Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-04-29

". ~. Fiy company
passed through the bare hall ana up
the stairs and so came into what had
aforetime been the dra wing room OF
the mansion, which now patiently serv-
ed as the living room for a bachelor
OF varied and curious tastes. Thus ar
rived at home the old man threw Off
the light coat which he had been wear
ing. tossed IL carelessly on chair.
threw the SLOUGH hat beside it. then
with deft movement stripped the
gray locks from his head and with a
gesture of relief cast the wig disdain-
fully from him Freed from this sim
Pile disguise. that which remained Of
the unmasking process was simple
enough. The man merely straighten-
ed himself with sigh of relief as he
Inhaled deeply till the lungs were
swollen 10 their full capacity. Now. In
the metamorphoss of moment
where had been merely a slight form.
with rounded shoulders bent under the
weight of years. there was revealed
stalwart man i'm the maturity of his
vigors. broad OF shoulder. deep chest
ed, thin OF flank whose 1.-THE erectness
told Of an agile strength beyond the
usual. Nor was the transformation that
of form alone. Even as the short figure
Of the old man had grown abruptly into
six feet OF sturdy manhood. So too. the
vacuous face merged ssbtly, surpris-
ingly. into a countenance alert and
masterful in its expression. The eyes
] no 10 i.
ing of heavy lids were widely opened
and IN their clear gray shone the fires
Of a lively intelligence. He crossed
the room TO couch that stood against
the wall and there dropped down in an
abandonment OF grief. for this was
Andrew Allen. whose younger brother
had that day been sentenced TO death
for the crime OF murder
Little by little the expression on the
mans face changed. Where had been
the extreme OF grief grew. slowly, yet
implacably, a grimmer mood and one
more evil. The lines OF the strong.
mobile face set themselves to a wrath
that was all pervasive. Andrew Allen
had bound himself 10 avenge his
brother.
What in another might have been
only helpless fury against malignant
fate became In this man a purposeful
wrath against the one who had, acted
as the main instrument OF destiny In
devoting Henry Allen TO death.
Throughout the proceedings against
his brother Andrew had cherished an
ever increasing hatred OF Wainwright.
the district attorney. He regarded this
public official as directly responsible
for the death penalty To his mind.
warped perhaps by great affection,
which held the accused slayer guilt
less of any crime. II had seemed that
Wainwright pursued course OF in
tolerable cruelty toward the innocent
for the sake OF a vaulting personal
ambition. He deemed IL monstrous
that the prosecutor should thus juggle
with a life In order TO win the plaudits
Of the crowd. Undoubtedly had Vain
wright been less jealous In his con-
duct OF the case the accused would
have suffered a comparatively light
sentence or perhaps have been acquit-
ted
Presently Andrew Allen sprang TO
mis- feet and began pacing hurriedly
90 and fro. muttering TO himself dis
iointedly the while. Though a man OF
infinite precautions. he had now no
Rear lest he be overheard as from time
10 time he voiced fragmentary sugges-
lions of the ideas seething in his few
crish brain In that house there was
none TO listen He lived alone. abso-
Iutely; not even Il woman came on oc-
casion to set the place I'm order.
Andrew ceased his. nervous pacing
about the room presently and prepared
for going ont lie proceeded to the
steps OF disreputably Gilapidated
house and climbed three flights OF
stairs to the top story. where he fitted
key TO the door of the back room
and entered. carefully closing and lock-
Ing the door behind him. moment
later the gaslight hared from the
match he had struck and showed the
desolate wall paper. threadbare carpet.
thin, hummocky bed. riokety table.
chairs and washstand. The whole air
Of the place was repellent, worse than
poverty stricken.
Only two things in the room tended
In any wise TO contradict the general
Impression of squalor. On the wabbly
table stood a typewriter; to one wall
telephone ~as attached. IL was the
typewriter that first engaged Andrews
attention. The machine was small,
very serviceable. but OF cheaper sort.
4 L..
a type wheel having three bands OF
characters. This wheel was readily
detachable, and now the operators first
care was TO remove IL from its shaft
and TO bestow II I'm pocket Of his
coat. From pasteboard box beneath
the table he procured another type
wheel. one that had never been used.
and adjusted this 10 its place on the
machine. Then he inserted sheet OF
an ordinary chean typewriter paper