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

lzed that something was being guard
ed In the box; that something being
only papers, 1t must follow that the
papers were valuable. He reproached
himself that his anger had defeated
his judgment when it was possible for
him to take the entire contents of the
box. He did not dare go back; he had
stabbed Jed; the house might be
alarmed. He had only a single sheet
of the guarded manuscript 1t Is
copy of that sheet which you find here.
II said would give you my conjec-
lures. You will ask first why l am
so candid In committing to writing a
communication of this nature. 1t is
because: first, l prefer to write 1t,
owing to a physical timidity in con-
versation; and second, but equally i'm
portant, because know the last thing
Mr.. Sidney or any true friend of Mr..
Sidney's, desires is to have the story,
of which this is a page, made public.
II do not know what this story is.
but know who does know what 1t Is.
That person is the man Jed-now, as
before, a servant of Mr.. Sidney. 1
have made sufficient inquiry as to the
position of Jed in the household of
Mr.. Sidney to know that he retains
the manuscript found in the box, or If
he does not retain it, knows its con-
tents.
"The visit of Mr.. Sidney and his
family to Montevideo this winter be-
trayed Jed's whereabouts to Dravada.
He came north after they had sailed.
His cupidity has determination. l
think your man Jed appreciates that.
/ think from what Dravada has told
me. in his simple boasting fashion,
that Jed was dismayed to see him
again In Montevideo.
my clients first impulse, having fol-
lowed Jed to the United States, was
to get at this secret by force or theft,
but he sees the physical difficulties in
the way; and being, except in his vio-
lent moments, q reasonable man, he
has had recourse TO an attorney to
obtain such settlement as his knowl-
edge may be worth.
II do not wish to defend my course
In the matter. 1 suggest merely that
Mr.. Sidney and all concerned will fare
the better for having a man of con-
sideration and discretion, such as
fatter myself / am, intervening be.
tween them and a man of the moral
complexion indicated by my client. l
shall be at your disposal. doctor, with
In any reasonable time. l leave 1t to
your judgment to handle the matter
within Hartley house."
The copy of manuscript which ac-
companied the letter was as follows
would be fatal to the sue
cess Of what l. have done and intend
to do If this confession were to be
found. 1t might be asked, then, why
expose myself and my happiness to
the chance Of discovery Of things
which I may lock forever by simply
forgetting. 1t is sufficient answer to
that question to admit that for me ]
could not be content unless it were
certain that what l have done should
be known. / want the record of II
known. 1t Increases my satisfaction
to know that. shall cause moralists
to be indignant. l want to be known
as a criminal. want my crime to be
talked about. l want 1t remembered
That is the SAVIOR of my life. 1t would
be impossible for me to obtain a
sufficient satisfaction unless / made
1t possible for the story of crime tc
be known some time. So long as
live, / shall need and seek conceal
ment; but l should not be happy un
less could anticipate disclosure. Ny
crime :"
That was all.
Several persons-two at least; Ora
vada and Attorney Brown-knew a:
much as I had read. Three persons
In the house, Mr.. Sidney, Mrs. Sidney
and Jed. knew the story completely.
1t was this knowledge which hat
given Jed his control in the house, Mrs
Sidney her unhappiness and Mr.. Sid
ney some Of his pleasures.
The search for solvent of the Hart
ley house mysteries was insistent. AL
colts incidental remark came back t,
me: "It might have been Montevideo.'
felt uncomfortable to recall this
ashamed and abashed, as If in re
calling 1t had done something to low
er myself in my self-respect. / had {,
! 60 to Mrs. Sidney with the information
. and insinuations Attorney Philetus NJ
| Brown had given me. My desire wa
, to protect her from precisely this kin,
: Of trouble; my necessity was to carr
/ the trouble to her. had to know hoy
! to act.
> By way Of preliminary told her O
{ the three appearances Of the Spaniar
/, and then Of the appearances of tn
: lawyer. When offered her the shee
l Of paper containing a transcript Of
! page Of Mr.. Sidney's diary, her hand
; trembled, but she took the sheet rest
I lutely. She was greatly alarmed br
{ regained her composure.
She read the page hurriedly an
then more carefully and, 1t SCENE,
: with relief.
: al have to deal with these men,"
> said, "and / must know how to do
They can be dealt with by Grimm,
law IL there is no reason why prote
y tion should not be sought In that fasl
e ion."
"There IS" said Mrs. Sidney. "ar
; cannot tell you the reason"
% "You know that / do not ask {,
n It." I said
l. you know there is something vel
(, strange about this houseT
Il THAT was evident in twenty-fo'
'e hours" said, ''but it means nothir
D to me. I am not curious. 1 mere
d want to know how to deal with the
K men,"
* at is not a lack of confidence
you that keeps me from telling what
q wrong here" said Mrs. Sidney.
" would be a relief to do so. 1t has be,
~ hard to stand 1t all alone, john"
u was glad, for the first time CO
= sciously, that my name was John.
u had an honest. straightforward sour