Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-09-17

never annoying. Now l will
tell you as much as 1 possibly can
without doing you a great injustice.
1--WE had lived in Montevideo fifteen
years when Jed came to us. He has
been with US ever since. AIr. Sidney
began writing the manuscript, of which
this is copy of one sheet, the year
Jed came.
"The only reason / do not tell what
the manuscript contains is because
value your peace of mind. ] know
from my own experience that your
conscience never would be at rest if
you had full knowledge, and yet you
would be entirely helpless. So out of
consideration for you 1 shall not tell
you more than 1 have to.
"AIr. Sidney never has had the slight
est scruple as to what he has done;
he rejoices in it. You have spoken Of
his will to live; what 1 am holding
back from you would explain it. He
says in this page of his manuscript
which you have seen that it perfects
his satisfaction to leave a record of
his crime. l know that it does. l un-
derstand that he had to have it known
after his death that he had done what
he had.
"Jed's family name is Arliss. He
was a sailor on a British ship which
sailed from Montevideo to Liverpool,
and he became tired of sea work. Mr..
Sidney had seen him about the wharf
and had been attracted to him. They
had talked enough for Mr.. Sidney to
learn of Jed's ambition for a comfort
able life on shore. Mr.. Sidney gave
him the chance to realize it in our
house.
"Jed, after he was taken into the
house, found that Mr.. Sidney used
great precautions with something
which ne locked in box. When Dra-
vada came, he also saw the box which
Mr.. Sidney seemed to guard so care
fully. Dravada decided to steal what
ever was in the box. Jed found him
In the act. They fought, but Jed re-
tanned the contents-Mr. Sidney's man
uscript."
"Then Jed knows the secretw I
asked.
HE does"
"And Dravada does not?"
"He cannot know any more than you
know from reading this one sheet from
the manuscript"
"Where is the manuscript"
"Jed has it."
docs Mr.. Sidney know that?"
"Not yet. You have been wondering
at Jed's control in the house. He has
the manuscript, and he knows the
story which for your own sake / would
not have you know. He presumes upon
his knowledge"
"But doesn't Mr.. Sidney ever want
to see the manuscript he sets such
store by?" asked.
mo. He wants to know it is in his
strong box. II he ever finds that il
is not, we shall have to meet the stu.
alton somehow. God knows how"
"Then this sailor and this blackmail.
ing lawyer know no more than 1 know
now?"
"No more, SO far as 1 am aware"
Brown, the lawyer, came to Hartley
house the next day to see me. think
he regarded his plan of blackmail as
irresistible. / wonder that he did moi
have an express wagon and large
chest with him. He was amiable ant
expectant.
'You have decided?' he said as Jed
having brought him to me on the porch
went away. He had his cane and hi:
gloves and his nap-worn suit.
'You get nothing" I said, "and ma!
act upon that information"
The disappointment was unpleasan
to him. If 1 wanted to dramatize thu
effect, I'd say it was catastrophe. 81
sat down suddenly in the nearest wick
er chair, and his face became ugly il
appearance.
"You must know, DOCTOR" he said
shat am nerved to the Performance
of my duty by the thought of wifi
and two daughters for whom hav
provided indifferently. I will not sa.
that their situation is desperate, bu
it may make me desperate. feel tina
we have a claim here which might eas
lily be adjusted"
"You use a number of euphemism
for blackmail," I said, "ard none o
them conceals your meaning. If you
wife and daughters are in need, yo
might approach Mrs. Sidney as tn
almoner of Mr.. Sidney's charities
, | Of h4
statement Of your case, and it Nigh
: be effective"
; He frightened at once.
II thank you for lesson in procet
are" he said. "We shall consider
| upon such an understanding"
, saw the mistake I had made.
| 'I assure you," said, "you may cor
/ slider nothing upon the terms you wis
J to have considered in this house. You
: attempt at blackmail Is so unconsit
/ cred that you may go shrek to th
world or to the prosecuting attorne,
] The family is not interested in you {
!, your client"
The shabby little fellow seemed
I get blue-nosed and blue-lipped in di
appointment.
| II am sure you cannot have consi
: cred your interests" he said, "M
+ and Mrs. Sidney certainly do not wal
scandal"
d Certainly not. How are they threa
ened with oneT
r "But the manuscript indicates one
Does 1t? have read it, and kne
y nothing. You have read 1t. What {
you known
r II can read English" he said wi
g spirit. II read in Mr.. Sidney's han
y writing that he had committed a erin
e and that he was committing an indi
cretion in putting the account I
n paper"