The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-01-23

his character to believe that he would
conquer even Death until his iron will
had accomplished his purpose.
gathered him into . closer embrace
against my throbbing heart.
Don't try to find my slayer" he
resumed after q time. ITS no use.
The strikers didn't do It. They are
innocent. The key on my watch
chain" A pause while he painted for
breath and then he continued. broken.
ly, Secret drawer-desk-explains all.
Goodbye"
/ searched his desk for the secret
drawer, supposing 1t was the big roll
ertop one at his office to which his
laborious duties held him so constant
a slave. But 1t contained no secret
drawer, SO turned my attention to his
room. 1t was my first visit to his
apartments and was amazed at the
baroness Of them. The back room was
fitted up as sleeping apartment. II
was not carpeted and II contained
ohiy q ucu, uiSeocI nuu WdSuStduu Va
the cheapest kind. Everything about
It suggested direst poverty. It was
rs barren as priests cell. r.
could not account for this. as
knew that Majors made an excellent
salary and his appearance had always
been prosperous. Sorely troubled by
this discovery, turned my attention
to the front room. It was almost as
bleak as his sleeping quarters, except
for an easy chair. several cases of
books, and richly carved mahogany
desk which would have set q col
lector's heart beating at a dangerous
rate. i saw at a glance that this was
the desk that Majors had referred to.
One of his keys opened It and looked
about for the secret drawer. It didn't
take long to locate 1t but experienced
some difhculty In opening It. Within.
found tin bond-box which the tiny
key from his wa.cn chain unlocked.
1t contained two packets, one adj
dressed to me.
Opening the latter packet found
letter with my name upon It and set
about reading 1t at once.
Dear Friend: I am within the shadow
| Of death as write. A danger which has
lowered over my unfortunate head aimee
| the hour of my birth Ia closing In upon
me. There Ia no escaping It. II IL we're
| my secret alone, would conflde In you.
but It 10 not mine and must let u die
with me. am writing this 20 that sus-
picion will not attach to the strikers
should be found dead. for they viii
| have nothing to do with my assassina-
tion do not know whom or how It viii
come, but do know that the end II not
far on and thank God for II. have
no relatives and none Will come to claim
my body or the little property that
leave. want you to take my desk.
books. and easy chair. the only pleasures
that I have had in life. for II 10 right
that they should 60 to you who have
| been my only friend
Since my earliest recollection I have
nursed my secret sorrow and endeavored
to walt with patience for the blow that
snail fall upon me when II II least ex-
pected. You came into my life ct one OF
Its darkest periods and you have come
Into It again at time when I needed .
friend more than even in my~ college,
days. and yet could not then nor can
now confde to you the trouble that n
gnawing at my vitals and keeping mp
soul tortured az no poor spirit was evsf
punished In the mystic hell Of the blind
est bigot. 800
Do not search for my slayer. II wfii
profit you nothing. Your search will bs
In vain. My only apprehension II that
some OF the strikers may be suspected OF
my murder. I have one more favor to
ask Of you. abjure you. by the friend
ship for me and your hops Of happiness
beyond the grave. to burn every veetige
OF paper within the desk where you viii
md this. letter, especially being careful
to destroy the packet In the sacrst draw
er. II you care to examine these papers
/ you are at liberty to- "a 20, but would
this.
Good-by. my fr1snd.
One Of the pictures was Of Z bright.
eyed. laughing cherub OF five or six
years. The other, was the girl, bios
somed Into the radiant beauty Of Z
perfect womanhood. I have never
seen prettier face nnr more kindly
and loving one. know that my friend
had loved her and that there was moth,
Ing strange about this. but whsthsr
she was sister, mother or sweothoart
only the cold heart Of my friend
knew and his secret wss safe forever
more. 81.
Copyright. lsos By w. q. chspman)
(Copyright IN Great Br1tain.)
/ - llflt y