The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-12-15

| Il nOuutu CuTLly.
I'm not trying to defend myself,
he went on. II was ready to steal thu
notes-I had to. But murder!"
| He wiped his forehead with hi
handkerchief.
We'll, l slipped across and behint
the curtains. 1t was very still. The
man In ten didn't move, although my
heart was humping until thought ht
would hear 1t.
II felt around cautiously. 1t was
perfectly dark, and came across 8
bit Of chain, about as long as my fin
GER. 1t seemed a queer thing to fine
there, and 1t was sticky, too"
He shuddered, and I could see Ali
sons hands clenching and unclenching
with the strain.
All at once 1t struck me that the
man was strangely silent, and | think
lost my nerve. Anyhow, / drew the
curtains open little, and let the light
fall on my hands. They were red
blood-red."
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 IL
nervously. Richey had picked up a
paper-weight and was tossing it from
hand to hand; when it slipped and fell
to the floor, startled shudder passed
through the room.
There was something glittering in
there" Sullivan resumed, "and on i'm
pulse picked it 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 crumbling
to pieces, and he looked chagrined.
Il suppose did-T'm not very clear
about what happened then. But when
rallied a little saw a Russia leath.
er wallet lying in the aisle almost at
my feet. and, like fool, 1 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 1t the worse
things looked. The telegram was the
first thing against met would put
the police on my track at once. when
1t was discovered that the man in low.
er ten had been killed.
Then / remembered the notes, and
I took out the wallet and opened It."
He stopped for minute, as If the
recalling of the next occurrence was
almost Beyond him.
II took out the wallet" he said sim
ply, "and, opening it, held 1t 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
D while. sat there almost paralyzed
wondering what this new development
meant for me.
DO you believe me now" He
looked around at us defiantly. 'T am
telling the absolute truth, and not one
Of you believes me!
My wife, l knew, would swear
had killed her father; nobody would
De likely to believe the truth.
After a bit the man in lower nine
got up and walked along the aisle to-
ward the smoking compartment, 7
heard him go, and, leaning from nv
'erth, watched him out of sight.
1T was then l got the idea of
Hanging berths with him, getting his
'lothes, and leaving the train. give
'ou my word I had no idea of throw.
ng suspicion on him"
Alison looked scornfully incredu.
Gus, but felt that the man was tell
ng the truth. 49,.
changed the numbers of the
erths, and 1t worked well. got into
he other mans berth, and he came
ack to mine. The rest was easy
ressed in his Enthusiastically. thew
tted-and jumped the train not far
rom Baltimore. just before the
'reck."
There is something else you must
lear up,"f said. "Why did you try IN
slephone me from NJ. and wbv
Id you change your mind about the
He looked astounded.
you knew l was at M" bs |
Yes, we traced you. What about
he message?"
We'll, 1t was this way; of course.
did not know your name, Mr.. Blake.
". The telegram said: Man with
apers in lower ten, car seven and |
ter had made what I considered
y escape. began to think had left
lie man In my berth in bad way.
(TO BE CoNTINUED1
Shock for Literature.
The literary man who Roea into