The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-16


Ill as he turned a corner, he came face TO
hce with a man,-th same one who had
been subjected to the contumely and dem
olst-ative enmity of the citizens, short
time before. In the abruptness of the
meeting, not thinking of meeting him, -
anA in the face of that most curious and
Ennge resemblance to him, who, on a false
ciArge, was in Dorset prison. MIR. Leroy
gaze expression to q low cry of utter amaze
mat.
Foldney Vivian p he said, and then re-
| Numbering himself, he half murmured the
SIMPLE name of
Robert Margrave :"
! i was entirely unintentional on Mr.. Le
rof's part, this involuntary mention Of the
name which the true Sidney Vivian had
Siten him Yet if he had desired some
Proof as to the true character Of his com
ranion, he could not have found a more
adjustable word than the one Of Margrave,
that which he had just uttered. The self
Iossessed, self-conscious man, Sidney Wv
ali, in a moment lost all his coolness and
sd'g froid A white, scared look came
into his face as he heard that name he
tottered against tree, and, holding there
for support, stared at Mr.. Leroy, while his
trembling form and pale, startled features
indicated how fully he was affected by the
mention of the name.
A satisfied look came into MIR. LerOy's
face, as he observed these signs of the eff
feet of his words upon the man to observe
whom he had expressly come to Denslow.
He knew, now, that the man before him
was an imposter that he was what Sidney
Vivian had represented him to be. But,
he did not wait to spoil the result of his
first movement towards the unravelling Of
the mystery Of Sidney Vivian. A glance
at his companion, and he was away from
the spot, the man who called himself Sid
ney Vivian, gazing after him for some time,
and then with face white and indicating
the bewilderment and agony he endured,
covered away.
CHAPTER XVI.
ACCUSED
A weary, restless night to Sidney Vivian;
a long, torturing, dreary space, in which
his mind struggled with the idea that he
was on the verge of detection, and ex-
posure. He wondered if this man who
had confronted him, and Of whom he had
no previous knowledge, was a detective, or
if the words were only incidentally spoken,
and wondered, too, if the man was not some
old Indian acquaintance Perhaps he
had known him. Perhaps he was on his
track but, what Of that Could he not
brave it out Was not he sufficiently /.
strong to establish his identity as Sidney
Vivian
Then would come the thought of defeat. ,
He wondered where Conrad Markham was
If Marcia Nanssnt were living ii he .
had acted wisely in procuring Doctor Rod /
ney's arrest If Bella would succumb-if 4
he could influence the doctor to compel his .
daughter to sacrifice herself to him And 4
then he would dOze only to awake with I
heavy drops of sweat upon his cold,
clsmmy brow, to 20 over the same tortur- I
ing thoughts and speculations on the sub
ject of his position, so complicated by un- 4
toward events, rendered so by the mysteri- |
Gus appearance of the man who had called |
him by that name-RoBERT MARGRAvE.
But morning came to lind ready worker I
in Sidney Vivian, or he who was known as
such the villagers Of Denslow. day .
of work was it to him, and ne prepared
himself by numerous Potations of fiery .
brandy for a trial which was to determine
the extent and potency of his influence !
over Doctor Rodney and his daughter, 4
Bella Rodney
The court room was crowded to suffoca-
ton when the hour set for the trial of Dr. /
Rodney on a charge of deliberate poison /
ing, arrived Mr.. Leroy, seated tar out 4
of range Of Sidney Vivian's observation. /
was ready to watch the state Of the case, |
and to determine what course to pursue, in /
case the imposter attempt to do anything |
to implicate the Doctor of which he, Mr.. |
Leroy, had cognisance. |
''You comprehend the significance Of /
the charge you make r. said the Judge, as
the prisoner, Doctor Rodney, accompa-
MED by his daughter Bella, seated himself
in the prisoners seat A pitying murmur I
ran through the assembled throng, As they
caught sight of the pale, sad features Of |
Miss Rodney, who sat- with downcast eyes,
awaiting the opening of the trial.
At his best, the accused, he who was
known to the villagers as Sidney Vivian,
was i'll at ease and restive. He realized |
that circumstantial evidence might lead to
the Doctors conviction, but it would be !
qIite difficult to prove that his own action |
in the matter was purely disinterested. !
Ht began deprecatingly he dwelt upon
The TACT that as a man of honor, he had
borle the burden of the fact that he was
cogn1ant OF DR.. Rodney's guilt, had
dweltao heavily upon his mind, that he was
forced o confess much as he deplored the
grief aid disgrsce it would involve Miss
Rodney u, he added hypocritioAlly.
"You have proof that the doctor award |
ed the pressri ption, IN TINS case, querled
the attorney for the defense
In reply, the fatal prescription was pro
duced, the pARl containing the remainder
of the preparation, and Mr.. Vivian re
quested that the house keeper be called.
Nov that the case was fully entered
upon, the man forged link upon link Of
evidence. He presented the evidence Of
the apothecary and Of his assistant He
showed how the incentive 10 the deed had
been the doctors desire foi wealth, and
then, N finally he seated himself, grosn
Of horror swayed tbs vast sssemblage, for
the doctors guilt had been incontrovert-
ibiy established.
A plying look came over the Judges
features a. he arose TO his feet, and was
about to speak in regard to the case. but
at that moment, q voice from the crowd
4 cried
He is not guilty =
In his excitement at recognizing that
voice, Sidney Vivian sprang to his feet
II say it, spoke q man coming forward.
"And my word shall prove my assertion"
And Csnrad Markham took his place on
the witness stand. rt
CHAPTER XVII.
AQUITTED. -
Had the whole array of his many victims
appeared before Sidney Vivian in judg-
ment, he could not have been more aston
ished. He had believed Conrad Markham
gone from his sight forever. Not because
he had not ceased in desire to torment