The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-07-18
CHAPTER XIX
A Legacy for Peter Cams

II at any Ilnlo entertained OIlc
shadow ow regret in the execution
Of those who had traduced me and
so earned their destruction, 1t was
after we had dwelt for a season with
Albert Redmayne beside Como. But
Jenny swiftly laughed me out OF
these emotions.
Keep your tenderness and senti-
ment for me-" she said. Il will not
share them"
We might have killed Albert a
thousand times and left no sigma
fact that brings me to that part of
my recital most deplore.
Nevertheless, though things diff
cult and dangerous we had trium-
phantly achieved, before this task for
a child we failed; and the reason for
our collapse was not in jimmy, but in
me- Had I listenede to my austere
partner I should have waited only
until she had searched for and found
her uncle's will. This she did; and
as the instrument proved entirely sat
isfactory. my duty was then to pro
coed about our business. Only an
artists fond pride interviewed: nothing
but my vanity, my consciousness Of
power 10 excel, upset the rightful
climax We were, indeed, both ar
lists, but how incomparably the great
er she! Had she won her way with
me, we should be living now to en-
10Y the fruits of our accomplishments.
But though she did not win her way
yet. in defeat, her final. glorious deed
was to intercept the death intended
for me. that I might still live. Loyal
70 the last, she sacrificed herself, for
letting. in that supreme moment, how
life. for me without her could pos
sess no shadow of compensation.
My wife's deeper sanity and clearer
vision always inclined her to dis
trust our American acquaintance,
Peter Cams.
Cams is a great man on his own
plane. But, though he is a greedy
creature who digs his grave with his
knife and fork. though his habit Of
drenching himself with powdered to-
bacco, instead of smoking like a gen
tleman, is disgusting, yet I have
nothing but admiration for him. His
little plot-to treat me to a dose Of
my own physic and present a forgery
of Robert Redmayne" in the eve
ming dusk-was altogether admirable.
The thing came in a manner
SO sudden and unexpected that
failed Of a perfect riposte.
It was Jenny, Of course. who had
assisted me to dig Marcos grave on
rointment when we found that Bren-
don had escaped my revolver.
While Jenny related her sufferings
and made appeal to her listener
overmastering devotion, I left the
house and Brendon saw me go. To
get a boat, that I might cross to
Pellagio, was the work of ten min
| utes. A black beard was all the dis
guise 1 used. save that I had left
my coat in the boat and appeared
before Redmayne in shirt sleeves
With trembling accents L related to
Assunta, who of course knew me
not, that Poggi was taken fatally i'll
and might hardly hope to last an
| hour. 1t was enough. I returned to
the boat and in three minutes Albert
joined me and offered me untold gold
to row as I had never rowed before
a hundred and fifty yards from
shore I directed him to pass into the
how of the boat, explaining that I
should so make greater speed. As he
passed me, the little pole-axe fell. He
suffered nothing and in five minutes
more, with heavy stones fastened to
feet and arms, he sank beneath Como,
The pole-axe followed, its work com.
p:eted.
Then I rowed ashore swiftly. re-
turned the boat to the beach unob-
served, hid my disguise in my pocket
and strolled to a familiar inn. I
stopped at this albergo for a consid.
cradle period, that a sufficient alibi
might be established. Then the crash
came. I returned home suspecting
nothing-to fall like Lucifer, to find
all lost, to hold my dead wife in my
arms and know that, without her,
life was ended for me.
In seem1y, splendid fashion she
passed and it shall not be recorded
that the man this glorious woman
loved made an end Of his days With
less distinction and propriety. To die
on the gallows is to do what many
others have done; 1 will condescend
to no such ignominy. Cams under
stood me we'll enough for that.
Let not my legacy to Peter Cams
be forgotten or that I appoint Mark
Brendon executor and residuary le-
gatee.
I think there is nothing more to
say.
"Al finir del gioco. ST vede chi ha
guadagnato." "At the end of the game
we may see the winner" But not al
ways. for sometimes the game is
drawn and honors are easy. I have
played drawn game with Peter
Camps and he will not pretend a VIC
tory& or withhold the first applause