The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-17


cab-or whatever it was-had gomez
And them
eve returned after little consultation
1t was still raining sharply, and we fancy
we came up to the ruins there without
being observed by those within the barrack
walls and at the gate. Bromley, who has
injured himself slightly, was for going TO
his quarters at once; but as | said meant
to explore the ruins before going in he ac-
companied me, protesting, however, that
we could find nothing in there
He was wrong, however, | said 'fOr
you found that piece of half burned paper
which you have in your hand'
Yes faltered Captain Clayton. "You
h3ra sharp eyes, sir"
1T is my profession to have sharp syes,n
l answered. Twill you permit me- to ex-
anime your paper!'
He gave the scrap up reluctantly Turn
ing in such way that the light of the
mess-room windows fell upon it, | saw
that it was bit of what newspaper people
call proof" Looking closer perceived
that the words printed formed fragment
of verse or two. | have preserved copy
of the fragment. Here it is:
of golden day,
of moonlt night;
as autumn gray,
ing on my 'ght
cease to meet,
break the spell;
on memories sweet
fuftWtll. GdIcWell.
You will permit ms to retain this" l
said TO Captain Clayton, who now was en-
abletl to don his gray coat and cap.
''Of course" he said, but with hesita-
ton which l mentally noted.
Having elected as much as possible from
this gentleman, found an opportunity of
listening to his companion, Mr.. Bromley,
but the information received Tailed in
every particular From him | Learned
that Mr.. Beryl was the son of gentleman
who had been nearly ruined by the failure
of bank before his decease. Sydney had
spent much of his time in London, mixing
in good society, and winning the reputa-
ton of being something of a poet Upon
the death of his only parent he returned to
his native place and the fragment OF prop
erty left him. He still wrote verses and
amused himself by having them printed
for private circulation among his friends.
| He had long been a sutton for the hand of
Miss Brooks whose uncle lived in the
neighborhood. The latter, however, OBJ
| jected to him as a husband for his neice
after the loss of his fortune, and he was
finally rejected upon the circulation of
certain rumors regarding the dissipated
| nature of his life in London.
| The sergeant of police being on night
duty, | requested him to be present at the
changing of the guard on the ruins during
the night. Then, having sent messenger
| for the coroner's attendance, | walked
howeward with the sergeant, and greatly
| to his amusement procured a constable to
watch Mr.. Beryfs house all night. Next
| morning at daylight | was at the ruins.
| The sergeant had not yet gone of duty,
and we both began to examine the interior
of the old hut together The rain had passed
off. and the soft mud of the night before
had become glutinous then demonstrated
clearly to the amazed police sergeant that
four distinct individuals had entered the
place the night before; but while | aston
ished my companion | was not a little
startled myself, for one of the four indi-
viduals had almost certainly been a
wOman-a woman with q very small foot
and the boots or shoes worn were of the
most fashionable make, with very high and
pointed heels.
Having procured the boots worn by Cap
tain Clayton and Mr.. Bromley the night
before, and verified the imprints made by
these, made inquiries and discovered that
none of the ladies present at the break
fast had passed beyond the door of the
building until they finally left by the front
door and front gate. As soon as Captain
Clayton made his appearance l asked him
if any one else had accompanied his friend
and himself into the interior of the hut
He answered, No" pointedly, and when
said that there were clear and distinct
marks of another pair of masculine boots
or shoes, he cried:
'You are a most extraordinary fellow,
and it is, it seems to me, impossible to con-
ceal anything from you. | suppose it is
a sigh, land yet feel as certain as | am
that | live and breathe that Sidney Beryl
is as innocent as | am"
Sydney Berylr' l repeated. "What of
him!"
Il told you,n continued the Captain
that my friend and | entered the ruined
hut together. Well, when we were about
to leave we saw another man enter by the
outer doorway. l pulled Bromley aside
into the shadow, and saw Beryl pass us,
He walked right into the inner room and
paused for moment to look out of the
very opening from which you said last
| night you thought the fatal shot had been
| fired We hurried out and got round
! toward the gate by the left of the ruin,
when we met you. A moment afterward
we heard Beryl speak, and saw that he
must have come round by the other side"
He very likely returned to see if he had
dropped any thing on his former visit to
| the spot" | murmured did you notice
from what direction he came when you
| first saw himH'
NO" was the Captains reply, appar-
entity mortified at the web | was weaving
around the verse-writing lover of Edith
| Brooks.
''Do you think" l proceeded to ask,
that supposing he were the figure you
saw running away, he could have got back
| to the highway in time to mingle with the
| people who had gathered thsrei''
II should think So" returned Captain
Clayton, particularly if he had vehicle
| of some kind waiting"
II must send around to his house and
] procure the boots Mr. Beryl wore last
night" | murmured thoughtfully.
THAT will be unnecessary" voice re-
piled. THE boots are here.n
Looking up, | saw Mr.. Beryl, pale and
worn-looking, standing in front of us be-
hind the hut.
What do you want with theml" he in
CURED proudly and with a sneer.
II wished to discover il you had entered
this ruin last night" | replied, somewhat
| taken aback
"You will have no difficulty in that, be-
cause | tell you did enter there last
night"
more than onceW
| "No; only once"
"Indeedw
"Indeed. Do you doubt my wordl"
81 do, / returned
| "Insolent,n he exclaimed
But proceeded with my examination,
although was not altogether at my ease
| regarding the impressions of woman's
| shoes, as we'll as "A little staggered by his
manner-which, / must confess, was ex-
| tremely like the manner OF an innocent
person falsely accused. At last | said
ut is my duty to inform you that may
arrest you at any moment, without even
| the formalty of magistrates warrant. y
II shall not run away" he said, fercely,
turning upon his heel
l mentally resolved that he would NOT
have the chance