davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29
CHAPTER XVII.

There is little more to tell In the
few following days managed to
scrape enough together to take me to
the foreign country where l am now
beginning life over, and have prob
ably weathered the storm as we'll as
could reasonably be expected. But of
course / will never again feel just as
| used to, and I don't believe that
will ever fall In love with another
woman. In business way I have
done fairly we'll, having worked con-
scientiously for the last three years,
and being once more on the road to
moderate success l have never seen
or heard from Mrs. Dace since the
time l left her shopping In the store
upon the day when / stepped from
paradise into hell ut single stride.
She Is probably floating down the
Nile or yachting on the Mediterranean
with Richard Mackay; enjoying her
self to a greater or less extent, and
I have no doubt thinking quite often
Of me. The thought of II still gnaws me
r.ost of the time, but Of one thing |
am confident to this day. And that
Is that she was really very fond of
me and would, as she herself said.
have preferred to spend her life with
me rather than anybody else had ]
possessed sufficient money. There
fore she wanted me to succeed and
encouraged me to desperate chances.
knowing as I myself did that it was
the only chance of achieving fortune
quickly; she not being one Of the
kind that ia content to wait for wha:
possessed sufficient money. Had won.
| have no doubt that she would have
married me and that we would have
been happy had the money lasted. And
I also believe that she was upon the
verge OF conserving to our immediate
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29

perate plight at the exact time when
you became possessed of the knowl-
edge that your uncle had this large
amount of money in an old. weak safe
the combination of dire extremity
and sudden opportunity 1t was your
last hope and you went after it as
drowning man goes after a floating
oar. You got it, and for time it
buoyed you" | writhed in my help
lessness.
And you supposed | conjured burg
lar tools out of the air by wave of
my hand together with the skill to
use them" He smiled restrospec-
lively.
mo, | still had that difficulty to
overcome. For little while it had
me stumped, and then / CHANGED TO
recall that you went for a year or
so to technical school and learned a
good deal about the use of tools. Now,
l knew that many young men keep
their kit after leaving such places,
and | wondered if you had. ] also re.
membered having noticed a sort of a
tool chest in the basement on the
day | examined the premises, and
now concluding that it was time for
mo to know what was in it. There
fore | burglarized your basement by
forcing the back door, picked the
lock Of the chest and examined it's
contents. Among the tools | found
one Of exactly the size of the one that
had bored the safe, and upon closer
inspection found that a bit of it had
been broken off in the operation. and
that bit of steel you now see On the
table before you. | found II on the
morning | went over the room. You
will remember what a painfully mi
mute scrutiny l made of everything
even using my magnifying glass" He
gathered up the card case, the ticket
and the bit OF steel and placed them
carefully in an envelope which he
deposited in his pocket. He then
turned to the piece Of soiled paper
and the lump of grayish matter.
Il had now the chain of proof con-
Meeting you with the crime forged
with the exception of one link, which
could | supply would make it prac-
tically unbreakable. On one of the
mortgages which had been blackened
by burnt powder was a fairly good
imprint of right thumb. tore off
the fragment OF paper containing it,
and by placing it under the micro
scope could distinctly trace the lines.
Of course such lines are not the same
on any two persons in the world; and
could | get an imprint Of your thumb
and by comparison find that they cor
responded, there could then be no fur
Their doubt as TO your hand being the
one that had rummsged the safe. But
this was a difficult thing 10 do with
out arousing your suspicious. l finally
got around It, however, by organizing
our burglary for the double purpose
of getting the print and calling to
your attention the probability of
your having lost your card case in
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29

