Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-05-13

nad securities. the detective found q
thick book bound in black leather and
fastened with heavy gold clasps II
was the diary.
With thrill of triumph. Coquenil
seized upon the volume then closed
the safe carefully.
Coquenil now paused. Opened the
diary and began to read There were
some 400 neatly written pages brief
separate entries without dates. Sppa
rate thoughts. as II were-and as b.
turned through them be found himself
/ more and more absorbed until pres
emily be forgot time. place. danger
everything he was absolutely lost
In a most extraordinary human dOcu
ment-in one of those terrible utter
ances. shameless and fearless. that are
flung out once in century or so from
the hot, somber depths of a mans be
ing:
LII have Kept this diary because II
amuses me. because / am not afraid be-
cause my nature Graves and demands some
honest expression somewhere. II tnese
pages we're read / should be destroyed
understand that. but am In constant dan
ger OF being destroyed anyway might
be killed by an automobile accident.
small artery in my brain might snap Be
sides, ! nave no fear since 1 regard m,
own life and all other lives as OF abso
lutely tri1ing Importance.
u.-aalf the great men OF this worid
are great criminals. The Napoeons o
war murder thousands. the Napoeons OF
trade and finance punder tens OF thou
sands II Is the same among beasts and
fishes, among birds and insects. probably
among angels and devils. Everywhere we
find one inexorable law. resistless a.
gravitation that impeis the strong to
plunder and destroy the weak.
Il.-t Is five years since / committed
what would be called a monstrous and
cowardly crime. AS matter of fact.
did what my intelligence recognized as
necessary and what was therefore my
duty. However, let US call It a crime.
have been interested to watch for any
consequences or effects of this crime in
myself. and have discovered none
study my face carefully and fail to find
any marks Of wickedness. My eyes are
clear and beautiful: my skin is remark
ably free from lines. | am In splendid
health. My nerves are absolutely steady
have keen sense of humor. | am Ger.
tainly better man. better looking. bet
ter feeling. stronger In every way, than
was before / committed this crime. Il
ls absolute nonsense. therefore. to say
that sin or cTime-l mean intelligent sin
or crime-puts an ugly stamp on a man
The ugly stamp comes from bad health
bad surroundings. bad conditions OF life
and these can usually be changed by |
money. which havel
IV.-Last night. July 4 / shot a man.
Martinez. at the Ansonia hotel OBJ
served my sensations carefully and must |
say that they were of most common
place character. There was no danger In |
the adventure. nothing difficult about it,
In fact, II was far less exciting than |
moose In the Maine woods or
tracking grizzlies in the Rockies or GO
Ing after tigers In India. There Is really |
nothing SO tame as shooting man!
vi have the most tremendous admra-
ton for myself for the use / have made
OF my opportunities. started the son
Or broken down nobleman, my material
assets being a trumpery title. My best
chance was to marry one of the vain and
shallow rich women of America, and
succeeded In marrying the very richest of
hem. She was widow with an enor-
nous fortune that her husband. q rapa-
,ious brute. had wrung from the toll OF
thousands In torturing mines. Following
his method | disposed of the woman
hen OF her daughter. and came into pos
session OF the fortune. II would have
been silly thing TO leave such vast DO
ential power TO chit of a girl unable
o use 1t OF appreciate It, have made
myself force throughout Europe have
'verthrown ministries, averted wars built
- great industries. helped the develop
nent OF literature and art-in short.
ave made amends for the brutality and
dishonesty OF the lady's first husband. /
elieve his name was Mike.
VII am afraid OF this girls dreams
can control her body. and when she is
wake / can more or less control her
1ind. but l cannot control her dreams. ,
Coquenil was pressing on through !
he pages when harsh voice broke a.,
n upon him, You seem to have an
Interesting book. my friend"
Looking up with a start. NJ. Paul
aw De Heidelmann-B Bruck himself