The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-11-19
CHAPTER XIV.
A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS.

then should hardly have been permitted to
have an interview with her but for certain
powerful influences, which had been brought
to bear on her behalf. Immediately after
pronouncing sentence of death the judge had
sent for Belmore, and had told him that he
was by no means satisfied with the case as it
stood, and that he had a strong conviction
that the whole truth had not yet been
learned. He found that Belmore entirely
shared his views, and from him he heard of
me and of the efforts which was making to
procure proof Of my darlings innocence. 1t
was the good Judge who smoothed the way
for me with the prison authorities and who
made it possible for me to have free commu-
nication with Daisy in her cell.
But it must not be supposed that we--for
Harding had formally devoted himself to
my service in the task in which / was en-
gaged-were idle during the two days of
waiting before l was admitted to an inter
view with Daisy. Idlel how could we be
idlea 1t was now the 9th of December, and
had already been warned that the day on
which the martyrdom of my darling was to
be carried out was the 2Sth Of the same
month But three weeks were given TO us,
therefore, in which to establish her inno-
cence Even Harding-2ood, kind, never.
for food nor for sleep must one moment of
that precious time be wasted unnecessarily.
What, then, think you, was my frame of
minds
Within few hours of the passing of the
sentence Harding was in London, where he
secured the services of the most eminent pri-
vate detective of the day. The special mis-
sion of this man was to find Gregson. My
work on that dark day on which the trial
ended was Of different kind. Putting all
remembrance of the last few weeks aside. /
went to Branksome and Fosdyke and APP
pealed to them to assist me in the task had
undertaken.
DR.. Branksome was Just the same as he
had ever been. Yes, l bitterly reflected, he
was just the same; as easy, cool, pleasant in
his manner, now when Daisy was lying
under sentence Of death, as he had been on
that first morning of my acquaintance with
him, when he did the honors of the yacht
for her and for me. l could not bear the
thought of this cynical selfshnsss had
been angry against him when / first knew
that he believed Daisy to be guilty. Now
despised him for his heartlessness and would
willingly have turned my back upon him for
ever, if it had not been that felt he might
give me help in the work of saving my
darling.
But very soon found that this was not to
be. again told him my conviction that
Flinter was the real instigator of Mr.. Maui
leverer's murder, and repeated the reasons
which led me to think so. 1t was the first
time that Fosdyke had heard the story of
my finding the book on forensic Medicine"
on board the yacht, and of the way in which
it opened at the pages dealing with poison
ing by strychnia. thought he seemed
startled by my statement. 1t had no effect
upon Branksoms, however.
II see what you wish me to do, Fenton.
You are anxious that should find a victim
for the gallows in the place of poor Daisy,
and you suggest Flinter for the purpose"
"And is that the way in which you speak
OF the girl whom you have known since she
left her mothers arms, and whom you pro-
fess to lovel" / cried, in my indignation.
"Dr. Branksome, If anyone hal asked mo
what thought of you a few weeks ago,
should have said you were one of the noblest
if anyone were to put the question to me
now, 1 should be forced to tell him that
had found you to be false as a friend, and
mean and heartless as a man-one who can
sit here in the full enjoyment of every lux
ury"-I had found the two at dinner-"when ,
the child who has looked up to him as a
father is lying in the condemned CELL Aye,
and who can even answer the prayer that
he would join in the attempt TO save her
from her doom, with a cold sneerp N4 N
Heheard me without moving a muscle of
bis face, and when he replei he spoke In
his usual voice 1t was just as pleasant and
nquable in its tones as it had ever Leen
81 wish you success and Godspeed with all
my heart Mr.. Fenton; and for the sake of
Daisy / forgive your injustice towards my
self. But to- you this, sir, plainly: have
been convinced of her guilt by the evidence
laid before the court; and while am willing
10 join you in making every effort to obtain
FOR her the mercy of the crown-nay, Mr..
Fosdyke will tell you that am already tax
ing steps for that purpose am not pre-
pared to try to save her, whom / believe to
be guilty, by throwing her sin upon another
whom i know TO be innocent" ~
What could l do in appealing to a man
whose very cruelty was founded upon his
owe of what was rights l could not answer
his logic, and l saw that it would be useless
10 upbraid him. But in my heart hated
and despised him.
"Then," ! said at last, seeing that no help
could be hoped for here, II shall act for my
veil, duu IL udfo W Sptuu every turning
nave in the world and to devote every day
hat remains to me of life to the task, you
nay depend upon it that I shall yet con-
found you all by proving her innocence"
OF my interview with Daisy, when at last
was admitted to her in the condemned cell
1t the old Castle, shall say nothing that
Ices not bear directly upon the subsequent
events. She was changed greatly when saw
ler; but she declared that was far more Sc
-iously altered than she was. And probably
he was right; for 1 had nothing of that
noble courage and resignation which had
borne her up through all this time of agony.
But 1 dared not spend the precious minutes
N lovers talk. l had other work to do for
her sake.
MY first business 1 felt must be TO get
rom her her own thsory, If she had one,
the murder; and to prepare her
way for that, 1 told her freely all my own
suspicious, and the story of my abduction,
If which she had only heard for the first
lime during the course of the trial.
"And you really believe that my uncle
,aused you to be spirited away IN that fash.
ont Depend upon it, dearest, you are ell
irely deceived My uncle was Innocent"
xwbf, could hava ori0i al he Ala