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

that, ike the policeman, L should have
linked the two facts together.
Gerald was imprisoned in the inspec-
tors own part Of the village Jail, and
thither went to seek him.
On the road I met Mr.. Markham,
popularity known as "the squire" All
of the old mans pomposity was shaken
out OF him, and he reined up his steed
with face as grave and bewildered as
my own,
ga terrible AFFAIR." sad business, Mr.
Parke," he said.
every. Mysterious to degree"
81 really would not have believed it of
young Myrtlemore.
81 don't!" dryly, and with an accent
of indignation.
"No more does Bonnie, nor I-nor +
thoroughly. We shall have to get
London detective down; I do not believe
these police will unravel it."
"Roberts thinks it's plain"
eyes; that's just the reason. Pos
sessed by this insane idea, they will al
low the real criminal to escape"
"Ah! Have you seen Myrtlemore ?"
emo; am just going there; to jail,
indeed"
Even from so friendly an encounter as
this, it was plan that the tide of suspi-
cion was running heavily against my
friend: among strangers it would be ten
times worse. Sick and sad at heart, [
held on my path.
Gerald was sitting bowed down at the
little deal table as entered the room.
He rose to his feet and looked me fully
in the face-a look that went through
me like knife, and yet had no enmity
in it. [ met his gaze as firmly, as sadly,
and as decisively. IF my features had
worn the least shadow of the surround
ing suspicion [ believe the old bonds
would have been broken between us for
ever. It was otherwise; and in silence
he gripped my hand with strong con-
vulsive grip. Then he spoke.
8" thought you would come," he
said.
"You we're sure of it, Gerald"
Chow does Milly take it ?"
"I have not seen her. She was very
lf-possessed, they said, for so young a
girl, and under so great shock
"And they suspect-nay, charge-me
with numbering Milly's father They are
wise folk, these police, and Markham's
like the rest"
The irony was hard and grating; it
told of chaos within.
Personally I have no doubt what
ever, Gerald, of your innocence. and [
have told them so; but there are cir
cumstances-capable of speedy explana-
ton, of course which, on the face of it,
look black; and, after all, the duty of
the police is duty"
EXACTLY, exactly, should remem-
Der But it is an awful ordeal, my
friend;' and his voice broke, as only
the voice of rare, overpowering emotion
can break.
Gerald shuddered before he could re-
press the revolt.
CIVIL you tell me what actually took
place last night, 80 far as you are con-
cerned?"
"Just what you can guess, just what
you knew would. I went up to Hollies
Hall about 10 o'clock, as fixed by an
answer to note soliciting an interview.
I made my proposals, asked for Milly,
put my case as well as knew how, and
received a "Nor p given in passion,
and with insults. Poor fellow? am
sorry for the captain now, and never
wished him any harm; but he got my
own temper up, and our parting words
we're warm ones. [ came away by the
road past the chalk-pits, crossed the
fields, came home and sat thinking till 2
o'clock in the morning."
"And that is all? Pardon me, Gerald,
do you know anything about pistol?
eyes, and no. That is strong point
against me, and my explanation must
naturally seem weak. Roberts showed
it to me-that pistol and cannot deny
that I bought it at Tillman's sale last
spring, and had possession of it for
long time; but month ago lost it. "
"Where %
81 believe it was stolen, and [ had
suspicion that knew by whom; but it
was only suspicion, and [ never accused
the man."
"Who was he %
GA very insignificant person, marine
ago. The pistol was placed in my store
room during some alterations at the
lodge, and he was the most frequent and
likely visitor.
"You can prove this? Your house
keeper knows it ?"
"No. l did not say anything to her,
except to ask who had been in. The
good old soul is as honest as the day,
and would have worried for weeks
Thoughtful as ever the last person to
make criminal, man slayer! But all
the same, story like this made me still
more grave. To a jury such a defense
would seem sadly halting. I went home
and pondered all day bootless}y, ponder
ed we'll nigh all night with equal sue
cess, so far as any connected theory
went
The inquest and the magisterial in
vestigation were both held, and the YER
dict of each was one of willful murder
against Gerald Myrtlemore.
AS [ had proposed, we had couple
Of the cleverest London detectives down,
and gave them carte blanche in their
search. But nothing came of it. In
his heart of hearts each one of them
sided with the local force and with the
village pOssip thinking that he was on