The National tribune., 1881-11-26
GERALD MYRTLEM0RE'S ESCAPE.
CHAPTER II.

The whole community was in q ferment and,
as in all such cases, the most absurd and eXag-
gerated stories were a1Oat about Ashdale. About
the two main facts, however, Of the crime and
the arrest, | s0rrowfully found not the shadow OF
a doubt. Captain Tranton had come down to
Pedbury by the night express of the 18th, and
had arrived in the village the next morning At
eleven that evening he corpse. The chain
of evidence upon which Gerald MyrtlemOTe had
been first suspected, and then imprisoned, was
apparently strong one. 1t had few links but
those were ugly ones. The young man, knew
myself had expressed his determination to lose
no available time in the prosecution OF his suit
indeed he did not himself deny that at half-past
ten that night he had been closeted with the
doomed man in the very apartment Of the muir
der. He had gone away agitated; that was sworn
to on good authority. 1t was probable, thought
l. that he had been refused and was agitated. a
pistol of a very peculiar pattern had been picked
up not many yards from the house, and had been
since identified as Gerald Myrtlemore's property,
fact that l confess staggered me not little and
very certainly looked dark. On these premises
Inspector Roberts had thought it good policy to
make sure of his prisoner.
Hollies Hall stood about mile out of the vii
Iage, on the high road to Flnchester. It was a
lonely house. and there were only few laborers'
cottages anywhere near. l went up there at once,
and found everything in disorder and under
the surveillance of the police. The widow
and the bereaved daughter had been mer-
cifully taken away by the rector. The body lay
for the present on a couch in the chamber Of the
crime. I sought the police inspector. Annoyed
as was at the charge against my friend, l had
at this moment not the least doubt either Of his
innocence or of his being able thoroughly to clear
himself Roberts was sympathizng and fairly
communicative but it was easy to see that be-
meath his civil sentences IurSed the conviction
that he had arrested the right man.
"You see, sir" he said "Mr MyrtIemore was
observed or his way down from the Hall by the
keeper who lives at the chalk-pits. Brown says
he was out in the garden, smoking, and, dark as
the night was, noticed Mr.. Myrtlemore partcu-
larly. Mr.. Myrtlemore passed quite close and
was in a tremendous hurry. gr0aning. and. Brown
says. swearing to himself all the way, things
which, when put together, seem very odd, be
cause that gentleman is quiet one-very. And
then, there's the pistOl.'
"What did Ger-Mr. lIyrtlemore say when You
went down to Ashdale Lodge?"
"He was in bed, sir; and when I saw him he
looked as pale as death: but all he said was, I
am very sorry, Roberts. I'm perfectly innocent,
but Of course III go with you at once"
"And innocent I am sure he is I answered
warmly: but somebody has committed foul
crime and must be detected. You have made a
thorough search, Of course indoors as well as out
and have examined the servants?"
Every one, sir, without exception but they
are all accounted for right enough. And, what
makes it darker, Mr.. Parke, harder 10 make out,
is that II clearly wasn't done for robbery"
Unless the thief thought to find the room
empty, and, to save himself, shot Capt. Tranton."
No, sir, no! There's not the least sign of
breaking in. Beside the pistol"
Red-tape was bringing me mercIessly back TO
his fixed idea: ii was horrible! 4 busineSs-Iil<e
thought seized me.
Il am the family solicitor, as you doubtless
know | said. You will allow me 10 go into
that room. and make the investigation for my
self?"
Certainly, 3Ir. Parkc: man is on guard there
all the while, Of course
Divided by several unused rooms and the whole
width Of the hall from the rest of the house, this
chamber was very lonely. Fitted up as a libra
ry, with heavy oak appurten&nces it wore always
a somhre appearance; [ had been in ii many
times, and knew it well. With the blinds drawn,
and 50 CHASTITY an occupant, the gloom was ten
fold more oppressive. Only the faint hope Of
stumbling on some clew, overlooked by the rest,
could have induced me to spend the next half
hour as | did spend it. Disordered as the place
had been by the events Of the night, method still
reigned on Capt. Trantons table and desk. There
was thin case OF documents, bills and receipts,
evidently brought home the day before from
Scotland: probably the issue Of my own latest
advice was hidden there; but | had no heart to
lock. There were filed letters answered and un-
answered. There was a mixed pile of pamphlets
political and legal. There was a county court