Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-05

Confession OF Stones Crime.
alton OF the sinking man and his face
was very grave. He glanced at the
nurse and slowly shook his head.
Slight as was his motion. 1t did not
escape the invalid.
Tell me the truth. doctor" West
demanded. Am I really dying"
The doctor nodded.
Dying! I MUST see Edgar Clay
Phone him"
obviously the 6octor hesttated for
a moment; then nodding acquies-
cel 'e. took his hat and hurried to the
nea est phone at the neighboring
Gig counter
O.. nd thus it was that Russell Irwin
anc Edgar Clay were interrupted In
Their conference the second time.
ITS a call from a dying man. I
don't know him but perhaps I'd bet
ter CO." announced Clay, turning
from the phone.
Yes, CO." said Irwin, eve can do
no good here!''
And while Clay was on his way to
Shc humble cottage OF the stricken
man. DR.. Dessing had sent yet an
other phone message. This time It
was to Horace Stone
IT thought I'd tell you, Horace,
that your old clerk is dying. His end
IS very near. 1t is only q question of
minutes"
TOO bad. too bad" answered Stone
in voice that seemed to have some
thing of relief in II. '=Too bad. Poor
fellow. Keep on doing everything
you can for him. doctor. and send me
the bills as you have been DOING
wfrh
and then as an afterthought he added,
land. by the way, West begged me to
send for Edgar Clay. He said he had
to see him before he died"
Some foolish fancy, no doubt"
quickly interrupted Stone. He'll have
forgotten II by now. Pay no attention
to 1t. Never mind sending for Clay"
"But I already have" answered the
doctor. and he was surprised at the
suddenness with which the conversa-
ton terminated. Stone had hung up
on him.
Clay and death made a merry race
of It for the bedside of Stones cid
clerk. And Clay won. He did not
need more than one glance at the
stricken man. did not need the warn
ing gesture of the nurse. to make him
realize that his victory had been by
Feebly raising one trembling hand,
West haltingly grasped C1sy's ex-
tended palm and indicated to the
doctor and nurse that he wished to
be alone with his guest.
Take that pad and pen from off
the table, and write as I dictate" the
dying man commanded. And this is
the statement he made with the last
ounce of breath in his emaciated
body:
'I relieve my soul by the con-
fession that my employer Horace
Stone. stole 100000 in securities
from Edgar Clay, Sr., to whose
son 1 am now debating this con-
fession. Stone obtained the sig
nature Of transfer while Clay was
Intoxicated. one hour before said
Clay was killed by train. l have
been bribed by Stone 10 keep this
quiet"
Summoning all of his waning
strength, West took the pen from the
young mans hand. and with a firm
ness that was remarkable in one 50
near death, penned his name, in
good. clear signature at the bottom of
the confession.
And then as II his wearied spirit
had been released by the lifting of a
great burden, Peter West smilingfy
lay back and peacefully passed away.
Slowly. with that awe all feel in the
presence of the great leveler of hui
man rank. Clay, the precious confess
non safely slowed away in his inside
coat pocket, ttptoed from the room,
and paustng only long enough to see
The last few fmm ediate attentions rem
dered by the nurse, left the saddened
cottage and hurried away to find his
partner.
He did not know that Stone, peer
ing from the shadow of a neighboring
building, had seen his departure, and
had gazed long and earnestly after
him as he strobe away. Anxiety and
hate were depicted on the attorneys
face as he shrugged hts shoulders in
impotent rage and muttered to him
Self:
Il must find out what he knows"
CHAPTER ".
And now, impelled by the swift and
-lnexorable fate that had been released
by Foliy's hand, events were moving
swift and fast to certain crisis.
Slowly the pattern in the woof of
these peoples lives was being COM
pleted. Poor fools all, they had done
homage at Follys court and were
about to pay the price.
Mrs. Clay was back at Cora BIake's,
playing heavily as was her wont, and
losing steadily. Clay was back at his
partners office showing him Vests
confession. and laying plans to benefit
oy the knowledge that had 30 strange
y come to him. Stone was back at his
iesk, busily scheming to find a way
. learn what Clay had found out.