The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-02-08
TRACKING A CRIMINAL,
OR
Paul Webber, The Detective.
CONTINUED.

cruelty
Webber stopped in the midst of the
apology, and asked, in the most natural
voice in the world, "And how did you
get out of the difficulty ?"
"1n proving absolutely" replied ST.
vory, "that could not be the guilty
man--if man It was.o
"But how happened 1t that the police
suspected youp'
81 admit their suspicious were very
natural. was known to have quarrel
led with Graham some time before his
death, and to have owed him money
upon the day previous to his murder"
elbow fearful, !" replied Webber. "And
if 1t only happened that you should be
assassnated this very night, l should be
suspected of the crime, simply because [
had passed the evening with YOU"
Certainly, and think If the police
did not find more suspicious character,
that you yourself would certainly be
arrested warn you, while you are in
London, to be as careful as you can be-"
BY this time Sivory had gained his
color.
"The law is so uncertain" )" replied the
police officer.
"Not, perhaps, SO much as you think
it,' replied Sivory. :" 1t simply does its
duty, and that is the worst that can be
said of it. And, certainly, if man is
innocent, sooner or later he obtains his
release. Nevertheless, the affair caused
me much suffering, and you have torn
open wound which had scarcely heal
ed.'
Sivory was now speaking with calm
ness. Suddenly he stretched his hand,
seized the knife, and examined it tsteadily
for many moments.
so it was with this blade he was
killed - he said, at last Poor fellow
He was not my friend, and, indeed we
had serious money quarrel. He was
very severe with me, but owed him no
grudge; and when heard he had been
assassinated, 1 pitied him with my
whole heart. He was young, rich,
healthy, and in moment he was torn
from ala movement of a murderer's
arm, and he was dead If the man who
struck him so fatally had known what
learned when 1 came to be involved in
the affair-that he loved and was below
cd that he was hourly expecting his
bride-his arm must have trembled, and
Graham Forbes had not died. Poor
fellow and poor bride as well"
Tears were rolling down his face as he
ceased speaking.
AT this instant, Margaret, who so far
had found courage sufficient to restrain
her feelings, and who had suffered very
much during the day in anticipation of
the final test of Sivory's innocence or
guilt, burst into hysterical tears.
Webber's first instinct was to run to
Margaret, and whisper to her to be still
on her guard. But the next instant he
felt that it was of more paramount i'm
portance that he should still face Sivory.
So, turning to his guest, It's our
fault, " he said, affecting brusque anger.
Here, for the last hour, have we been
talking of nothing but murderers and
assassinations. You broke down first,
while was foolish enough to be moved
myself, instead of turning the subject;
and finally my sister is overpowered."
Slvory made no reply. He was watch
ing Margaret weep. But he made no
effort whatever to go near her.
"Come-come," continued Webber,
seeing that it was necessary to do some
thing, and break up the party !; +" I think
that we should do well to get home,
making a mutual promise to be livelier
the next time we meet"
Thereupon Ne rang the bell, asked for
cab, and two minutes afterwards
Sivory was alone, and slowly walking
down Regent Street towards the Albany.
The detective did not address one
word to Margaret as they drove home.
Reaching her lodgings, he saw her
safely to the door, where, Ellen Fother-
ingay appearing, he told her to look
carefully after her cousin, and then he
walked quickly away.
He had sought no explanation with
Margaret, for the simple reason that
there was no explanation to seek.
What proof did he possess of Sivory's
supposed guilt? He had hoped to create
great effect by the production of the
knife, and he had succeeded in produc-
ing emotion on Sivory's part, but not of
the kind he hoped. Sivory had not
only turned pale and trembled; he had
wept-he had shown all the signs OF
deem real grief Rnt hia anofinn un .