The Washington herald., 1912-04-14

would be ready to talk. At least there
would be no harm in trying.
l entered the room where Young was,
and, approaching his couch, laid my
hand on his shoulder. He had been ly-
ing there with his eyes closed, aud the
mere touch of my hand SO jolted his
shattered nerves that his whole body
bounded to the limit Of his bonds. His
frightened lips showed how difficult it
was for him TO suppress scream.
Look here, Young" said l, 'T've
come to you as friend to tell YOU lust
how the land lies. Rouser is dead and
the inspector has possession of all his
papers. He knows everything about the
yellow letters"
An evil smile was Young's only an
swer-the cunning leer of the man who
scents . trick.
There are stacks and stacks of evil
dencs against you. We have the list OF
people to whom Rouser sent letters"
Damn your evidenced he sneered.
You may have evidence against that
TOOL Rouser, but you've nothing on me.
II the Inspector, as you call him, had
evidence enough to convict me, do you
suppose he'd have me tied TIP here! He
hasn't bit OF evidence against me- He
never VIII have. Reach me that medi-
cine"
He jerked his head in the direction
of the morphine that lay so tantalizing-
ly near. There was something in his
voice, some indehnable power of per
suasiveness that almost influenced me to
do what he asked. Involuntarily my
hand went out to the bottle containing
the solution, but l caught myself in
time.
Go on, hand ii to me-" he begged.
Cant you see how | need it2 Give
It to me and Ill tell you anything you
want to know"
Tell me first" said l, %and you can
Il can't talk, can't think" he cried,
til get It. You can see for yourself
how shalCy am"
could see for myself that he was suf-
fering the tortures of the damned. Ev-
cry muscle in his body seemed to be
Jerking Involuntary, doubling itself into
little hungry knots that Joined his aching
nerves IN the shrill clamor for NOR
phine-morphine.
Give me just one Dose" he pleaded,
1and III tell you anything, everything
you want to know I'll die il | don't
So pitiable was his condition that I
found myself sympathizing with him in
spite of myself My eyes followed his
glance TO the chair near the couch.
where, beside the hypodermic syringe
and the morphine, Davis, as il to accen-
tuate the torture of his letters, had
placed the key that unlocked them. I
would not have known how to admins
ter the morphine, even il / had wished
to do so, and besides, ! had strong
aversion to drugging a feIlow-man, but
as saw the key there, | thought of a
solution.
IF / unlock the letters on your arms"
said |, so that you can reach the NOR
phine, will you promise me to answer
my questions ?"
"l'll promise on my word of honor to
answer every question you ask" he re-
Piled, an eager light coming into his
eyes.
And you'll give me your word not to
try to escape?"
swear ton my mothers honor"
Thinking how amazed Davis would be
when he awoke to learn that | had the
prisoners full confession, l reached for
The key. Young turned over as far as
ne could to permit me to unlock the
lctlcTS.
Then. quick as lightning, as the steel
fell away from his wrists. his hands shot
out and clutched my neck with maniac
strength. felt my eyes bulge, my lungs
NIL to bursting. put forth my hands
to try to shake off his grip, but | felt
my strength fast failing.
Athletically inclined though have al
ways been. and matched though was
against drug weakened wretch with
tettered feet found myself no equal