union when my disaster came. Meth
er have I any doubt but that Mackay
was infatuated with the woman, saw
that | was winning her and started
out to get rid of me. He probably
learned of my speculations, and
knowing that If he could wreck them
it would effectively dispose of me so
far as she was concerned, ruthlessly
tore down the fortunes of many that
l might be crushed in the crash. And
he succeeded perfectly. Mrs. Dace.
being convinced by him that / was
ruined, and probably having been
wavering somewhat between US; pre-
ferring me. but being tempted by his
wealth, hestated no longer when she
became satisfied that / could not give
her what she had made up her mind
to have. Realizing as / did all along
that we never could have been happy
without considerable money. l would
not have blamed her particularly for
making the choice that she did had
not Mackay been married man.
Even as it is, bear her no, ill will
and DO not believe that she was an
immoral woman. There was a great
deal of good in her, but she was
selfish and cared little for the suffer
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29

ings Of others provided she gained
her own pleasures. The only fear 1
have of ever again committing a
run across that black scoundrel Mac
kay. IL should see him / am afraid
might run amuck.
Bruce and Clare are married and
are happily spending the money of
dead Uncle Abner, who cut me off
with a shilling. And that brings me
to the reason for writing this confess
sion. Uncle Abner having passed
into the great beyond, no longer have
any fear that I will be prosecuted,
and never would be able to feel that
had made my fullest reparation I'M
less l cleared Bruce. For in some
way few things leaked out, and
while his friends have chung to him
with the greatest loyalty. there are
others who have always looked upon
him with more or less suspicion since
the night of the robbery. And /
know that the consciousness of this Is
cloud that forever hovers upon the
horizon of their otherwise bright
lives, and 1t is. therefore, my moral
duty TO dispel it. AS for myself. 1t
makes little difference If the truth Is
now known, as none of my former ac'
quaintances know where / am and
shall never return to my old home.
+ Nor do | ask forgiveness or make
apology beyond this statement. was
not a thief by nature and am thor
oughly repentant. But l was young
and madly enraptured with the most
beautiful woman have ever seen. and
took desperate chances to gain her.
And my love for her, though passion
filed, was pure. / wanted her for
my wife. AS l stole for her, so would
I have shaved for her; fought for her.
died for her. Therefore l only ask
that you Judge me as you would be
judged had you been in my place.
Caught helplessly in the maelstrom OF
love and gaming, | went down in the
vortex.
THE END.
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29
SYNOPSIS.


Abncr Halliday. misery milllonaire.
is found gagged. bound and insensible in
mis- room, his safe riiled Ia $4,000 miss
ing; The thread OF the story is taken up
ny ms nephew Tom. Living in the same
house are other relatives; reckless Bruce
Halliday and pretty Glare Winton. Bruce
WHO IS bond broker. has been trying to
raise $4,000 TO put through a deal and
save himself from financial ruin. He has
applied to his mlserly uncle and to others
for tho loan but has been refused Tom
sends for William I.oDuc. an old-time
friend connected with detective agency.
In relating the story Tom reverts to his
acquaintance with Mrs. Dace, a wealthy
WIDOW, whose business agent Is Richard
rom is jealous of Mackay and is deeply
IN love with Mrs. Dace. Bruce Halliday
warns him to shun her a. an adventuress
LoIn sees Mrs. Dace and Mackay togeth-
'fr. lie afterwards meets the woman at
q morse race, and. happening TO mention
that Bruce had tip on the winner she
gives him $500 TO place on the race. The
Up goes wrong and she loses her money
Later Tom invests in stocks. He makes
some money. and returns the lost $500 to
MRS. Dace. IT Is at this juncture that the
inert I or the $4,000 from old Abner Halli-
gay occurs. LIE Due meets Clare and
Brucc, He learns that the key which
Clare had to the house is missing Mac
kays dealings with Mrs. Dace make Tom
more Jealous. The detective intimates
suspicion against Bruce Halliday as the
thief This Glare Winton Indignantly re-
pudiates. Mrs. Dace accepts Tom as her
nance, and encourages him to invest in
certain stocks. Tom has a row with
Mackay and the latter threatens revenge.
The detective announces that he has dis
covered important clews as TO tho thief.
" looks as If MaclsaY had got hold Of
Toms key TO the Halliday home and
might have been the burglar Tom sud
denly finds himself financially ruined He
learns that Mackay had so manipulated
the stocks that he lost everything. The
detective calls Tom to a conference and
announces he has discovered the person
VINO stole the $4,000 from old Abner Hal
llday. Tom asks the name OF the Culprit.
Sternly and emphatically lie Due declares
that il is himself
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29

