Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-10-30
Five million POUNDS.

|FlVE MILLION POUNDS.
aus extract anords a fair sample of the
perfect frankness with which Branksome
had committed his thoughts to paper. There
was not the faintest attempt in the diary at
self-deception. II he told a lie, he said so
straight out; if he committed any crime,
trivial or great, it was described with cynical
| plainness of speech. II the whole of that
extra ordinary volume were to be published
1t would be ono of the most interesting psy-
Geological revelations ever given to the
! world.
But it must suffice for my purpose here to
| give but a brief series Of extracts from the
diary. The entry referring to my visit to
the hall was as follows:
September M!-This morning I procured
from London my old medicine chest. Found a
| good supply of strychnia. Ascertained that
the boss had got a new box of pills from
Carrick yesterday. Have been busy exp-ri-
menting all the morning, making up pow
ders in imitation of Carrick's. Fenton came
on q visit just before dinner hour-more des-
perately in love than ever. After linn he
and Daisy e into the garden together,
| ~AAN . ~ AAApS W UASAAAs ~ vas
the witness of a very pretty love scene
Daisy and her young gentlemen billing and
cooling in the most approved style. When l
got the boss away from his guest at night ]
told him the whole story in my own fashion
and let him know that [ hal ascertained
quite enough to prove that Fenton was a
scamp, probably In league with Gregsor. I
had a little difficulty with him at first. He
i sonmad IN hovo fo1yon rofhor q 1ikinn m tho
lad. But when I told him that he had been
speaking contemptuously Of him MAUI
everer) to Daisy, and specializing upon the
chance Of his dying soon, and leaving them
il possession of his wealth, his temper
changed. and he became furiously angry. and
told me that Fenton must be got out Of the
house Immediately after breakfast tomorrow
morning. Flinter, I find, has grave suspi-
cions that Fenton knows something, and in
sists upon his being removed from the spot
at the moment the grand coup is struck"
Then came other entries describing my
departure from tho hall, and the way in
which Branksome succeeded in inflaming
the mind Of the doomed Mauleverer against
both me and Daisy. Finally came the story
of the execution Of the vile plot itself.
October daisy was sent off to Little
Lorton with strict orders to procure enough
strychnia to poison all the rats in the hall.
Brought back a big parcel of the stuff, and
seemed quite frightened at having it in her
possession. Am keeping up the estrange-
ment between her and the boss. Went into
the latter's room tonight after he had gone
to bed, and suggested hat he did not look
well. Proposed he should 10 one Of his
powders. He assented to this, and 1 duly
administered it to him. On taking the
powder from the box in the dressing room,
l slipped in my own powder of strychnia.
saw that the powders were taken in regu-
lar order, so placed mine near the bottom of
the box. 1t will come due, I calculate, in a
fortnight.
"October 8.-Left hall this morning for
Scarborough and the yacht. Fosdyke went
with me, having evaded the old mans request
chat he would complete his new will at
once. Query: That will is not very likely
to be executed now, is it, Took an affection
ate leave of the old gentleman, and felt
really sorry to think l should see him no
more. On getting to Scarborough, found it
was a stormy dly. Flinter had carried out
my orders about Fenton, and the latter was
safe on board in the yachts kitty"
This particular book ended at this point.
There were no further entries after that re-
lating to my abduction.
"Now, gentlemen, you see it ALL" said
Bielski, when he had finished the reading.
w have to do with the greatest scoundrel
the Lord ever sent upon this earth. But we
watch. "By this time, Mr.. Fenton, our
friend, DR.. Francis Branksome, ought to be
safe in the hands of the Scotland Yard de.
.ect,ve wnom / brought down from London,
but whom I did not think it absolutely
necessary to introduce to you in the station
two hours ago."
"You have got a warrant against hima"
"Of course we have. When we had found
as much as was necessary out Of this book,
l rushed off to Scotland Yard, and left that
part Of the business in their hands. 1t viii.
be all right provided Branksome has not got
a hint"
II am afraid he has got Il hint" | said,
feeling more than a little guilty.
"Eh, what do you say, Mr.. Fenton" cried
the detective, wheeling round upon mo and
cycling me sharply.
told him the whole story of Branksome's
visit to me, and of how he had even seen the
telegram which Biclski himself had dis
patched. Bitterly did l now upbraid my
self for my folly. saw how the villain, by
that momentary assumption Of emotion, had
once mora overmatched me, and had won
from mo the secret lie came to learn.
The detective wasted no time in any re-
proaches. He snatched up his hat and
rushed from the room. When he was gone,
Harding and | discussed the possible results
of Branksome's escape. Anxious us we were
that he should be brought to justice, our
chief the ught was for Daisy; and we cared
little what became of the villain now that
her life and honor were secure.
In little more than half an hour poor Biel-
ski returned, with chagrin written in unmis-
taxable characters upon his face.
"Just what l expected" he cried; "the
rogue has been too sharp for us, after all
but, thank God, he has not gone until the
young lady has been as good as cleared"
He throw a telegram upon the table. It
was from the chief constable ut Scar
borough, in answer to one from Bielski, an.
nouncing that the Golden Hawk had sailed
that morning, destination unknown, carry.
Ing with her DR.. Branksome and Benjamin
Flinter.
CHAPTER XVII.
DIR. B~RANKsoME's LAST.
Early on the day following that on which
Bieiski had informed us Of his extraordinary
discovery, my good friend Harding found
himself at Whitehall, in the room of the
permanent under secretary Of the homo de-
partment. Belmore was with him, and they
had already drawn up a brief statement of
the facts which hal been discovered with
regard to the murder of Mr.. Mauleverer
and the actual position Of Daisy. One by
one Mr.. Belmore paced these facts before
the great official, and showed, not merely
how the strong evidence which had been
l Ero,,~i,t ,,~o;,,c< ,,,1v a ,,isn- ~ IL. Anil III