The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 62: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 IN JEOPARDY FROM DIAMONDS, sank down in a sitting posture on his bench. But in an instant, as if revived _ by that momentary support, he sprang up, leaped forward to his cell door and shook it with frenzied force, screaming, ‘‘I don’t believe you! It is a lie! You are trying to madden me with your horrible stories! Such things could not be! It is too infernal to be true !’’ Elnathan silently held up before him the buckskin bag, which he, in an instant, recognized. It seemed to overwhelm him with conviction and fas- ciuate him with horror. Slowly he sank down upon his knees, his hair brist- ling, his teeth chattering and his eyes staring ; then his forehead fell forward against the iron grating and he dropped to the floor in a swoon. Hodgson and Moss, who had been standing near, but out of sight, started forward at the sound of his fall. Perkins restrained them by a gesture, opened the cell door and stepped inside. Gently he lifted the old man, laid him upon the bench, sprinkled water upon his face and so gradually brought him back to consciousness, but in a wildly hysterical condition. ‘“ Murderers!’’ he shrieked. ‘‘ Murderers! You have slain an innocent man! God will requite his blood upon you! ‘The lad knew nothing of the stones! And his poor young wife! Oh! It was worse than murder, what you have done to her. ‘The curse of innocent blood is on your diamonds!’’ ‘“No,’’ replied Elnathan, in a tone so firm and stern that it arrested the * attention of the excited old man and compelled his comprehension ; ‘‘ you murdered him—when you threw the bag into his room. His blood is upon your head !”’ 7 ““I did it. Oh! Yes. God forgive me! I did it. Thatistrue. It was my fault—but I meant no harm to him. No matter; Ididit. Take me out and hang me. I deserve to die for the blood I have caused to be shed. ; That is just. But Thou, oh! God of my fathers, knowest my heart! ‘Thou, mighty and all wise judge, knowest that blood guiltiness is not upon my soul, though I have slain the innocent.’’ In his impassioned excitement he incoherently raved supplications, self accusations, pleadings and prayers, while with fingers that writhed like ser- pents, he clutched and tore at his throat and breast until the garments upon them were rent to tatters. : ‘Then you admit that the diamonds were yours and that you threw them into the young man’s room?’’ demanded the Yankee, in a hard, insistent voice that pierced and dominated the unhappy man’s wandering mind. ‘Yes, oh yes. What do I care what I admit now? My lifeisdone. I did not think they would be looked for there. And I knew he was an honest young man, who would give them back to mein the morning. JI was wrong to call you murderers. Iam the murderer; onlyI. You are simply bloodhounds. It is your nature to hunt to the death. Questions of innocence or guilt do not trouble you. Do with me what you will. I alone am guilty.’’ Hodgson and Moss stepped forward while he was speaking. He saw them, but did not heed their presence. He spoke in a high key, rapidly, like a madman, and when he stopped, turned, flung himself face downward upon the bench, with his arms about his head and abandoned himself to a paroxysm of grief, : cGomicbooks