New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-19

once seon. and Mr.. Merlins lace was one not rcadiy
forgotten. Three years had wrought change IN II.
| however. IL had grown thinner and more saiiow.
| Ihe features wero startling IN their dstnctness;
the eyes no low and rowing. and tho bps painfully
but orQanically He looked as though some in
ternal disease was slowly but surely consuming
him. So tho doctor thought alter quick Out CON-
preiiensivs glance at his visitor . - ,
"What can do for yon Mr.. Mcrnf !" he asked.
after they had shaken hands
"Nothina, thank you, doctor My visit is not
SNoi Pardon ME, but as you'are looking out of
sorts thought"
Mr.. Merlin laughed strangely.
"YOu thought had come for advice ne inter
rnpted; NO My visit Is simpy a friendly one.
IT, IL !" you the truth was never better in my
Then pity you" thought the doctor:
ave Mcrns queer folk" continued the
visitor. wing his chair TO the fire as il cold.
Our looks always pity us. We are thin to emacia-
tion. and salIow TO ycllowncss tut the thinner
and y.llower we are the better we feel. The worse
we look the better Strange, isn't itT Mr..
Merlin evidently jestng but the effect was not
pleasant. His voice was bigh-pitched and some,
what grating. and there was no humor IN the hard
smile on his lips
The doctor, having placed wine and cigars on
the table made few remarks on topics of general
interest But his visitor made no reply; he had
sunk into restless silence Presently he moved
his chair from the fire, and sitting against the
airy a cigar,6 said the doctor. 'These were sent
me by friend in Havana"
theory p remarked Mr. Merlin suddenly, and tax
ing no notice of his hosts invitation.
"What theory 7"
ground Railway" DR.. Ford startled at this
sudden broaching of subject that lay so near his
heart
al required no proof" he replied slowly: A
| murder was undoubtedly done. l would willingly
give some years of my life to be able to lay my
hand the guilty man." he added half to himself
Mr.. Merlin rose and walked the room. 1t
an lntrre sting case" he SAID. ut fastened upon
me. 1t has never left me night or day. SO pro-
| aNf in WARY
way! Ii COwen did not strike the blow, who did
l have asked myself ten Thousand times; And,
more interesting question still, now d:d the man
the carriage with me two men. have seen the
blow struck. / have heard .he dying gasp of the
victim, and watched him as the death-ooE Hooded
his eyes. l hear the gasp now, and see the eves!"
Merlin paused with hands outstretched. and
breathed heavily. His excitement was remark
atle and he had spoken as though he had no audi
tor The doctor watched him with intense interest,
and not without some uneasiEess. tie Thought
that the mans mind had been unhinged by
dwelling upon that one terrible subject
"You should not permit yourself to get so ex-
cited" he SAID gently.
Then l have followed the murderer In his
| escape" pursued Merlin. "Not detail has been
| overlooked | have forged and connected every
link il the chain. 1t is complete l know every
living Who does 1t is all here in my brain-Durn.
ing ike molten iron. must tell 1t, or it will kill
STell me-quieily,r said the doctor. He bimself
although out wardiy calm, was now greatly ex-
| cited Mad though he appeared, there was ring
of terrible truth in Merlin's sharp voice Despite
the wiidness of his words aud manner he Impress
| ed his listener with the conviction that he was
about to hear truth, that light was about to be
grown his DESPAIR. He trembod with the hope
that that despair would be removed.
Mr.Merlin again sat against the table, on which
"Yet I'll tell you," he said in a lower voice
You deserve to be told. You recognized murder
when the police babbled suicide You aud shall
rare Listen
was M the bearded b man."
His beard was false. Oh he laid his plans we'll
and warily. Don't you remember saying that he
must have had devilish craft and wonderful luck
ha hal 80 he had had What ;, is the go:a of the
back themf Our friend reckoned on his luck. and
it stood by him WE'LL
Who is the man 7" demanded the doctor eagerly
IL don't know him." replied the other, drawing
back and pa sing his hand across his eyes, at
least not-not in tangible form. l have him in my
mind. though. and there he is distinct Snail 20
ont
"If you please" said the doctor, with decreased
interest He was practical tie wanted to be told
of real murderer. not to be introduced to a crca-
I'VE will 20 back" resumed Mr. Merlin. folding
his arms aud staring at vacancy o Ssck IN the
WAS alone In ffs e nav 'd The lie
xii ei. Ne is at Baker Street. He buys first
GLASS ticket to Noting Hill Gate. lie is not beard
Ell then, mind you. He puts that ticket IN his
pocket, crosses the road and takes ticket to
Aldersgite Street, which he uses. Alone in the
train. he places the clipped over the unclipped
ticket and with his penknife makes them cor
respond in that respect. Yon sec he has his
ticket from Baker Street to Noting Hill GAZE duly
clipped AS though he passed through the CAT of
the former station. He alights at AldersRate and
makes his way, above ground. to Farrlng dun
Street. On the way he assumes the beard and
widens out the brim Of his hat in fne the clerk
described him cOrrectly-beard, cOat-cOllar turned
up, dry umbrella SO he entered the tTan-the
carriage tile place where it was done"
Here Mr. Merlin came to a full stop.
n. Sn1I Ia fnnfnr in Inn ntO
interest, reawakened, was now douby intense.
lie left the carriage at Cover Street." continued
With e tho cPowd that buried to the gaes sppe9
OIL his beard. He dropped his ticket from Earring
don Street almost at the feet OF the ket-cOector
who. he was sure would aft,rward pick it up
under the impression that h, had dropped it hin
self. Then he stole out OF the crowd and re-
entered the train three compartments away from
tile one he had left. In few moments he was a
different lie had burned the hair of the
heard, twisted up the wire aud thrown it out of
the window, turned up the brm of his hat. turned
down the collar OF his coat and put silk
mniiler. Moreover. he had taken bottle of water
fIom his pocket with which, leaning out of the
window, he had saturated his umbrella. Obi he
was another man altogether, and passenger from
Baker Street to Noting Hill Gate. Aud three COM
partments from, him was discovered . sclf-slain
man. knife still in hand" Dr. Ford stared at his
visitor IN amazement lie cOuld not see his face,
was against his cheek Was he mad And nI' a
murderer, tool Or victim to terrible but absurd
fancies
Anu why uiu ITO w ~ sohou the DOCTOR,
throwing a soothing sceptlcsm into his voice.
Merlln's right hand slowly sank from his cheek
to the table, and rested on an ivory paper-knife |
At that moment his dark face became illumned bv
the glare FROM a fresh coal the fire. which sud
denly caught abaAo. Seeing that face, the doctor
shuddered Its sharp lines were drawn and twisted
into hideous shape by the demons within the man.
Terror, hatred and craft were all written there in
intertwsted contorted characters, and the hot,
sulen eyes, shifting and reasoness, gowed like fire
from within dark cav ems.
rhe motivef' said the mailman, jerking the |
words out and fidgeting IN bis chair, while the !
doctor watched him. calmly but v8ilantly. "a
new motivei Conceit-sublime or da,1nable |
which you will but cOnceit. The papers the
public and the police had said often that it could
not be done at least not without detection. Tho
bearded man, mean-he proved that it could and |
proved a great truth. WE'LL" he continued after
moments pause, his voice rising sharply aud |
l.a.. L. llciAr LII.