Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-08-03

years. We mounted strict guard upon
him and conducted succeeding investiga-
tions with caution and success. We
contrived to secrete Miss Tranton be-
hind screen In a friendly house, and to
get the man to call on an errand thereat
between the visits of several more. A
very troublous and furtive expression
was remarked in his eyes, but he did
not appear as yet to suspect any plot.
Ii guilty, he evidently was determined
to stay in the village and brave it out.
Miss Tranton at once selected his
voice as that of the person she had heard
talking with her father on the night of
the murder. Unseeing as well as un-
seen, the poor girl could scarcely be
pre- JUDGED, and the tones made her
shiver anew with horror, she said. Then.
too, we found, by patient search among
Capt. TrantOn's papers, clear and con-
else evidence of the debt we had hither-
to only suspected. Lent at an exorbitant
rate of interest, the amount was con-
siderably overdue and still remained I'M
paid.
To trace the pistol was a more awk-
ward task, and if pressed too close at the
outset might have given the villain
warning. What was of as much i'm
portance was the purchase of. communi-
cation by Richard Hyles on the morning
OF Capt. Tranton's departure for Scot
land-a purchase sworn to by an iron
monger and gun dealer at Flintchester.
A web was woven now which it would
be hard for any sophistry to break. My
natural feelings of triumph were only
dimmed by pity for both murderer and
victim.
The detectives and I waited on In
spector Roberts, the night before the
trial. He, from whom the idea had
jealousy been kept. was astounded. Re
greet at his own failure and pleasure at
the probability of an innocent mans
release struggled for the mastery and
pleasure won. Beneath his official
livery red tape had heart like the rest
OF us.
SIT looked dark, you can't deny it,
Mr.. Parke," he said; but it's plain as
MONDAY now."
81 think SO. You will come with us
to the manor house, Mr.. Roberts,
The squire literally danced. I never
saw old Markham in such state of
pleased excitement even at a hunt dinner
before. Armed with his warrant, we
walked into the village and arrested our
prey.
A great wave of terror, anger and de-
spair surged over Richard Hyle's face as
he saw what this visit meant and knew
that despite his cunning his tolls had
closed upon him. It was over in a
couple of minutes and cloak of hastily
furbished-up atonement that deceived
nobody was donned in its place.
I-gentlemen-wa mel What for ?''
"For the murder of Capt. Tranton,"
said the inspector coolly, and in another
moment or two the sharp click of pair
of his handouts rang out on the ears of a
waiting group.
The Inspector warned him to be eau
tious in what he said, but there was
small need for the injunction. Silent,
moody and with face that was now in
scrutable, the prisoner passed out into
the darkness and beyond my sight.
Late as it was, I rode to Flinchester.
So far as my province went, everything
and I wanted to inform Gerald of my
progress.
'SThe trial can be little more than a
form, my friend" I said; "that is quite
certain now" and brief y recapitulated
all my fresh details.
"My mother and Milly have both
been before you," he said in reply.
"Bonne drove them over; they've only
just left, in fact"
ga! Trust a woman in love to be
the first to bring you news!"
Gerald laughed. He could even be
merry now the load was lifted, and mer-
ry with a very different sound from that
of the grim irony remembered so well
from my first visit.
The assize court was duly opened by
Mr.. Justice Doyle on the Monday, and
the trial, in which half the country was
interested, was very nearly as formal a
one as I had anticipated. Gerald was
freed without the shadow Of a stain.
AS for Richard Hyles, his arraignment
never took place. Conscious that there
could be but one dark issue to such a
contest, the wretched man committed
suicide in his cell, leaving, however,
three roughly scrubbed words behind
him, which were sufficient to convince
even those minds which were most 10th
to put aside their first suspicious.
Whether that 81 did it % spoke of re-
pentance as well as confession, no man
knows.
What recompense for unjust magma
tons an ashamed society could offer,
Gerald Myrtlemore received. His an
swer to Markham may stand as typical
of the rest.
ct do not blame you at all SIR he
said. ''The case was decidedly dark
cue, and perhaps I sho..'1 have thought
the same. I am only tie more grateful
to those who did believe in me, and who
did their best to help me-"
Millicent Tranton and her mother went
away from Ashdale anil lived in strict
ost seclusion for more than eighteen
months. Millicent was the heiress of
all her fathers wealth.
Il only remains to add that after that
time there was a wedding and that Ash
dale lodge has since been bright with
true loves presence.