Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-08-01

IplueS Iollle W rest tttIe = no peace
for that generation. Hundreds of
years they've Travelled all over the
world and been lost and stolen and
hidden. My fathers is lost now some
where. Had it come back home to
rest my own life might have been diff
fcrent. | say, Cowles, couldn't you DO
that for me?"
1t is not for me to say whether or
not | made a promise to Gordon Orme
or to say whether or not things medic
val or occult belong with us today
Neither do | expect many to believe
the strange truth about Gordon Orme
l only say it is hard to deny those
about to die.
"Orme," l said, Il wish you had laid
out your life differently. You are a
wonderful man"
The great games" he smiled
sport. love, war; Then his face sad,
dened. Il say, have you kept your
other promise to me?" he asked. Did
you marry that girl-what was her
nAme-Miss SheratonT"
Miss Sheraton is dead"
''Married?" he asked.
mo. She died within two months
after the night | caught you in the
yard. / should have killed you then,
Orme"
He nodded YES. but at least
showed some sort of remorse-the first
time, think. Not bad sort, that
girl. hut madly jealous. Fighting
blood. | imagine. in that family"
YES" l said. her father and broth
er and l. all three. swore the same
oath"
"The same spirit was in the girl" he
said. nodding again. "Revenge-that
was what she wanted That's why it
all happened. 1t was what | wanted
too, You blocked me with the only
woman
do not speak her name" l said to
him quietly The nails on your fin
gers are growing blue. Orme. Go
with some sort of sQuaring of your
accounts"
He shrugged shoulder. My Swami
said we do not die-we only change
worlds or forms. What! |. Gordon
Orme, to be blOtted QUITO lose my
mind and soul and body and senses
not to be able to enjoy! No, Cowles.
somewhere there are other worlds.
with women in them. l do not die-l
transfer" But sweat stood on his
forehead
you're an awfully decent sort. Give
me bit of paper. l want to write
found him a pencil and some pages
of my notebook.
ITO please you. III try to square
some things" he said. You've been
so deuced square and straight with
me all along Im-Tm Gordon. now.
I'm English. Word of n fighting man,
my-my friend"
He leaned forward, peering down at
the paper as though he did not clearly
see. but he wrote slowly for a time,
absorbed in thought.
In all the death scenes which our
country knew in thousands during
those years | doubt if any more un'
belevable than this ever had occur
renee. saw the blood soaking all
his garments. lying black on the ground
about him. ] saw his face grow gray
and his nails grow blue, his pallor
deepen as the veins lost their contents
| saw him die. But | swear that he
still sat there. calm as though he did
not suffer. and forced his body to do
his will, at last smiling again as he
looked up. Fingers getting dread
fully stiff. Tongue will go next. Mus
cles still under the power for little
time. Here. take this. You're going
to live, and this IS the only thing
It'll make you miserable. but happy
too Goodby. I'll not stop longer"
Like a fash his hand shot out to the
weapon that lay near him on the
ground. shrank back. expecting the
ball full in my face. Instead il passed
through his own brain.
At last ! rubbed the blood from my
own face and stopped 10 read what he
Lad written. Then thanked God
that he was dead These were the
words:
/. Gordon Orme. diving July q. 1851. con
fess that killed John Cowles. Sr.. In the
month OF April. 1850, al the road near
Wallingford I wanted the horse, but had
10 XIII Cowles Later took the money ]
was secret agent detailed for work
among u s. army men.
l. Gordon Orme. having seduced Grace
Sheraton. asked John Cowles 20 marry
her to cover up that act
l. Gordon Orme. appoint John Cowles
my executor. / ask him TO fulfv last re-
quest Rgive him what property : have
on my person for his own. Further say
not and. being long ago he'd as dead. /
make no requests as ~ other property
whatsoever GORDON ORME.
In Virginia. U. s. A.
II was he. then. who had in cold
blood killed my father! That horrid
riddle at last was read. In that con-
fnssinn l saw nnlv his intent 70 Dira