Max Brand

“ You have left out the fact that William McCurtney was a heartless old ruffian—a miser, hated by every one and hating every one. You have left out the fact"—here her voice lowered and grew musically gentle as only the voice of a woman of culture can grow—"you have left out the fact, John, that Harry McCurtney is a rare soul, an artist, a man unequipped for battling with the world. With the fortune he inherits from his uncle he would lead a beautiful, an ideal existence. He would do good to the world. ”

“ As has been said before, he was not only a villain, but a very vulgar man.
The prosecutor's case was in. There was only the plea of John Barrett to be heard. The judge frowned his defiance on Barrett; the district attorney did likewise; the jury deepened its scowls; the fair mourners covered their faces and waited.
Barrett rose in the most matter-of-fact manner, with the most unmoved face, and crossed to the table on which stood the damning exhibit,- the vial of poison. He finished picking his teeth, but continued to chew the toothpick. Indeed, he was a very vulgar man. ”

“ It is too incredible for fiction. The best proof of its reality is the very fact that it is incredible, but if further proof is wanted it may be obtained from the twelve good men and true who formed the jury at the trial of Harry McGurtney. If they will not do, certainly Judge Lorry is an unimpeachable witness.
The story has to do with probably the oldest combination known to stories—a hero, a villain, and a beautiful woman. The hero was young, handsome, talented; the villain was middle-aged and rather stout, and smoked big black cigars; the beautiful woman was very beautiful. ”

“ He could not even elicit a rattle from it when he shook it frantically.
"The door locks with a spring," explained John Barrett, turning squarely toward them, and still twirling the poker in the coals.
"Help!" yelled the hero.
"Harry!" said the beautiful woman in some disdain.
"It is often necessary for me to hold the most secret conferences here," said the villain, "and therefore I have had these walls built so thick that no sounds can enter or leave. The room is impervious to noise. It is necessary, because some really strange things have happened here." ”

“ That tall forehead and that long, pale face—they brought home all the romantic melancholy of life to a woman under thirty. Even the twelve good men and true felt some ruth as they glanced on him who was about to die ”

“ Harry McCurtney killed his uncle, William McCurtney. He did it by putting poison in the Scotch whisky which old William was drinking to the health of his nephew. A maid saw Harry put something into his uncle's glass. She afterward got hold of the vial of poison, out of which only a few drops had been poured. There was enough left to kill ten men. When old McCurtney died that night, the maid called in the police and had Harry arrested. She produced the vial of poison as evidence. The case was easily made out. A druggist has sworn that the poison was purchased from him by young Harry McCurtney. ”

“ The camera, therefore, opens on a close-up of the middle-aged villain. As the round spot of light widens, every one can see that the man is a villain. The way he chews that long black cigar, for instance, emitting slow, luxurious puffs, is sufficient proof.
No one but a villain really enjoys good tobacco ”