New Britain herald., 1922-08-25

tContinued From Our Last Issue)
 T could not stop Mark drinking,
 Cayleys letter went on, but I kcpt
 him within certain bounds. Yes
 kept him outWardly decent; and per
 haps now l WAS becoming like the
 eannibal who keeps his victim in good
 condition for his own ends. used
 to gloat over Mark, thinking how
 utterly he was mine to ruin as
 pleased financially morally, whatever
 way would give me most satisfaction. l had but to take my hand away from
 him and he sank, But again I was in no hurry.
 Then he killed himself That futile little drunlxard, eaten up with his own selashness and vanity, offered
 his beastliness to the truest and purest woman on this earth. You have seen her, MT Dillingham; but you never knew Mark Albeit Even if he had not been a drunkard, there was no chance for her of happiness with him.
 T had known him for many years, but never once had l seen him moved by any generous emotion. To have lived with that shriveled little soul would have been hell for her: and thousand times worse hell when he began to drink.
 So he had to be killed. I was the only one left to protect her, for her mother was in league with Mark to bring about her ruin. I would have shot him openly for her sake, and with gladness, but I had no mind to sacrifice myself needlessly He was in my power; I could persuade him to almost anything by flattery; surely it would ont be difficult to give his death the appearance of an accident.
 T need not take up your time by telling you of the many plans I made and rejected For some days I in- clined toward an unfortunate boating accident in the pond-Mark, a very indifferent swimmer, myself almost exhausted in a gallant attempt to hold him up.
 And then he himself gave me the idea, he and Miss Norris between them. and so put himself in my hands: without risk of discovery. l should have said, had you not dis covered me.
 We were talking about ghosts. Mark had been even more vain, pom pous and absurd than usual ard I could see that Miss Norris was ir- ritated by it. After dinner she sugr | gested dressing up as a ghost and frightening him I thought it my duty to warn her that Mark took any joke against himself badly but she was determined to do it. I gave way reluctantly. Reluctantly, also, l told her the secret of the passage.
 There is an underground passage from the library to the bowling green You should exercise your ingenuity, MT. Dillingham; in trying to discover it. Mark came upon it by accident a year ago. It was a godsend to kim: he could drink there in greater secrecy. But he had to tell me about it. He wanted an audience, even Tor his vices.
 T told Miss Norris, then, because it was necessary for my plan that Mark should be thoroughly fright ened. Without the passage she ; could never have got close enough to ; the bowling green to alarm hlm but as I arranged it with her she made the most effective ap- ( pearance, and Mark was in Just the state of rage and vindictiveness when [ required. Miss Norris, you unoer- stand is a professional actress need not say that to her l appeared to be animated by no other feeling 1 than a boyish desire to bring oft good ioke-a, joke directed as much ( ..inst the others as against Mark. . He came to me that nlght' as expected, still quivering With lnolsha- lion. Miss Norris must never pc asked to the house again; was to