The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain

The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
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couldn't

parting

: "Don't

;

;

'll

Wilson muttered himself , " it_is lie to_say I_am sorry I_have to_begin with_you , miserable dog though you_are ! "

braced himself with glass cold whisky , and went work again he_did_not compare the new finger marks unintentionally left Tom few_minutes before Roxy's glass with_the tracings of_the marks left on_the knife handle , there being need for_that ( for_his trained eye ), but busied himself with another matter , muttering from_time to_time , " idiot that i_was ! -- nothing but girl would --a man girl 's clothes never occurred to_me " first , hunted out the plate containing the fingerprints made Tom when he_was twelve years old , and laid itself; then brought forth the marks made Tom's baby fingers when he_was suckling seven months, and placed these two plates with_the one containing this subject 's newly ( and unconsciously ) made record

" now the series complete ," he_said with satisfaction , and sat down inspect these things and enjoy them

but his enjoyment was brief stared considerable time at_the three strips, and seemed stupefied with astonishment last put them down and said , " I_can 't make out all -- hang , the baby 's don't tally with_the others ! "

walked the floor for half hour puzzling over his enigma , then hunted out the other glass plates

sat down and puzzled over these things good while , but kept muttering, " 's use ; I_can 't understand they don't tally right , and yet I'll swear the names and dates are right , and of_course they ought tally I never labeled one_of_these thing carelessly life there_is most extraordinary mystery here "

he_was tired out now , and_his brains were beginning clog he_said he_would sleep himself fresh , and then see what he_could with_this riddle slept through troubled and unrestful hour , then unconsciousness began shred away , and presently rose drowsily sitting posture " now what_was that dream ? " he_said , trying recall " that dream ? seemed unravel that puz--"

landed in_the middle of_the floor bound , without finishing the sentence , and ran and turned his light and seized his "records " he_took single swift glance them and cried out :

" 's ! Heavens, what revelation ! and for twenty- three years man has ever suspected ! "

chapter 21

doom

he_is useless top of_the ground ; ought_to_be under , inspiring the cabbages

--Pudd'nhead Wilson 's

April 1 this_is_the day upon which_we_are reminded what we_are on_the other three hundred and sixty-four

--Pudd'nhead Wilson 's

Wilson put enough clothes for business purposes and went work under high pressure steam he_was awake all over all sense weariness had_been swept away by_the invigorating refreshment of_the great and hopeful discovery which had made he_made fine and accurate reproductions number of_his "records," and then enlarged them scale ten one with_his pantograph he_did these enlargements sheets white cardboard , and made each individual line of_the bewildering maze whorls curves loops which consisted of_the " pattern " " record " stand out bold and black reinforcing with ink to_the untrained eye the collection delicate originals made by_the human finger on_the glass plates looked about alike ; but when enlarged ten times they resembled the markings block wood that has_been sawed across the grain , and_the dullest eye could detect glance , and distance many feet , that two of_the patterns were alike when Wilson had last finished his tedious and difficult work , arranged his results according plan in_which progressive order and sequence was principal feature ; then added to_the batch several pantograph enlargements which had made from_time to_time bygone years

the night was spent and_the day well advanced now by_the_time had snatched trifle breakfast , it_was nine o'clock, and_the court was ready to_begin its sitting he_was in_his place twelve minutes later with_his "records "

Tom Driscoll caught slight glimpse of_the records, and nudged his nearest friend and said , with wink , "Pudd'nhead's got rare eye business -- thinks that long he_can 't win his case 's at_least noble good chance advertise his window palace decorations without any expense " Wilson was informed that his witnesses had_been delayed , but would arrive presently ; but rose and said he_should probably not have occasion to_make use of_their testimony [ amused murmur ran through_the room : " 's clean backdown ! he_gives without hitting lick ! "] Wilson continued : " I_have other -- and better [ this compelled interest , and evoked murmurs surprise that had detectable ingredient disappointment in_them ] I seem_to_be springing this evidence upon_the court , I offer justification for_this , that I_did_not discover its existence until late last night , and have_been engaged examining and classifying ever_since , until half hour ago I_shall offer presently ; but first I with to_say few preliminary words

" may please the court , the claim given the front place , the claim most persistently urged , the claim most strenuously and I_may even say aggressively and defiantly insisted upon by_the prosecution is_this -- that_the person whose hand left the bloodstained fingerprints upon_the handle of_the Indian knife is_the person who committed the murder " Wilson paused , during several moments, to_give impressiveness what he_was about to_say , and then added tranquilly , " grant that claim "

it_was electrical surprise one was prepared for such admission buzz astonishment rose all sides, and people were heard intimate that_the overworked lawyer had lost his mind even the veteran judge , accustomed he_was legal ambushes and masked batteries criminal procedure , was not sure that his ears were_not deceiving him , and asked counsel what it_was had said Howard 's impassive face betrayed sign , but his attitude and bearing lost something of_their careless confidence for moment Wilson resumed :

" not_only grant that claim , but welcome and strongly endorse leaving that matter for_the_present , we_will now proceed consider other points in_the case which propose establish evidence , and shall include that one in_the chain its proper place "

had made his mind to_try few hardy guesses, mapping out his theory of_the origin and motive of_the murder -- guesses designed to_fill gaps in_it --guesses which could help if_they hit , and would probably harm if_they didn't