Jour previous climb. I told you at the
time that expected to get the proof
from one who would not suspect that
he had furnished 1t until denounced
him, and | guess l was correct. /
don't believe it entered your head
that you were making the evidence as
you went along by which ] could
send you to the penitentiary. Neither
did you suspect that meant you
when I told you II ever unraveled
the knot 1t would be because of the
assistance and clues you had given
me. Incidentally I might say that
the Office we burglarized belonged to
a friend OF mine who loaned 1t TO ne
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29
Extcnuatinq Circumstance.

Ted was an excitable youngster. and
tc adequately express lis feelings had
acquired the use of words forceful. but
improper. In fit OF temper one day
he used some of his most violent
terms to his mother. She said moth
ing. but Ted knew we'll the signs OF
preparation for a just rebuke. corpor-
eally administered. He said. II know
you are going to whip me, but before
you begin remember said 1t in very
pleasant tone of voice."
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29

for the purpose. had you jamb your
thumb against the ball of soft putty
and got an excellent impression of it,
which | have had experts compare
with the faint lines on the blackened
paper. They assure me that they
were both made by the same thumb. "
1t was a good thing that LeDuc
! had possessed the foresight to render
me helpless and secure my revolver.
In the frenzy OF the moment | certain
ly would have used it upon one or
both of us. ! turned upon him des-
perately. do you think any jury
would believe such evidence as that
and convict me?" I demanded huskily.
He wrinkled his forehead.
II am sure | don't know. One can
never tell Do you want to give a
jury the chance?" | made no answer
and we sat in silence. the GOODNESS Of
death upon me. my companion un-
moving, but lynx eyed. Then once
more he addressed me, and through
his tones ran the old familiar friend
illness of days long gone by.
Il know that you are not Grim
inal at heart, Tom. | am sorry.
sorry for all this. and / should req I,
very much to see you go to the peni
Tertiary. But il you wish me to as
sist you. you must make a clean
breast of the affair. Have you any
of your uncle's money left?" | could
wi, al,
| threw myself upon his mercy.
No. | used it for further specula-
ton after | was wiped out the first
time. | was way ahead OF the game
until today, but now ! am wiped out
completely. l am penniless and In
debt. can repay absolutely nothing
can offer no compromise. You will
have to do as you please with me-"
LeDuc whistled.
II wondered If you had got bitten
today for the second time when
read that Underground had blown up.
So that ends my prospects Of getting
any fees for lot OF hard work" He
looked quite downcast for space,
then frightened up and continued
more cheerfully
But really that does not matter
so much after all, for ! can worry
along without it. If | could only have
found that some one besides an old
friend had done this thing | would
not be dissatisfied with my job. But
there is thing or two which | don't
understand | don't believe you had
a duplicate key, for | don't believe
you ever contemplated such an act
until you We're driven desperate by
the calamity. | have gone upon the
assumption that you quarrcled with
your uncle the day before the robbery
on purpose that you might have an
excuse for throwing down the key and
absenting yourself from the house
during the night. That being the
case, how did you enter?"
when | left the house after the
quarrel | threw the catch which pre-
vents the door from locking. OF
course It would snap shut as usual,
but. could then be opened from the
outside by the knob. | had no idea
that any one would think OF looking
to see that the door locked itself
when it was shut on that day any
more than any other, and OF course
no one did. ! was therefore enabled TO
come in without key, and when |
went out after replacing the tools,
and with the money in my pockets. |
restored the door TO its usual condi-
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29

ton, leaving 1t locked" LeDuc looked
at me with a frown.
That was thing never did
puzzle out to my own satisfaction:
yet 1t was the simplest thing OF all.
When | think how rudlmental It is,
1t makes me disgusted with myself
to think that | didn't solve it. All
OF which goes to show what blunder-
ers we all are when we think we are
doing something extremely clever.
Another thing along that line which
| should like to know Is this. Did
you put that half burned cigarette
where found II In the hall?"
Il did not; | know nothing about II. {"
The Yale expositor., 1912-02-29
Wisdom of Father.

