your Then you both might sleep and
let ne be- Back. Go baekF
He stood against the wall the splendid bird
wings above and about him. his frame writing and
crouchiug his features working ghastly. I put out
ny hands toward him and tried to speak my compass
soE when with cry he bounded past ne out the
door and fed straight and blindIy outward into the
nlorass I edge, and great cloud OF marsh
birds few upward with roar, their breasts cleaning
white in the sunshine Below them I saw the man 90
down IN the water and his hand and manned
arm in air his wild face toward In q moment
al that remained the white birds. cTcling set
tie again bubbles blinking ike dying where
the went down Nature had performed an exc
cutioa. and strangely humbled By the sight stood
alone IN the waste"
lying the Of the crabtree With sigh stared
at the ground It Is Wild story said Pardon
me Il I say find It hard believe"
Without word he brought round object AS
unroIled It from covering OF oiIciOth and leadfon
before I sprang Up in amusement Il was the
severed forearm and hand OF 2 mani
That IS what left lying the table IN the
swamp" ne said Do you see what is tattooed on
the arm? I killed my wife. ). ". b and here On
the third finger hand Is MS seal ring with his
initials J ". B., cut in the stone! With this
pect to prove my innocence. Now, have 20 the
object Of all these words. the pretty penny you
mentioned. I need fifty dollars get quickly TO ny
destination. that justice at last may be done You
see ny pitiful case; do I appeal TO you in valng'
Wrap up the terrible thngE 7 said. with
shudder In what town was the original crime con-
mitted and what is your name2
In Springfield. this state. February II, 1882 Ny
name is Paul Bethune." be answered looking
squarely IN the eyes.
q drew out ny pocketbook and handed him
twenty dollars leaving myself but bit Of change.
Less than half Of that VIII pay your fare TO Spring
field" said. noddiRg toward the bill IN his fingers
FOR answer he grasped ny hand and wrung IL
his lips working. his eyes glistening. Seemingly he
trust himself to speak lest he should burst
out crying Hurriedly rolling his traps together he
drew the bundle under his and started down the
path toward the highway Suddenly he turned.
Watch the newspapers Of Springfield" he said
When I arrive at home thess VIII be a sensation.
You the return Of your loan in few days
Good-by-"
He disappeared. but in a few minutes reappearei,
turning eastward upon the highway, and the sun
light fell full in his face I saw that he was either
crying OF grinning I could not clearly see which.
When he had gone out Of sight I stood wondering
wondering still Months have gone. and the press
Of Springfield has made reference to the vindica-
tion OF ny hobo" I have questioned myself II I
heard clearly what ne said about the state for It ap
pears there Springhelds IN other commonwealths
II I did hear correctly. what then2 Did he weave
the story out Of his fancy? As q msndicant was he
simply genius. playing skifuIly upon human SYN
pathy? But there the ampGtated arm: How aid
he BY that2 Was the murderer I can
not believe It. Possibly "hoboisn has become the
fixed habit Of bis life, and when It to the final
pinch preferred freedom OF vsgabondage 70 the
shsekles Of respectabiiity and care Who knows?
Should this record fall under the eye one who Is
able add final Eerd this story the chief OBJ
5eet in committing it 10 paper shah have been =.