The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-07-01

thing of relief in it. Too bad Poor
fellow. Keep on doing everything you
can for him, doctor, and send me the
bills as you have been doing"
"All right answered the doctor
and then as an afterthought he added.
and, 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 it by now. Pay no attention
TO il. Never mind sending for Clay.
But | already have" answered the
doctor. and he was surprised at the
suGdenness with which the converse
ton terminated. Stone had hung up
on him.
Clay and death made a merry race
of it for the bedside of Stones old
clerk. And Clay won.
Fecbly raising one trembling hand,
West haltingly grasped Clays ex-
tended palm and indicated to the doc
tor and nurse that he wished to be
alone with his guest.
Take that pad and pen from of
the table, and write as | dictate" the
dying man commanded And this Is
tte statement he made with the last
ounce Of breath in his emaciated
body:
Il relieve my soul Of the cen
fession that my employer. Horace
Stone, stole 100000 in securities
from Edgar Clay. Sr., to whose
son I am now debating this con-
lesion. Stone obtained the sig
Failure Of transfer while Clay was
Intoxicated. one hour before said
Clay was killed by train. have
been bribed by Stone to keep this
quiet"
Sumnoning all OF his waning
strength, West took the pen from the
young hans hand. and with a firm
ness that was remarkable In one so
near detth. 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
great burdeu. Peter West. smilingly
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
sion safely slowed away In his inside
coat pocket, tihtoed from the room.
and pausing only long enough to see
the last few immediate 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 HIS shoulders in
impotent rage and muttered to him.
self:
Il must find out what be knows"
".
And now. impelled by the swift and
memorable fate that had be en- released
by Folly's hand. events we're mo~,ar
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 Folly's court AND were
about to pay the price.
Mrs. Clay was back at Cora Blake's
playing heavily as was her wont and
losing steadily. Clay was bacly AT his
partners office showing him NESTS
confession. and laying plans 10 benefit
by the knowledge that had so strange.
" come 10 him. Stone was back at
his desk, busily scheming to find
way TO learn what Clay had found ont
Just at the time that Irwin and
Clay had decided that this confession
Of Vests would probably prove their
financial salvation Stone had remen,.
bered. almost as an inspiration. thar
this was the night OF the Van Linds'