The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-07-29

the murder. He told me that while I
was out on an errand that day Bumpy
Brown came in and went back to the
Office. made up my mind Bumpy had
done the stealing"
Colonel Blake answered: II am sat
isfied."
The sheriff was speaking of the ad-
mirable attitude Of the young harness
maker toward the unfortunate girl
when loud rap shook the door. I'M
mediately the rap was repeated.
you may open the door and resume
business" said Colonel Blake. par
don the interruption"
The door swung open revealing Cy-
rus Doolittle.
TASK him to come in," said Blake.
"He's just the man / want to see."
'T'm in a hurry" said Doolittle as
he entered with a serious look in his
face.
The colonel stepped behind him,
closed the door, locked 1t and put the
key in his pocket. He turned to the
newcomer and said:
''Doolittle, If were you I'd be in a
hurry myself. I think that you've
been in too much of hurry all your
life. The day has come when you
must sit down and think it over"
Doolittle had turned pale. "'I'm due
in Griggsby in an hour" he said, look
ing at his watch. His dark eyes were
troubled He stroked his brown beard.
you are overdue at the county
seat" Blake answered.
"What do you mean?'
AS If making a random remark
about the weather the colonel an
swered:
II mean that you are going to jail
this morning for the murder of Oscar
Perry"
There was little convulsive move
ment in the figure of Doolittle. In
second his muscles frightened. He
stood erect. A look Of indignation,
on background of death-like pallor,
masked his face.
''Me?" he. demanded. "What do /
AAVW dUVuI InC MuIuCI VI OSNdA
Perry?"
Blake answered calmly: "Sit down,
Doolittle. Don't try to make me be-
lieve that you've lost your memory.
Why are you so excited? Pull your
self together and sit down and listen"
DooAttle slumped into a chair. He
clasped his fingers around one knee
and sat with his chin upon his breast,
breathing deeply as he looked at Blake.
The colonel seemed to be touched
with sense Of pity. He spoke in
gentle Tone For years l have been
your friend. I am still your friend. I
know your story from beginning to
end. l know every detail in it. / am
not lying to you. l have the proofs
in my possession. Some time ago you
fell in love with pretty girl. You
made her believe that your wife could
not live long. You gave her money
and dressed her handsomely. She was
young and unwise. You won her af-
lection. You began to daily with pas
sion. 1t Is the most dangerous game
which honest people can play. You
lost your mental and moral balance.
You staggered. The old Cyrus Doc
little fell dead. You had seduced the
girl. You were soon between the devil
and the deep sea. Your good judg-
ment and your sense of honor had
been burned out of you by the fire Of
lust. You wrote lot Of nonsense in
the girls autograph album. have 1t
here. You said among other things:
"'This, dear Carrie, is from one
who hopes soon to be yours"
The unhappy man interrupted his
tormentor.
"It's a lie!" he exclaimed In Woe
full voice like that of victim on the
rack. Beads of perspiration were on
his brow.
II do not wonder that you deny It,"
the colonel went on. surely those
words were never written by my old
friend, Cyrus Doolittle. He was a
smart fellow. 1t was quite another
man who committed that folly-a man
blinded by his passion. He had re-
solved to possess himself Of the girl
as soon as possible. How was he to
do it2
ITO BE coNTINUED)