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wild passes of the Sierra Nevadas。 She bade me remember that we
were both outcasts； both crime…branded； both enemies of man's law
and God's； that we had nothing to lose； we were both sunk to the
bottom。 Then she laughed； and said that she had not found me a
coward until now； but that if I had turned chicken…hearted； that
was the end of it； of course。 The result was； we sold the gold
dust and jewels in San Francisco； took on such evidences of
civilization as possible； and purchased passage to New York on the
best steamer we could find。
〃I was growing to depend on the bold gambler spirit of this woman；
Nina San Croix； I felt the need of her strong； profligate nature。
She was of a queer breed and a queerer school。 Her mother was the
daughter of a Spanish engineer； and had been stolen by the Mexican；
her father。 She herself had been raised and educated as best might
be in one of the monasteries along the Rio Grande； and had there
grown to womanhood before her father； fleeing into the mountains of
California； carried her with him。
〃When we landed in New York I offered to announce her as my wife；
but she refused； saying that her presence would excite comment and
perhaps attract the attention of Walcott's relatives。 We therefore
arranged that I should go alone into the city； claim the property；
and announce myself as Samuel Walcott； and that she should remain
under cover until such time as we would feel the ground safe under
us。
〃Every detail of the plan was fatally successful。 I established my
identity without difficulty and secured the property。 It had
increased vastly in value； and I； as Samuel Walcott； soon found
myself a rich man。 I went to Nina San Croix in hiding and gave her
a large sum of money； with which she purchased a residence in a
retired part of the city； far up in the northern suburb。 Here she
lived secluded and unknown while I remained in the city； living
here as a wealthy bachelor。
〃I did not attempt to abandon the woman； but went to her from time
to time in disguise and under cover of the greatest secrecy。 For a
time everything ran smooth； the woman was still devoted to me above
everything else； and thought always of my welfare first and seemed
content to wait so long as I thought best。 My business expanded。
I was sought after and consulted and drawn into the higher life of
New York； and more and more felt that the woman was an albatross on
my neck。 I put her off with one excuse after another。 Finally she
began to suspect me and demanded that I should recognize her as my
wife。 I attempted to point out the difficulties。 She met them all
by saying that we should both go to Spain； there I could marry her
and we could return to America and drop into my place in society
without causing more than a passing comment。
〃I concluded to meet the matter squarely once for all。 I said that
I would convert half of the property into money and give it to her；
but that I would not marry her。 She did not fly into a storming
rage as I had expected； but went quietly out of the room and
presently returned with two papers； which she read。 One was the
certificate of her marriage to Walcott duly authenticated； the
other was the dying statement of her father； the Mexican gambler；
and of Samuel Walcott； charging me with murder。 It was in proper
form and certified by the Jesuit priest。
〃'Now；' she said； sweetly； when she had finished； 'which do you
prefer； to recognize your wife； or to turn all the property over to
Samuel Walcott's widow and hang for his murder？'
〃I was dumfounded and horrified。 I saw the trap that I was in and
I consented to do anything she should say if she would only destroy
the papers。 This she refused to do。 I pleaded with her and
implored her to destroy them。 Finally she gave them to me with a
great show of returning confidence； and I tore them into bits and
threw them into the fire。
〃That was three months ago。 We arranged to go to Spain and do as
she said。 She was to sail this morning and I was to follow。 Of
course I never intended to go。 I congratulated myself on the fact
that all trace of evidence against me was destroyed and that her
grip was now broken。 My plan was to induce her to sail； believing
that I would follow。 When she was gone I would marry Miss St。
Clair； and if Nina San Croix should return I would defy her and
lock her up as a lunatic。 But I was reckoning like an infernal
ass； to imagine for a moment that I could thus hoodwink such a
woman as Nina San Croix。
〃To…night I received this。〃 Walcott took the envelope from his
pocket and gave it to Mason。 〃You saw the effect of it； read it
and you will understand why。 I felt the death hand when I saw her
writing on the envelope。〃
Mason took the paper from the envelope。 It was written in Spanish；
and ran：
〃Greeting to RICHARD WARREN。
〃The great Senor does his little Nina injustice to think she would
go away to Spain and leave him to the beautiful American。 She is
not so thoughtless。 Before she goes； she shall be； Oh so very
rich！ and the dear Senor shall be； Oh so very safe！ The Archbishop
and the kind Church hate murderers。
〃NINA SAN CROIX。
〃Of course； fool； the papers you destroyed were copies。
〃N。 SAN C。〃
To this was pinned a line in a delicate aristocratic hand saying
that the Archbishop would willingly listen to Madam San Croix's
statement if she would come to him on Friday morning at eleven。
〃You see；〃 said Walcott； desperately； 〃there is no possible way
out。 I know the womanwhen she decides to do a thing that is the
end of it。 She has decided to do this。〃
Mason turned around from the table； stretched out his long legs；
and thrust his hands deep into his pockets。 Walcott sat with his
head down； watching Mason hopelessly； almost indifferently； his
face blank and sunken。 The ticking of the bronze clock on the
mantel shelf was loud； painfully loud。 Suddenly Mason drew his
knees in and bent over； put both his bony hands on the table； and
looked at Walcott。
〃Sir；〃 he said； 〃this matter is in such shape that there is only
one thing to do。 This growth must be cut out at the roots； and cut
out quickly。 This is the first fact to be determined； and a fool
would know it。 The second fact is that you must do it yourself。
Hired killers are like the grave and the daughters of the horse
leech；they cry always； 'Give； Give。' They are only palliatives；
not cures。 By using them you swap perils。 You simply take a stay
of execution at best。 The common criminal would know this。 These
are the facts of your problem。 The master plotters of crime would
see here but two difficulties to meet：
〃A practical method for accomplishing the body of the crime。
〃A cover for the criminal agent。
〃They would see no farther； and attempt to guard no farther。 After
they had provided a plan for the killing； and a means b