" mind , certain circumstances of_the case before_the court seem suggest motive for_the homicide quite different from_the one insisted by_the state it_is conviction that_the motive was not revenge , but robbery it_has_been urged presence of_the accused brothers in_that fatal room , just after notification that one_of_them must take_the life judge Driscoll lose his own the moment the parties should meet , clearly signifies that_the natural self - preservation moved clients to_go there secretly and save count Luigi destroying his adversary

" then why did they stay there , after_the deed was_done ? Mrs Pratt had time , although she did_not hear the cry for help , but woke some moments later , run to_that room -- and there she found these men standing and making effort escape if_they were guilty , they ought_to_have been running out_of_the house at_the same time that she was running to_that room if_they had had such strong instinct toward self - preservation as_to move them kill that unarmed man , what had become now , when should_have_been more alert than ever would any have remained there ? let_us not slander our intelligence to_that degree

" much stress has_been laid upon_the fact that_the accused offered very large reward for_the knife with_which this murder was_done ; that thief came forward claim that extraordinary reward ; latter fact was good circumstantial evidence claim knife had_been stolen was vanity and fraud ; that_these details taken connection with_the memorable and apparently prophetic speech of_the deceased concerning that knife , and_the finally discovery of_that very knife in_the fatal room where living person was found present slaughtered man but the owner of_the knife and_his brother , form indestructible chain evidence which fixed the crime upon those unfortunate strangers

" but I_shall presently ask to_be sworn , and shall testify that there_was large reward offered for_the thief , also ; and it_was offered secretly and not advertised; that_this fact was indiscreetly mentioned -- at_least tacitly admitted -- what_was supposed to_be safe circumstances , but may not have_been the thief may present himself [Tom Driscoll had_been looking at_the speaker , but dropped his eyes at_this point ] in_that case he_would retain the knife in_his possession , not daring offer for sale , for pledge pawnshop [ there_was nodding heads among_the audience way admission that_this was not bad stroke ] I_shall prove to_the satisfaction of_the jury that person judge Driscoll's room several minutes before_the accused entered [ this produced strong sensation ; the last drowsy head in_the courtroom roused now , and made preparation listen ] if_it shall seem necessary , i_will prove by_the Misses Clarkson that_they met veiled person -- ostensibly woman --coming out_of_the back gate few_minutes after_the cry for help was heard this person was not woman , but man dressed woman 's clothes " another sensation Wilson had his eye Tom when hazarded this guess , to_see what effect would produce he_was satisfied with_the result , and said himself , " it_was success -- 's hit ! "

the object of_that person in_that house was robbery , not murder it_is true that_the safe was not open , but there_was ordinary cashbox on_the table , with three thousand dollars in_it it_is easily supposable thief was concealed in_the house ; that he_knew of_this box , and of_its owner 's habit counting its contents and arranging his accounts night -- had that habit , which I_do_not assert , of_course -- that tried take_the box while its owner slept , but made noise and was seized , and had use the knife save himself from capture ; and_that fled without his booty because heard help coming

" I_have now done with theory , and will proceed to_the evidences by_which I propose to_try to_prove its soundness " Wilson took several of_his strips glass when_the audience recognized these familiar mementos Pudd'nhead's old time childish "puttering" and folly , the tense and funereal interest vanished out of_their faces, and_the house burst into volleys relieving and refreshing laughter , and Tom chirked and joined in_the fun himself ; but Wilson was apparently not disturbed arranged his records on_the table before him , and said :

"I beg the indulgence of_the court while I make few remarks explanation some evidence which I_am about introduce , and which I_shall presently ask to_be allowed to_verify under oath on_the witness stand every human being carries with_him from_his cradle to_his grave certain physical marks which do_not change their character , and by_which he_can always identified-- and_that without shade doubt question these marks are his signature , his physiological autograph , to_speak , and this can not counterfeited, nor can disguise hide away , nor can become illegible by_the wear and mutations of_time this is_not his face -- age can change that beyond recognition ; it_is_not his hair , for_that can fall out ; his height , for duplicates of_that exist ; his form , for duplicates of_that exist also , whereas this signature each man 's very own -- there_is among_the swarming populations of_the globe ! [ the audience were interested once more ]

" this autograph consists of_the delicate lines corrugations with_which nature marks the insides of_the hands and_the soles of_the feet if_you_will look at_the balls your fingers-- you that_have very sharp eyesight -- observe that_these dainty curving lines lie together , like those that indicate the borders oceans maps, and that_they form various clearly defined patterns, such arches, circles, long curves, whorls, etc , and patters differ on_the different fingers [ every man in_the room had his hand up_to_the light now , and_his head canted one side , and was minutely scrutinizing the balls of_his fingers; there were whispered ejaculations " why , 's --I never noticed that before ! "] the patterns on_the right hand are_not the same as_those on_the left [Ejaculations " why , that 's , too ! "] taken finger for finger , your patterns differ from your neighbor 's [Comparisons were made all over the house -- even the judge and jury were absorbed in_this curious work ] the patterns twin 's right hand are_not the same as_those on_his left one twin 's patters are never the same his fellow twin 's patters-- the jury will_find that_the patterns upon_the

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