The daily Alaskan., 1915-07-08

and a battered tin coffeepot stood ofi an oil stove. There were heavy blan- kets hung before the three windows, and besides one or two rocking chairs l there was a pile of books from the H. 1 brary downstairs and a mans black ened pipe on the deal table.
 Like lightning the doctors keen eye searched the room and then went back to the space in front of the cot A mans body lay there inert
 Hold this torch" commanded the doctor, and, bending down, he lifted i the mans emaciated form to the cot. The ragged coat fell back, revealing glimpse of a broadly striped garment ! underneath.
 It did not need this betraying glimpse of the convict stripes for the physician to recognize in the man William Ged- ney!
 l The room revealed that 1t had long been the habitatiOn of some recluse. 1 Who was it? Hardly Gedney, for he was still in prison.
 The doctor made brief examination and found that the man had been stab bed in the right shoulder. An ugly wound, but not necessarily dangerous.
 Josiah, relieved at this practical lay ing of the Gedncy ghost, waited upon his master with unusual intelligence. He heated water on the oil stove, found a lamp and lighted 1t and held it, together with the torch, while the doctor slillfuny washed and dressed the wound. When 1t was bound and a pillow placed under the injured mans back the doctor administered a strong stimulant and presently Will liam Gedney opened his wild, dark eyes and searched the physicians cOuntenanCe.
 "Edmondsr' he gasped. "You2 How did you come here|
 "A telephone message" said the doc tor quickly. And you, William, you have escaped"
 Gedney nodded wearily. "Sit down, and I will tell you all," he said.
 His story was brief and to the point He declared that he had been innocent of the crime charged against him. Al though there had been a fight and a shot had been fired, he swore that he had not held the weapon. His com panious had scattered, leaving him with the body of Tom Collins-to be the scapcgoat.
 CircumstantlaI evidence was against l him, and to save his client GGdney's . lawyer had pleaded self defense; hence the life sentence.
 i've always intended to escape" muttercd Gciney, "and at last came the opportunity. l grasped 1t. My first thought was to come home here. | arrived this evening at dusk. The place was home to me, although there remained none of my dear ones to welcome me, the black sheep of the family. Doctor, l may have been wild and foolish, but my hands are innocent of blood.
 q came afO0t--l had travelled by night-und at last reached here, gain ed an entrance through the pantry win dow and went up to my mothers room. ! I-I was going to pray there and ask their forgiycuess-yOu understand" he ended brokenly,
 ] q had reached the upper hall when
 I met a man; it was Tom Collins brother, He was carrying a candle, aud he looked old and ragged and un- kcmut. When he saw me he gave chase. screaming madly that he would ] kill me. l was unGTmcd, and l was weak from lack of food. He pursued 1 me up the attic stairs to this room, and there he stabbed me, leaving me for dead on the floor. It was q welcome sound Indeed to hear your ring at the door, 1 suppose l must go back to l prison. but l think I have solved the mystery. Jim Collins killed his broth CT. That is why he has hidden away ! here, a prey to his own guilty con science. He must have lived hermit life for several years. A fellow pris- ! oner told me that Jim had disappear ed from his usual haunts. hope-l pray that he has left a confession of some kind that will clear my name| Leaving Josiah in care of the sick man, Dr. Edmonds went back 10 his ! horse and drove rapidly in the direc- 1 tion of the railroad station. He sus-
 pcctcd that the feeing Collins had in a moment of contrition telephOnGd from some pay station to the doctors house so that Gedneys wound might be at- ! tended 10.
 Dr. Elmonds found a strange situa-
 ton at the little railroad station.
 4 strange man had found shelter
 there during the thunderstorm. He
 was a ragged looking tramp. He had
 entered the wire cage where the pub
 lie telephone was placed and had used 1 the telephone. As he finished speak
 ing there came q cracking hiss, and
 a bolt of lightning ruined the inStru-
 mcnt and sent the man senseless to
 the floor.
 The station agent had vainly tried ] lii