Pretty Daughter-But can't under.
stand why you object to Clarence.
iss5rr. Isn't 1t better TO dwell In n
cottage with the man l love than to
dwell In a palace with one I hate?
Wise Father-Certainly. my dear;
but Clarence hasn't the cottage.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
FRANCO-SPANISH DEADLOCK
Right to Collect Customs in S. w.
Morocco in Dispute.

Madrid. Jan. THE F'ranco-Spanish
negotiations on the subject OF Morocco
are temporarily in allegiance because OF
Spain's inslstence on the establishment
Of separate Spanish 'protectorate over
the south and west Of Morocco. Spain
is willing 10 give up the hinterand, but
refuses To abandon the coast zone.
Spain also claims conditional right
TO the collection of customs in the Span
ish zone. which France opposes. on he
ground that this would destroy the
French plan Of reimbursing the holders
Of the Moroccan debt through the col
lection Of the customs by French furc-
tionaries.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
MAN KILLED BY AUTOMOBILE
Fails to Hear Warning-Run
Down While Crossing Street.

pbiIin cook, forty-two years old, Of No.
20 Amsterdam avenue. was knocked down
and instantly killed early yesterday by an
a,,tomobiIe at 66th street and Amsterdam
o,,orue The automobile was driven by
rronk Alexander, Of No. 32S9 Broadway,
and ,s owned by George Ely. No. 527 West
End avenue,
Cook was crossing the avenue, and evil
so..,1, 1,d not heed the warning norm. The
oar s.ruck him and he was thrown several
&C., alexander stopped and carried Cook
into a drug store. when Or. Patten ar,
.s'',a s.orn the Flower Hospital, ne said
60, nod been killed instantly by his head
s,,,,'tne the pavement. Alexander was not
arrested
New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
BULLDOG A DEADLY WEAPON
Illinois Justice SO Rules in Wom-
ans Suit for Assault.

Danville. ILL.,, Jan. 7.-Justice Of the
Peace II. J. Hall has decided that a bull
dog Is a deadly weapon.
Mrs. cleo Wilson went to the home OF
Mrs May Hensley, according TO the tes-
timony and Mrs. Hensey sailed torth'
reinforced by "A son bearing club and
a powerful bulldog. Mrs. Wilson ana
ether witnesses testified that Mrs. Hens
lev seized her by the hair, the bulldog
grabbed her by the leg and the boy
struck her with the club. She swore out
warrant charging Mrs. Hensley with
assault with a deadly weapon-to w.t.
bulldog-and Justice Hall held the de-
rendant TO the grand jury.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
SHUSTER GIVES UP JOB
M. Mornard to Act as Provisional
Treasurer General of Persia.

Teheran. Jan. THE Cabinet has
notified w. Morgan Shuster of the ap-
pointment of a commission. composed Of
four Persians and NJ. Mornard, hitherto
Belgian Director of Customs In Persia,
to take over Mr.. Shuster's duties as
Treasurer General, NJ. Mornard to act as
provisional Treasurer General.
Mr.. Shuster, tired Of waiting, this
morning handed over his office to f. +.
Cairns. who was his chief American IS
sistant.
The belief is gaining ground that the
Cabinet will not proceed with the cleo
tion Of a new National Council, as under
existing circumstances the new body
would be likely to prove more anti-Rus-
sian than its predecessor.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
Secretary of War Stimson, Per-
sonal Friend of Both Men, Gives
Opinion After Luncheon
at Oyster Bay.
CONSIDERS STORIES FALSE
Wants to Make Clear His Belief
That Reports of Ex- -Presi-
dents Seeking Republican
Nomination Against Mr..
Taft Are Baseless.

Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of Wal
in President Taft's Cabinet, said yes
terday after luncheon with Theodor,
Roosevelt at oyster Bay that In his opin.
ion Mr.. Roosevelt would never be a can
didate for che Presidential nomination
against Mr.. Taft.
Secretary Stimson deprecated the
stories Of Mr. Roosevelt's political activ.
ity as a possible candidate in 1912 as
being built without foundations. II,
went to the home of his father, at No
277 Lexington avenue, when he returned
from Oyster Bay, and when seen ther,
and asked about his visit TO Mr.. Roose-
welt he considered the question for g
minute without answering.
well. If you want to take this dowr
In my words will give you an answer,
he said finally, and then continued:
II came over Friday to review the list
Regiment, which l did that evening, and
to inspect Fort Wadsworth. Fort Hamil-
ton and Fort Hancock. which l did yes
terday. Also to deliver a lecture on the
War Department before the woman's
department of the National Civic Fed
Grafton, which l am to do tomorrow.
motored out and luncheoned with Colo
mel Roosevelt to-day.
Il did this in the same way that try
TO do every time l come over. az l did
on the Sunday before Christmas, for in.
stance, when | was over-namely, for
reasons Of purely personal friendship"
Did you talk politics with the colo.
nel?" he was asked.
Yes" Mr.. Stimson answered, with q
grin, I've always talked politics viii
the colonel"
did you discuss with the Colonel tho
recent newspaper stories Of his oppos-
ing Mr.. TAFT for the nomination."
II am and have been for many years
close personal friend Of Mr.. Roose.
velt." said Mr.. Stimson. slowly. and
have been a close personal friend and
am now in the Cabinet Of Mr.. Taft.
have never in the past and do not now
find Il In the slightest degree difficult e
be loyal TO both these friendships.
81 Joined President Taft's Cabinet
after consultation with and on the ad'
vice Of Mr. Roosevelt.
II have never believed that Mr.. Roose'
welt would be a candidate for the nom.
ination against Mr.. Taft. and I have not
the slightest reason now, after talking
with Mr.. Roosevelt, TO change that opin-
| ion"
Mr.. Stimson did not want 10 say any
thing more for quotation about his cal
| on the former President, but he made
no secret OF the fact that he believed
the stories of Mr.. Roosevelt's seeking
the Republican nomination against Mr.
Taft were manufactured out of whole
| cloth.
He said he wanted his answer to th'
question to make that attitude clear
and he hoped he had accomplished that
The meeting at which the Secretary OF
War will speak to-day will be held al ;
o'clock in the Waldorf apartments OF
| the Waldorf Astoria Hotel 1t Is ex'
/ pected that Mr.. Roosevelt will attend.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
COTTON OPERATIVES YIELD
Will Resume Work and Agree
Not to Strike for 6 Months.

Manchester, Jan. lit is understood that
q compromise will be arranged In a Gay
or two between the Lancashire cotton mill
owners and the operatives who have been
locked out Sir George Askwith. who Is
acting as arbitrator in the controversy, has
haen i'm conference with the employers and
the men for several days past.
The compromise provides that the
unionists' refusal. to work with nom union
oneratives shall be relnqulshed for the
,rossnt. and a truce agreed upon for six
roontbs. during which there shall he no
s,r,l,o On the non-union question
New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
ENGLAND TO GROW SUGAR
Start Made at Systematic Guilty.
alton of the Beet.
Try Cnble to The Tribune

London. Jan. S.-After many expert
ments and much preliminary discussion
the erection Of sugar factories and the
systematic cultivation of the beet In
Great Britain are now, says THE Stand
ard" matters Of practical agriculture,
Farmers and land owners have long con-
sidered the subject, and operations Of
local nature have been commenced and
carried through to success, until at last,
from both an agricultural and finan-
cial point of view, the undoubted practi-
cability of the production of British
sugar has been established.
The news that an important company
has been formed to undertake the con-
struction in one of the eastern counties
of a large, modern beet sugar factory
brings the whole question out OF the
theoretical into the practical stage.