The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-04-14

was q woman of course. When q
mere boy. not yet formed or educat-
"a. he had married pretty Ethel
Wood. a milliner's apprentice. She
was pretty OF course, very. very pret.
ty--and she was good. and tender.
and true. But she was ultimately inn
possible for man with such a brain
as DR.. Crowder possessed.
Through all the toilsome years he
had been conscientious in his monthly
remittances, even when 1t had re-
duced him to the most uncomfortable
straits. Yes. Ethel and the little boy
had been taken care OF physically
that much was taken on his con-
science. But many times he ques-
toned within himself whether that
covered his obligations.
But great heavens, she could not
spell" he said to himself over and
over again. She scarcely coul- read
never read anything worth while.
She had nc ideals, ambitions, no men.
tai initiative"
All but the boy--he got on DR..
Crowder's mind many sleepless nights.
What right had he to project human
life into the world and leave it to
work out the devious course of exist
ence withCst the guidance and aid OF
fathers care?
Tonight the memory OF his girl wife
and the few happy months he had
spent with heretofore he heard the
call to climb the heights-was hot up.
on him. and he paused in the midst OF
his experiments and sat with his head
in his hands for long time
OF one thing he reflected with salts
faction-as he frequently had done be-
fore-he had covered his tracks well.
No acquaintance OF his youth could
possibly identify the great DR.. Crow
der OF New York as the callow youth
q pottstown % years ago known as
Tom Billings.
He seized glass of water standing
on the table in front of him and
gulped 1t down and turned to his
work The water tasted rather ne
culiar. and he paused moment TO
look at the glass containing fluid as
colorless and as tasteless as water
but deadly poison. This was the basis |
OF the experiment he was making.
Great God!" the thought flashed
through his mind Gould | possibly
have made mistaken"
The cold sweat stood on his tenn
Piles. If he had drunk the poison he
would be a dead man within a half |
hour-and there was no known anti
dote. Panic seized his mind and he
trembled like leaf.
IF l am to die" he said, Il must
prepare for it," The peculiar feeling
in his head left no doubt In his mind
that he had taken the poison.
Then his thought turned quickly to
the wife of his youth and his boy |
whom he had never seen. He turned
quickly to his desk and wrote rapidly
for some minutes. He wrote the Sc
cret and the history of his life He ex-
planned the change in his name and |
his relation to Tom Billings and Ethel
Wood and-the boy. And then he
wrote a will leaving all he had to his
wife and boy Staggering to the
door he summoned the janitor and
ordered him in his old imperious way
to find a friend-at once. Which, be-
ing done. the two signed their names
as witnesses and the document was
hurriedly placed in an envelope and
given to the janitor to mail to Ethel
which the janitor did at tfonce.
Some hours later the ianitor found
DR. Crowder stiff and stark on the
floor of his laboratory and the great
est physicians IN all the great city
we're summoned.