The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-07-30
"Look at Raikes," he whispered.
"Iook at Raikes!"

"Look at Raikes," he whispered.
"Look at Raikes!"
I turned to where the under-secre-
tary had been standing a moment be-
fore, and saw him, white as death, with
lips trembling and livid, stealing to-
wards the door.
To conceive a sudden, strange, and
indefinite suspicion; to fling myself
in his way; to take him by the
shoulders as if he were a child, and
turn his craven face, perforce, towards
the board, were with me the work OF
an instant.
"Look at him !" I exclaimed. "Look
at his face! I ask no better witness to
the truth Of my words"
The chairman's brow darkened.
"Mr. Raikes," he said, sternly, I'll
you know anything, you had better
speak"
Vainly trying to wrench himself
from my grasp, the under-secretary
stammered out an incoherent denial.
"Let me 60" he said. Il know
nothingg;-you have no right to detain
me,-Iet me cop
"Did you, or did not you, meet Mr..
John Dwerrihouse at Blackwater
station? The charge brought against
you is either true or false. If true,
you will do well to throw yourself
upon the mercy Of the board, and
make a full confession of all that you
know"
The under-secretary wrung his
hands in an agony Of helpless terror.
II was away" he cried. Il was
two hundred miles away at the time
I know nothing about it have
nothing to confess,-I am innocent,-
call God to witness I am innocent!'
1.-TWO hundred miles awayp echoed
the chairman. "What do you mean p
II was in Devonshire. I had three
weeks leave Of absence,-I appeal to
Mr.. Hunter,-Mr. Hunter knows !
had three weeks leave of absence!
was in Devonshire all the time,-I
can prove I was in Devonshire!'
Seeing him so abject, so incoherent,
so wild with apprehension, the direc-
tors began to whisper gravely among
themselves; while one got quietly
up, and called the porter to
; guard the door.
"What has your being in Devon.
shire to do with the matter?" said the
chairman. "When were you in
Devonshire?'
"Mr. Raikes took his leave in Sep
tember," said the secretary; "about
the time when Mr.. Dwerrihouse dis
appeared"
81 never even heard that he hac
disappeared till I came back!"
"That must remain to be prov
3D." said the chairman. II shall a
once put this matter in the hands o:
the police. In the mean while, Mr.
Raikes, being myself a magistrate
and used to deal withthese cases,
advise you to offer no resistance; but
to confess while confession may yet dc
you service. AS for your accom-.
plice-"
The frightened wretch fell upon his
knees.
Il had no accomplice!" he cried.
"Only have mercy upon me,-only
spare my life, and I will confess all
I didn't mean to harm him! I didn't
mean to hurt hair Of his head. On
ly have mercy upon me, and let me
go!'
The chairman rose in his place
pale and agitated. "Good
heavens!'' he exclaimed, "what hor
rible mystery is this? What does ii
meanw
GAS sure as there is God in heav
en-" said Jonathan jeff, 'tit means
that murder has been DONE"
"No-no-no!" shrieked Raikes
still upon his knees, and covering
like a beaten hound. "Not murder
No jury that ever sat would bring it ir
murder. Thought I had only stunned
him,-I never meant to do more thar
stun him! Manslaughter - man
slaughter murder!"
Overcome by the horror of this un
expected revelation, the chairman
covered his face with his hand, anc
for moment or two remained silent
Miserable man," he said at length
"you have betrayed yourself"
"You babe me confess! You urget
me to throw myself upon the mere,
of the boardv
"You have confessed to a Grim
which no one suspected you of having
committed" replied the chairman
"and which this board has no powe
either to punish or forgive. All tha
I can do for you is to advise you te
submit to the law, to plead guilty
and to conceal nothing. When di>
you do this deed?"
The guilty man rose to his feet, ant
leaned heavily against the table. Hi
answer came reluctantly, like th
, speech Of one dreaming.
"On the twenty-second of Septem
, ber!'