Phoenix tribune., 1920-05-08

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Then, seizing a Heavy Water Pitcher
Exom Beside an Overturned Chair,
He Hurled 1t With Vile Word.
write you care of the post office. You
write me, too. Good-by, dear, good-by."
With these words of parting he
turned and left the house.
Fitzhugh entered a saloon and laved
his hurts and washed up afterward
surveying his face very critically in
mirror. He concluded he was ef-
fectually disguised against anybody
who had not seen him during the past
four weeks. He left the saloon and
continued northward.
In State street he stopped before an
alleged restaurant-one of those dis
colored, unwashed places that can be
scented a hundred yards off on a warm
day. and where a full meal" may be
had for twenty cents-and read this
sign hanging from nail on the door
post:
'DISHWASHER WANTED"
He removed the sign, walked inside
and handed it to the chemical-blonde
cashier perched on a high stool be-
tween a cash register and a pyramid
of toothpicks.
'rm it," said he, favoring her with
an engaging smile.
1t was sweltering, filthy place.
reeking with multitudinous odors and
oyerrun with cockroaches The soiled
dishes came In a never-ending torrent,
and all day, with three respites for
food. ne bent at the wash-bench, his
arms immersed to the elbows in black,
soapy water. At eight came the night
man. and he drew a breath of relief
and dollar on his weekly wage, and
started home. Or, rather. he started
TO look for a home. He found one for
two dollars a week-a depressing
room, little larger than q coalbox,
tucked away in the upper regions of
a shoddy lodging house. He paid the
grim-faced landlady half Of his capi-
tai bought a packet of tobacco and
an evening newspaper, and went to his
room.
He disrobed to his underclothing,
and with the newspaper and q ciga-
rette, stretched himself on the couch
bed, allowing his feet to rest on a
chair. He inhaled a satisfying cloud
of smoke and unfolded the news sheet
and his fingers closed rigidly on the
paper; his heart seemed TO stand still.
What he read at a glance stretched
across four columns of the front page:
OLAF NIKOLAY, RUSSIAN MILL
IST, FOUND DEAD IN SOUTH
SIDE BASEMENTi
WOMAN SUSPECT GONE!
The story so shriekingIy heralded
was told in a few paragraphs, and
Fitzhugh breathed easier as he read.
Substantially. it related that Nikolay
had been found that afternoon by Es-
Tiers landIady, who, thinking the man
drunk, had called the police. An ex-
animation showed that he was stabbed
TO the heart and had been dead for
hours. Esther had disappeared, leav-
ing no trace behind her.
Fitzhugh dropped the paper to the
floor and stared thoughtfully at the
ceiling, crushing his cigarette slowly
between his fingers. Suddenly he
jumped up and began pacing the floor
restlessly.
"Pshaw !-she'll get away all right.
Yes, yes, she'll get away all right"
On his way 20 work next morning
he called at the post office aud found,
as he expected a letter from Esther.
1t was written on a scrap of wrapping
paper with a lead pencil, and began
without preface:
# I've sinned it was because I loved
you so. I did it for your sake l am
praying God that your desire for wealth
may be granted you. Even though your
ambition is one of which 1 do not entire
" approve, I would willingly die that you
might achieve it. That is how love you.
1t may be a long while before you hear
from me again. because I am going far
away Destroy this letter.
ESTHER.
He burned the letter IN the kitchen
range and kuuckled down to his OPP
probrious toll as on the previous day.
Fitzhugh had a clearly defined rea-
son for doing sculiery work IN a res
taurant. 1t provided a steady, Il
small, income; it facilitated economy.
and. above aH, it AFFORDED him secure