As Tom trudged home his mind was full of dreary thoughts and wild plans; but at last to himself, wearily:

" but the out follow her plan But with variation-- ask money and ruin myself; ROB the old skinflint "

CHAPTER 19

The Prophesy Realized

Few things are harder up with annoyance of good example

--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

It best that all think alike; difference of opinion that makes horse races

--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

Dawson's Landing was comfortably finishing its season of dull repose and waiting patiently duel Count Luigi was waiting, too; but not patiently, rumor said Sunday came, and Luigi insisted on having his challenge conveyed Wilson carried it Judge Driscoll declined to fight with an assassin-- " ," he added significantly, " field of honor "

Elsewhere, , ready Wilson tried him that if he present himself when Angelo told him homicide committed by Luigi, have considered the act discreditable to Luigi; but the obstinate old man was not moved

Wilson went back principal and reported the failure mission Luigi was incensed, and asked how it old gentleman, who was by no means dull-witted, held his trifling nephew's evidence in inferences of more value than Wilson's But Wilson laughed, and said:

" quite simple; easily explicable not his doll--his baby--his infatuation: his nature is The judge late wife never had any children The judge wife were past middle age treasure fell into their lap One must make allowances for parental instinct that starving for twenty-five or thirty years famished, crazed wit hunger , and entirely satisfied with anything that comes handy; its taste is atrophied, it can't tell mud cat from shad devil born to young couple is measurably recognizable as devil before long, but devil adopted by an old couple is an angel , and remains so, through thick and thin Tom old man's angel; infatuated Tom can persuade him into things which other people can't--not all things; I don't mean that, but --particularly one class of things: the things that create or abolish personal partialities or prejudices old man's mind The old man liked both of you Tom conceived hatred That was enough; it turned the old man around at once The oldest and strongest friendship must go ground when late-adopted darlings throws brick at it "

"It's curious philosophy," said Luigi

"It ain't philosophy at all--it's fact And something pathetic and beautiful , too nothing more pathetic than poor old childless couples taking menagerie of yelping little worthless dogs hearts; and then adding some cursing and squawking parrots and jackass-voiced macaw; and next couple of hundred screeching songbirds, and presently some fetid guinea pigs and rabbits, and howling colony of cats all groping and ignorant effort to construct out of base metal and brass filings, so , something to place golden treasure denied them by Nature, child But digression The unwritten law region requires you to kill Judge Driscoll on sight, and he community will expect that attention at your hands--though your own death by his bullet will answer every purpose Look out for him ! healed-- , fixed ? "

"Yes, he his opportunity If he attacks me, respond "

As Wilson was leaving, :

"The judge is still little used up by his campaign work, and will not get out for day or so; but when get out, alert "

About eleven at night the twins went out for exercise, and started on long stroll veiled moonlight

Tom Driscoll had landed at Hackett's Store, two miles below Dawson's, just about half an hour earlier, the only passenger lonely spot, and had walked up the shore road and entered Judge Driscoll's house without having encountered anyone either road or under the roof

He pulled down his window blinds and lighted his candle He laid off his coat and hat and began his preparations He unlocked his trunk and got his suit of girl's clothes out from under the male attire , and laid it by Then he blacked his face with burnt cork and put the cork pocket His plan was to slip down uncle's private sitting room below, pass bedroom, steal the safe key old gentleman's clothes, and then go back and rob the safe up his candle to start His courage and confidence were high, up point, but both began to waver little now Suppose make noise, by some accident, and get caught-- say, act of opening the safe ? Perhaps it well armed the Indian knife from its hiding place, and felt pleasant return wandering courage He slipped stealthily down the narrow stair, his hair rising pulses halting slightest creak When halfway down, disturbed to perceive landing below was touched by faint glow of light What could that mean ? Was his uncle still up ? No, that was not likely; left his night taper there when he went to bed Tom crept on down, pausing at every step to listen the door standing open, and glanced it What pleased him beyond measure His uncle was asleep sofa; on small table head sofa lamp was burning low, and stood the old man's small cashbox, closed Near the box was pile of bank notes and piece of paper covered with figured in pencil The safe door was not open Evidently the sleeper had wearied himself with work upon his finances, and was taking rest

Tom set his candle stairs, and began his way toward the pile of notes, stooping low as he went When passing his uncle, the old man stirred sleep, and Tom stopped instantly--stopped, and softly drew the knife from its sheath, heart thumping, eyes fastened upon his benefactor's face After moment or two he ventured forward again--one step--reached prize and seized it, dropping the knife sheath Then the old man's strong grip upon him, and wild cry of "Help ! help ! " rang ear Without hesitation he drove the knife home--and was free notes escaped and fell blood floor He dropped the knife and snatched them up and started to fly; transferred them , and seized the knife again, fright and confusion, but remembered himself and flung it , as being dangerous witness to carry away

He jumped stair-foot, and closed the door behind him; and as he snatched his candle and fled upward, the stillness night was broken sound of urgent footsteps approaching the house In another moment room, twins were standing aghast over the body murdered man !

Tom put coat, buttoned his hat under it, threw suit of girl's clothes, dropped the veil, blew out his light, locked the room door he had just entered, taking the key, passed through his other door black hall, locked that door and kept the key, then worked his way along dark and descended the black stairs not expecting to meet anybody, for all interest was centered other part house now; his calculation proved correct passing backyard, Mrs Pratt, her servants, and dozen half-dressed neighbors had joined the twins dead, and accessions were still arriving front door

As Tom, quaking as with palsy, passed out gate, three women came flying house opposite side lane They rushed by him and in gate, asking him what the trouble was there, but not waiting for an answer Tom said to himself, "Those old maids waited to dress-- the same thing the night Stevens's house burned down next door " haunted house He lighted candle and took off his girl-clothes blood on him all down his left side, right hand was red stains blood-soaked notes which he has crushed ; but otherwise free sort of evidence He cleansed his hand straw, and cleaned most smut face Then he burned the male and female attire to ashes, scattered the ashes, and put on disguise proper for tramp He blew out his light, went below, and was soon loafing down the river road intent to borrow and use one of Roxy's devices canoe and paddled down downstream, setting the canoe adrift as dawn approached, and making his way by land next village, where he kept out of sight till transient steamer came along, and then took deck passage for St Louis ill at ease Dawson's Landing was behind him; then to himself, "All the detectives on earth couldn't trace me now; there's not vestige of clue left ; that homicide will take its place permanent mysteries, and people won't get done trying to guess out the secret of it for fifty years "