The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-09-30


cons'olately looking at a mass of pa
pers. which was all the supposed jewel
casket contained.
In this disappointing occupation
Jed was aroused by the stealthy en-
trance of my client through win
dow, but there was no conflict, Jed
pointed to the papers and. laughed
My client was shrewd enough to read
Jed's emotions. He knew that the
treasure trove had proved a soap bub-
Die. He is man of violent temper.
In his double disappointment he sprang
at jed stabbed him in the shoulder,
Se1zed the papers, scattered them
about the room and jumped out of the
window.
| IF this had been all, I should have
no client in this case. But in his rage
Dravada, when he was throwing. the
papers about, had unconsciously re-
tanned one sheet in his clenched fist.
He found it in his fist when he came
out of his Senseless and inordinate
rage later; and then, his natural Gu
pidity and cunning reasserted. he real
lied that something was being guard
ed in the box; that something being
only papers, it 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.
81 said 1 would give you my conjec-
lures. You will ask first why I am
so candid in committing to writing a
communication of this nature. 1t is
because: first. 1 prefer to write it,
owing to a physical timidity in con-
versatiOn; and second, but equally i'm
pOrtant, because l know the last thing
Mr.. Sidney or any true friend Of Mr..
Sidney's, desires is to have the story,
Of which this is page, made public.
81 do not know what this story is,
but [ know who does know what it is.
That person is the man Jed-now, as
before, a servant of Mr.. Sidney. /
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 it's 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.
I think from what Dravada has told
me. in his simple Boosting 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, = reasonable man. he |
has had recourse to an attorney to |
obtain such settlement as his knoWl- |
edge may be worth.
81 do not wish to defend my course
in the matter. l suggest merely that
Mr.. Sidney and all concerned will fare
the better for having a man of con-
sideratio1l. and discretion, such as !
fatter myself 1 am, intervening be-
tween them and man of the moral
shall be at your disposal, doctor, with
in any reasonable time. l leave it to
your Judgment to handle the matter
within Hartley house."
The copy of manuscript which &C.
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 may lock forever by simply
forgetting. 1t is sufficient answer to
that question to admit that for me ]
could not be content unless it Wee
certain that what I have done should
be known. want the record of Il
known. 1t increases my satisfaction
to know that l shall cause H:UEllstS
to be indignant. l want to be known
is criminal. | want my crime to be
talked about. / want it remembered.
That is the SAVIOR of my life. It would
be impossible for me TO obtain
sufficient satisfaction unless / made /
t possible for the story Of crime to I
De known some time. So long as .
i've, l shall need and seek conceal
nent; but I should not be happy I'M t
ess I could anticipate dicclJ sure. My
rhine I
That was all. {
Several persons-tw0 at least; ORA y
yada and Attorney Brown-knew as v
mich as l had read. Three persons, c
n t:ic, house Mr.. Sidney, Mrs. Sidney y
fd }, d. knew the story completely.
1t was this knowledge which had e
.ivpn Jed his control in the house, Mrs. h
,i,.ney her unhappiness and Mr.. Sid h
ey some of his pleasures. b
The search for q solvent of the Hart S
Nv house mysteries was insistent. AL "