The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-01-11

Well. / slipped across and behind
the curtains. 1t was very still. The
man in ten didn't move. although my
heart was humping until thought he
would hear it.
Il felt around cautiously. II was
perfectly dark, and l came across 4
bit of chain, about as long as my fin
| ger. 1t seemed a queer thing to find
there, and it was sticky, too"
He shuddered. and could sec ALI
sons hands clenching and unclenchirg
with the strain.
"Ail at once It struck me that the
man was strangely silent. ard / think
I lost my nerve. anyhow. l drew the
curtains open little, and lei the light
fall on my hands. They were red.
b!cod--ed."
He leaned one hand on the back OF
| the chair, and was silent for a mo-
ment. as though he lived over again
the awful events Of that more than
awful night.
The stout detective had let his cigar
go out: he was still drawing at 1t
nervously. Richey had picked up a
paper-weight and was tossing il from
hand to hand: when it slipped and fell
to the floor, a startled shudGer passed
through the room.
There was something glittcrirg in
there" Sullivan resumed, land on i'm
pulse ! picked 1t up. Then dropped
the curtains and stumbled back to my
own berth"
"Where you wiped your hands on
the bed clothing and stuck the dirk in
to the pillow" Hotchkiss was seeing
his carefully built structure crumblinS
to pieces, ard he looked chagrined.
81 suppose I did-rm not very clear
about what happened then. But when
/ rallied a little I saw a Russia leath-
er wallet lying in the aisle almost at
my feet. and. like fool, stuck it.
with the bit of chain. into my bag.
Il sat there. shivering. for what
seemed hours. 1t was still perfectly
quiet, except for some one snoring. I
thought that would drive me crazy.
The more thought OF it the worse
things looked. The telegram was the
first thing against met would put
the police on my track at once. when
it was discovered that the man in low
er ten had been killed.
Then l remembered the notes. and
took out the wallet and opened it."
He stopped for minute, as If the
recalling of the next occurrence was
almost beyond him.
Il took out the wallet" he said sim
ply. "and, opening 1t, held it to the
light. In gilt letters was the name.
Simon Harrington"
The detectives were leaning for
ward now. their eyes on his face.
Things seemed to whirl around for
while l sat there almost paralyzed.
wondering what this new development
meant for me.
DO you believe me now" He
locked around at us deliantly. Il am
telling the absolute truth, and not one
of you believes me!
!. My wife, l knew. would swear
had killed her father; nobody would
be likely to believe the truth.
After bit the man in lower nine
got up and walked along the aisle to.
ward the smoking compartment.
heard him so. and. leaning from my
berth, watched him out of sight.
1T was then l got the idea OF
changing berths with him. getting his
clothes. and leaving the train. l give
. you my word I had no idea of throw
ing suspicion on him"
, Alison looked scornfully inc-edu'
, lous, but l felt that the man was tell
: ing the truth.
Il changed the numbers OF the
berths. and il worked we'll. got into
The ether mans berth, and lie came
t back to mine. Tine rest was easy.
dressed in his Enthusiastically. they
5 litted-and jumped the train not far
from Baltimore. just before the
t wreck"
There Is something else you mus;
5 clear up" said. why did you try tc
1 telephone me from M, and why
I did Won change your mind about the
message?"
He looked astounded.
"Ycu knew l was at NJ" be
stammerel.
Yes. we traced you. What about
the message?"
/ Well. it was this way; OF course
! did rot know your name. Mr.. Blake
ley. The telegram said: Man witt
papers in lower ten. car seven and
2 after I lad made what I considered
my escape, Eegan to think had !ef
the r,an in my berth in bad way.
,TO BE CONTINUED
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