Williams news., 1918-01-10

vile, found the house locked up and his sister, who had not known pre-
 ciSely the day of his return, absent nursing friend in a neighboring town. He went to a hotel, was bright and cheery in meeting his friends and ac- quaintances, and retired about mid night. The next morning Vincent Dar- lington was found dead in his bed. | His hand grasped a revolver, upon the handle of which his initials were scratched. Powder marks showed around the death wound, indicating close range explosion, and q verdict of suicide was returned by the cor oner's jury.
 Stricken, crushed as she waS Elva Darlington resented this decision. She was able to learn, trying to trace the movements of her brother, that where he changed trains he met Mark Up- ton, now a worthless vagabond. He was seen to give Upton some money It was sought to find Upton later, but he had drifted away. His watch and other jewelry were found on Darling ton, and a small amount of money. His life was insured for S5.OOO, Elva being the beneficiary named, but the insurance company resisted payment on the ground of suicide. So, Elva was left without a rela- tive in the world, homelessness star ing her in the face, for she could not hope to pay off the mortgage when it was due. and hence the visit of Ros- COG WaldrOn.
 The latter was in a serious, thought full mood as he entered the one ho- tel the town afforded. He noticed the name across the front, "Sanganash House." and he remembered that to cent Darlington had met his death. Then he recalled fact that was a startling coincidence. Waldron look ed over the papers at the city office, giving details of the suicide.
 "June twenty-seventh !'' he mur- mured. "Just a year tonight since the tragedy occurred"
 "We can't give you single room. Would you mind a double-bedded one? You see, we are overcrowded on ac- count of the farmers convention" spoke the clerk, when Waldron asked for accommodations for the night.
 ''I would prefer a single room," ex- pressed Waldron.
 ''Let him have twenty-four," spoke the proprietor in a half undertone, sidling up to the clerk.
 "Twenty-four l'' Waldron expert. enced quick thrill. He distinctly re- called noticing in the old account of the suicide that 24 was the number of the room Vincent Darlington had occupied. He felt a certain squeam- ishness. Then he drove away the su- perstitious dread that probably made the room banal with the direct resi- dents of the district.
 Waldron went up to his room after his evening meal. He found it slight ly stuffy, as though it had not been aired for some time. He sat in chair, thinking deeply, for nearly two hours. Then, without disrobing, he lay down on the bed.
 He had not intended to go to sleep, but he did. All was still when he awoke, except the stroke of a distant bell tolling out the hour of midnight. He had left the lamp burning. Abrupt ly his attention was directed to the window, as a slight noise echoed from that direction.
 With a wild start, an irresistible ejaculation, Waldron arose in bed. Through pane in the window he saw clinging to a heavy water pipe that ran beside it white-faced, staring eyed human being, man who glared within the room like some restless wrath.
 As Waldron arose, this being or ap- partition in turn uttered curdling shriek. There was a chatter, the wa ter pipe had given way, the uncanny visitant had fallen to the ground below.
 Waldron hurried to the window, opened it and peered below. The man lay prone across a stretch of brick walk. Waldron ran from the room, down the stairs, past the drowsy night clerk, and around to the side of the building outside. The victim of the unsafe water pipe lay insensible. Fill ed with all kinds of strange thoughts, Waldron lifted him and carried him into the hotel. He shouted to the clerk:
 "A man hurt, perhaps dying Send for a doctori''
 ''It is not a doctor I want,' gasped the victim of the accident, opening his eyes. 'I'm done for"
 ''Mark Upton '" exclaimed the clerk, recognizing the injured man.
 "Yes, IT came back. was driven hereto the room where robbed and killed Vincent Darlington. Remorse has haunted me. I in turn was robbed of the money that tempted me when Darlington showed it in giving me enough to keep me from starving. Send for an officer of the law. I wish to make a confession
 It was made the man died within