Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-14

He stopped abruptly. There was a
silence, a silence SO long that Vaughan
was beginning to wonder whether or
not the old mans brain had FULLY
erasped his words. But when at last
the professor spoke, It was evident
that the pause had been given only
to careful thought; that no detail oil
the problem had been lost on him. is
any one else, Arthur he asked, sup
posed to be involved? Or is it simply
the case of the MAJ himself? Are there
Others to be considered. or does he
stand alone. confronted with the deed
he has done2'
Naughan's answering laugh had moth
ing of mirth in il. ANY one else, he
echoed, II should say so. Relatives;
friends; a ~oman's heart, perhaps. TO
he broken, And the mar who is con-
fronted with the problem-it may mean
loss Of his own happiness as well. And
a name, too; a family name that's been
maintained with honor for centuries,
almost, one might say. That's to be
dragged in the dust, If it all becomes
known. Is any one else involved -
He laughed again.
There was q pause before the pro-
fessor spoke, and then, could the man
make atonement, Arthur" he asked.
Naughan's tone, when he answered,
was low and sad, Never" he re-
piled, never in a million years il
is a crime where mankind seek to do
Justice, but where really there is no
possible atonement. The crime is the
taking Of the life of a fellow-man.'
The old man slowly nodded. And he
refuses to come forward ?" he asked.
"He refuses to come forward
Vaughan answered., Though Of his
motives, perhaps it is hardly fair to
pretend to judge. Stll, strictly speak
ing, 7 suppose that scarcely alters the
case. Whatever his idea in keeping
silent, in any event he does So"
And Of his guilt" said the profes-
! sor, ~ understand You to make no
question. That, as ! understand it, is
one of the fixed hypothesis Of the prob
lem, and not open to discussion
Vaughan inclined his head. Exact
W he returned. "Of his guilt, unfor-
tunately, there is no question. That
we may regard as fixed
Long and earnestly the old man pom
dered. There is a difficulty, of course,
he said at length. Under ordinary
circumstances, or. rather. perhaps. ]
should say, under extraordinary cir
c~umstances. under the hypothesis, I
mean. that there existed in all the
world only the murdered man, the
criminal, yourself, and the tribunal OF
Justice, then | suppose h case would
be tolerably clear. l suppose no soph-
istry could convince us that the in
cidental fact of a personal friendship
80 T. --.1sA,r ..A1.1 H. a1f1hfnut
difference as TO what your duty woule
be. But then there enters the com
plication of which ! you ~speak-the
rights of the other parties involved.
AS to whether there were others con-
cerned my question was almost a need
less p%recaution. OF course there are.
No man, ever the lowest, ever lives to
himself alone. Consciously or uncon-
sciously. he has to influence someone
about him, for good or evil, as the case
may he. But considering everything,
even the sorrow and misfortune that
must result from il, | am of opinion.
Arthur, that the man should speak. 1t
would be hard. of course: terribly
hard; but life is hard. And Of the
ultimate standard of right and wrong
we may scarcely hope to judge. All
that we may hope to do is to act up to
the truth as we see it. And here,
Arthur, / believe the duty Is plain.
To what the mar has seen he musJ
bear witness. at whatever cost. That
way lies right. and to follow the easier
the more human course and to keep
silence, that way lies wrong"
Vaughan had sat listening with down
cast eyes. In spite Of himself, he