The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-05-04
CHARLES j. BUTTON
Copyright 1872 by Dodd. Mead . Co.. Ina.
CHAPTER x
Sudden Death.

was the dashing of the rain against
the windows and the flashing of the
trees outside. Everyone was too star
tied and frightened to move. felt
BartIey's hand on my arm, his fingers
sinking deep into my flesh. Then the
spell was broken, and men asked each
other In excited whispers what had
happened.
The cry had seemed to come from
the front of the room. 1t had been
one of horror, dread and surprise, as
if the person uttering it had met with
some unexpected and awful expert
ence It had been mans voice, and
wondered whose it could have been.
Come on, Pelt."
BARLEY pushed back his chair and
half dragged me to my feet. We start
ed to grope our way between the
chairs toward the place from which
the cry had come. The room was still
in darkness and our progress was very
slow. Then the lights began to flicker
very dimly, and suddenly flashed on
again in all their power.
At first glance, there seemed to be
nothing wrong; then I noticed that
King was bending over his desk, his
face dead white, his eyes fixed on
something on the floors in front of
him, and fear showing in every fea-
ture. I realized suddenly that the
chauffeur,s chair was empty, and that
Roche was on his knees before some
object Miss Potter, who had also
been staring at the floor, tainted and
fell sidewfse into the arms of her
niece. Then I saw what was the mat
!. ter: the chauffeur was lying on the
floor. with his face white, and his
eyes closed
BARLEY dropped to his knees beside
at the man, then Strengthened up with
a queer expression on his face. He
pointed silently to the chauffeur. On
his brown coat, slowly darkening and
widening. was a splotch of blood, and
from his breast protruded the, hilt of
knife.
For moment my head swan Only
short time before the lights had
gone out the chauffeur had had a self
confident sneer on his face; now he
was lying on the floor, white and still,
knife in his breast. Another murder
had taken place. in Sykes house, and
this time in room crowded with
people.
The district attorney and Doctor
Webster had by now reached our side,
and I, the doctor knelt down by the
chauffeur. With glance at the ex-
cited crowd pushing it's way toward
\ us, BARLEY suggested to Roche that
fhe clear the room of all but the FAM
= lily. 1t was not until he had called
some of his men to his aid that he
was able to make the excited spec
tators obey his orders and withdraw.
Doctor King was assisting Ruth to
restore her aunt TO consciousness As
for BARLEY. myself and Black, who
had come forward, we had eyes for
nothing but the silent figure of the
chauffeur.
Doctor Webster opened his coat
and examined the wound Then, when
he had turned back his eyelids and
felt his pulse. he slowly shook his
head and said to BARLEY: "He can't
live more than five minutes The
knife reached his heart
"Win he recover consciousness be-
fore he dies?' BARLEY asked.
II can't say. He might, for mo-
ment."
Even as he spoke the chauffeur
Z opened his eyes, eyes that still re-
tanned their look of horror and dazed
surprise. Weakly his glance travelled
over the faces bending over him; he
tried to raise one hand, but the effort
was too much for him and his eyes
closed again, When he opened them
second time, he seemed to recog-
nize BARLEY and gave him such an
appealing look that he bent closer. His
eyes had begun to glaze and his face
to take on waxen hue. Though his
lips moved feebly, no words came
from them. Then, with final effort,
he gathered up what little strength
he had left, and, in voice so low
we could hardly distinguish the words,
he stammered forth, ''The-robbery-
robbery. Those men-innocent. ask
boy"
His voice died away and his eye
lids sank then he opened them again
and gasped, "The-boy-he knows"
l saw Bartley's face tighten. but
he did not speak. Briffeur lay SO still
that we thought he had ceased to
breathe; but. as the doctor started to
rise, he made sudden effort to sit
up, and BARLEY put his arm under
him. With eyes flashing. he cried in
loud voice. "Slyke- mur-murdered.
II" His arm rose from his side and
pointed straight in front of him, his
finger almost touching Doctor Web
ster. who gazed down at him, puzzled.
sI-killed-" The chauffeur's voice
broke; his lips ceased to move; and,
without even sigh, his head fell
!. back. The chauffeur would never