The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-04-21

does not.
come straight here. In the meantime,
while we wait, perhaps you can throw
some light on this mystery"
The man from Austin did not seem
to hear the lawyers last words He
had seated himself and, with his chin
resting on his hand, was gazing
through the open window down into
the brilliantly lighted street below.
Yet he did not observe what lay before
him; his eyes had an unseeing look,
and his lips were set in hard, straight
line. As he sat there, the lawyer, not.
ing that his words had passed un-
needed, had a good chance to study
him. He was still a young man, per-
haps not over twenty-eight years old,
yet his hair was already touched with
gray, and there were lines in his face
that indicated an experience of the
world beyond his years. 1t was on the
whole a strong face, yet at the same
time a hard and uncompromising one.
That the man had met and overcome
hardships was written in every fea-
ture. Yet with this there was a stern
ness, an almost cruelty, which indi-
Gated that, although he had had strug.
giles himself, there would be no pity in
his heart for the misfortunes Of an
other
Mr.. Howell coughed The stranger
started and quickly turned his gaze
back to the lawyer.
"I beg your pardon he said Il had
forgotten myself for the moment" E"
And, after a short pause, he added,
half-retrospectively, 80 Bob Hilson
has been in Denver. It's the first
news I've had of him for a year"
You must remember" reminded
the attorney, that am entirely in the
dark in this affair l had never heard
of William Morley until two weeks
ago. and my first knowledge of yours
and Mr.. Hilson's names was Monday
night when | opened my sealed in
structions. Even then l only knew
your names and addresses. This pack
et," he placed his hand on a sealed en-
velope on the desk beside him, was
to be opened tonight in the presence
of you both. | have proceeded thus far
knowing almost nothing about the af-
fair in which l am engaged; | cannot
90 further without some more definite
knowledge
The man from Texas looked fixedly
at the lawyer before replyqng.
Il can easily appreciate your posi-.
ton" he said, yet hardly feel at lib.
erty to speak. It is a very delicate
matter, and Hilson, as well as myself
is concerned, Were ] alone involved
it would be different, However, if l
may be assured Of your absolute Sc
crecy-
"Of course" the lawyer broke in,
that is understood l am actinsas your
attorney. and what you say iJl be con
sidered as entirely confidential. You
may be at east on that point
The stranger hesitated a moment,
and took out his watch. Presently he
looked up and nodded.
u will do it, he said. IT'S two
hours till Bob Hilson is due, so my
story will help pass the time. Besides,
it's the kind Of thing that begins to
weigh on one and call for utterance.
Not that ! am beginning to become
instrumentation, for that is not the
case, | merely feel that ! have an un-
usual story which | would like to tell
somebody, and you will serve better
than another. What your opinion will
be when | have finished ! won't at
tempt to say. Perhaps you will feel
that you have a criminal before you;
that will be wholly a matter Of view
For my part, believe myself entirely
justifable in all my actions. But will
give you the story.
William Morley, Bob Hilson and
first met at college. We were class
mates, all engaged in the same sort OF
work and after the first term had
rooms together. Philosophy, in all it's
phases and aspects, formed our com
mon meeting ground We read and dis
cussed the theories on life, death, inn
mortality, religion, and kindred sub.
jects advanced by the greatest phil
osOphers of both ancient and modern
times, and out of this heterogeneous
and conflicting mass we picked those
principles the practical application of
which later had such great influence
on our lives. During the same period
we read Herbert Spencer and Robert
lngersoll, and the writings of many of
the greatest modern free-thinkers. AS
we read we assimilated and thought
for ourselves, until at the time of our
graduation our opinions had reached a
clearness and solidity, and had at
tanned an individuality of their own
That mans first duty is to himself, and
the development of the individual as
opposed to society were but minor
points in our creed. The greater ques-
tions OF life, death, religion in its vari-
Gus forms, and the immortality Of the
soul we had settled, as it seems to me,
in the only logical and sensible way
~