Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-23
The Daily
Short Story
THE MARST0N MURDER
By Elinor Marsh.

MISS morriSoh sat IN a parlor car
reading novel. There was an a, !,
comfort in her surroundings that -.
very pleasant. Her cushioned ch.,,
the genial warmth-for the car -.
warmed for winter-the panoram, ).
fields and hills without, all consn,,.s
to give her feeling of restfulr.ss
despite the fact that she was nnv,s.
at the rate OF 40 miles an hour. a.
would read few pages in her now
then enjoy the scenery for a wh,,s.
then drop her eyes again to her hoo,'
Occasionally she would swing h..
chair around to face the aisle, for ,va
men were sitting opposite who va,s
| chatting earnestly and she desired "a
hear what they were saying. One ~
them was an intellectual-l looking ma,
| with high forehead and dream
eyes; the other was red-headed ana
his features were to Miss Morr,,or
very disagreeable. Sometimes thai,
voices fell to pitch that prevents
her hearing what they said. Some.
times the opening Of one Of the "a,
doors had like effect. Miss MorfIson
got only snatches of their conyers.-
ton.
What would you advise me to do
with Marston?" asked the intellectua,
man.
The response Miss Morrison did NOT
hear.
Il couldn't possibly do that"
Why"
Again the reply was inaudibla
Then" said the other, lowering hi,
voice. there is but one thing for Won
to do with him. You must kill him
Miss Morrison shuddered. Was she
listening to murder plot? She re-
sufhed her novel, but after she had
read one page over several times and
had not absorbed a word Of It. she
yielded to the temptation to listen
again.
| HE has treated Amelia villaihously
ruined her life; been the cause Of her
death"
The reioinder was not audible. Ii
was accompanied by something like
groan or an expression of repugnance.
Il tell you he is in position from
which with all your skill you can new
er eXtricate him." said the tempter,
ITO make a man Of him after all
| his crimes would be a stroke Of
genius"
Il tell you. Bergman, the only
thing you can do with him is to kill
him" The last words were spoken
in a low voice.
Miss Morrison's blood freze in her
veins; she cast glance at the man
who was urged to commit murder.
His face wore gloomy look. He was
a young man, not more than rs years
old, and very handsome. She longed
to put her arms about him and be-
seech him not to commit this crime.
The conversation was interrupted
by the train stopping at a station, and
the man addressed as Bergman leay-
ing the car.
The balance of Miss Morrison's jour
ney was not SO restful. Indeed, she
was tortured by a feeling that she
should do something to prevent muir
der. Should she notify the police:
She would have done so but she had
no idea where the murder would be
committed.
| Time passed during which Miss
Morrison scanned her morning paper
to see If the murder of man named
Marston had been committed. She
saw no mention of it, but she knew
that from a journal she would NOT
learn all of the crimes committed in
the country. and she was still trou-
bled. Those dreamy eyes of the man
who had been so sorely tempted BY
that horrible creature with red head
still haunted her and she wondered Il
he had the crime on his conscience
1 Perhaps he had been-arrested and was
confined in a nasty cell.
! When the midwinter holidays came
on Miss Morrison was invited 70
house party at the country home o. :
friend. On the evening of her arrival
the guests were assembled In ue
drawing room before dinner when WHO
should enter but the man who baa
been tempted to commit murder. he
did not look like murderer but MISS
Morrison caught her breath and re.
membered that many a gentleman naa
: committed crime. The hostess intro
duced him to her guests including
Miss Morrison.
your face is familiar to me" DC
said: where have l met your
: I'm a parlor car. ! sat opposite you
when YOU were travelling and talking
with a horrid man"
/ Miss Morrison paused.
Il remember" said Mr.. Bergman
. 81 was in company with Everhart
i. what was the meaning OF the coz
versation between you and him.!
81 don't remember what we We'e
talking about"
"Why-why-he was telling you
J that you must kill some one py 'n'
name of Marston."
An effort of memory crossed MI
Berryman's face. Then with t"M
; kle in his eye he said: After dinhe'
| will explain the matter 10 you
When the party retired for the evea'
ing Mr.. Bergman handed Miss MOI.
rison a novel. She took 1t to hel IooI
and read on the title page, Ssses
From the Burning by Albert :: osi
ryman. Everfart & Co., PuDhsneis
Miss Morrison read the book tnfoa -
before going to sleep. Marston, w
principal character, was not "Kllieo
he reformed and the reader VINO -
the earlier pages hated him' IN =: :.
end loved him. His saving was
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