Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-09-05
FTVE MILLION POUNDS
By t. wEMYss REID.
.lCOSTINUED.l
CHAPTER MI.
AT THE BAL

need not dwell upon tho events III
Immediately followed Daisy's arrest loo
soon l WAS compelled admit thai the
web of cirrumstantial evidence woven
AGAINST nv darling wa only too close and
complete. There were two examinations
before the magistrates, in addition to the
prelimenary one: bat I shall not delay my
story by. referring more particularly TO
Them. At the end Of tine last eSamina-
ton Daisy was committed 70 the assizes
at York for trial on the capital charge.
I had been constantly in attendance
upon her during this terrible time, and,
along with DR.. B~ranksOme, | had adopted
every method of obtaining evidence on her
behalf that presented itself to me. But all
our efforts had been in vain. We could
not adduce 4 single fact that ended 10
break down that dreadful chain Of incrim-
mating testimony which was woven against
her by witnesses both willing and the re
verse.
1t was after Daisy'S final eommlttal that
Branksome and | Quarreled. Up 10 tnat
moment | had been constantly with nm
and had taken his advice in every matter
concerning the trial. He on his 4 d had
treated me with q gentleneSs n frank
ness which had strengthened ms hOld upon
NV feelings. He had never referred d.
rectly TO the fact that it was my action at
Trondhiem which had set the fatal engine
of the law in motion. He had even listened
10 me with grave attention when l q openly
declared nv belief that Flinter was ut the
bottom of the mystery and that he had
prohably worked through some accompllce
ut the hall. When he had asked me where
that accOmplice was to be found, l had tOIu
him of NV meeting with Gregson and had
suggested that if we could lay hands upon
this man we might perhaps obtain some
cleyy 10 the real origin of tho tragedy.
He was evidently surprised by my ae-
count of what GregSOn had said to me on
NV Journey by rail to Great Lorton Hall;
and, after considering the matter for some
time. he admitted that the first step to be
taken was TO discover this man and learn
the meaning of his declarations. The nd
ing of GregSOn was q part OF u common
task. which BranksOme took into his own
hands. He knew something OF the man.
he told me-had known him, In fact, when
he was in the employment Of MIR. Maui
everer in Australia-and he had no doubt
about his ability TO discover him.
Once [ ventured to ask BranEsome by
what right this fellow had followed and
prosecuted Daisy on the occasion OF my
first meeting with her. But on this sub
iect he gave me no information, any more
than he could with regard to the mans
sinister predictions regarding the murder
at Great LOrtOn Hall.
Up to this point, l say, | had worked IN
the most perfect harmony with the doctor.
But row, when Daisy had been committed
to take her trial ut the ~aSsizes, We quar-
relied, and quarreled bitterly aud lrreHO-
cably.
Il have thought everything over care
fully" ne said 10 me, rs we sat together
in the hotel on the night after the eNaml-
nation was closed. Il have weighed all
the evidence. and the position OF the poor
girl, and l have come to the conclusion
that there is only II course to be taken.
And what was that l asked, eagerly.
She must plead guilty, in which ease l
have no doubt We shall be able to save her
life"
| could scarcely believe my ears. For a
moment | was stunned by this unexpected
suggestion.
Guilty" I cried, when | found my
voice. You suggest that she should con-
feSs to this horrible crifie-yOu, DIR. Brank-
some, who have stood in the place Of a IA
Their to her. and who ought to know her
innocence and purity rs well Is TO my
self! You are testing, surely
lie shook his head, and those deep dark
eyes of his looked hNedly into mine.
we have done our best, my friend, y
he said, ''and we have failed. Don't let
Us deceive ourselves - Ia the truth and
longer
Speak for yourself, sir" | cried, in
moment freeing myself from the influence
which the man hadS long influenced over
me. If YOU choose TO adopt the mon
strous fulsehOOd-yeS, IL Il u talSehOOd,
and YOU know it-that Daisy Is guilty,
then 90 your way, and Join the hand 81
her prosecutors and bring her to the gal
lows if YOU can, but don't ask me to joIl
YOU in the internal work"
BE calm, sir said BrInksOme, steruly,
''YOu compel me to remind you how IT Is
that Daisy's life has been endangered.
| sprang to my feet, exasperated beyond
endurance By that fatal recollection.
''Dr. BranksOme, | owe You much II
connection with this matter, and shall
try to remember my debt. But there l.
one thing I shall never tOrgiye-nevel
while | live-and that is that You should
have been ready "a desert Daisy IN hel
hour Of sOrest need
| left the room in hot Indignation, and
from that time We met no more aS friends
/ obtained an interview with Daisy
though il was more difficult to do 50 now
that she had been committeeman pro
cured from her the full authority which
needed to enable me to take charge OF he
interests during Der trial. The good PEG
pie of the prison pitied both her and me
Her beauty, her youth, the tie which
bound us to each other, all seemed to W
ken in the hearts OF the officials 4 feelin;
of sympathy and goodwill toward us
Even the chief constable, EaStmead, wa
friendly in his manner, and quite willin!
to do what he could to assist me in TIT
task | had undertaken rs Daisy's cham
piOn. In the little town Of Barton, whert
the Mauleyerer poisoning case was for week!
the sole topic OF discussion, everybody knew
the story of Daisy and myself, and l WA
conscious that rs l walked through tn,
streets | twas followed by the pityins
glances of the paSSerS-by. But alas, NJ
comfort was brought to my soul by all thi:
Outhowing of a generous sympathy. FOl
in my heart of hearts l knew that all thes,
people believed by darling TO be guilty
believed it all the more certainly now that
il was known that even her guardian,
BranksOme, had deserted her. l, and
only knew her to be free from blame; anG
alas! l found myself ~ time passed les
able TO convert Others to my view.
There was one thing | could and and did
do for Daisy. l procured for her ut my
own expense the best legal assistance that
was to be obtained. Mr.. BelmOre, .. e.,
whom / caused to be retained for the de
Tense, was by common consent the great
leader at the criminal bar. His silyery
tongue and polished manner, combined
with an unrivaled acuteneSs in detecting
the weak points not merely in sn adyer