Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-11-17

| COLlullUtSu, luCluulHB Iao AiuN WI VI N~''
Mauleverer, and the plan by which the sus-
picion OF that murder was to be thrown up
on Miss Stanclffe."
A cry of horror broke from the lips OF
Harding. For my part, l sat spellbound
| and silent.
II never saw anything in my life before to
compare with this, gentlemen" continued
the detective, shaking his head emphatically.
u have seen many queer things In my
time; but never anything like this. Here's
clever man, an educated man, man who
thinks that he can take In everybody around
him, and that we are all nothing more than
chessmen to be moved about by him at his
pleasure-aye, and a man who does move
people about just as he pleases for year
after year; and yet this clever man is such
fool that he thinks he can put his secrets into
writing, and prevent anybody discovering
'em, simply because he mixes up two sys.
TENT Of short hand, and makes one Of bis
own out of 'em, in which to keep his diary"
Bielski looked round as though to ask our
opinion on the subject.
u remember" said Harding, "a case Of a
murderer in Paris who was convicted
through diary in which be left record OF
all his crimes"
"Do you indeed, sir9 Well, all can say is
that it is the first time I've come across such
q case. But now, gentlemen, I must tell
YOU what the diary says. 1t took me and
my mate all day yesterday and down to
three o'clock this morning to translate it.;
and we shouldn't have got done with it yet
il it hadn't been that luckily this clever DR..
Branksone had chosen for his cipher two
systems both Of which my friend happened
to know"
Thereupon Bielski produced large batch
Of manuscript, and he began to turn over
the pages, most Of which saw we're covered
with his handwriting.
"My friend deciphered, and wrote down
as he read it." be explained to US. Il am
not going to trouble you with the early part
Of the story, though there is plenty that
shall have to deal with afterwards. I'll keep
straight to what concerns this case. Here is
the first extract after he has seen you, Mr..
Fenton: ARRIVED Scarborough six a. m.
Went ashore at eight, and Joined the boss and
| Daisy at Grand hotel The old man very
we'll; appears to have got over the attack Of
bronchitis Looks as If he might live twenty
wears yet Had the usual business talk with
him, and settled everything satisfactorily
No suspicion Of Fosdyke's game Fos-
dykes game" said the detective, breaking
Off suddenly, "was to transfer an immense
number of Mauleverer's bonds into portable
and transferable securities The rogues
were determined, whether the man lived or
died, to dip their hands into his pockets
Found to my disgust that Daisy has made
the acquaintance OF a young man named
Fenton. ! suspected something from her
| l,sS - i'm, hot
| he protected her from that brute Gregson at
York railway station, and she repays him
by falling in love with him. ] made an
opportunity Of observing them both closely.
There is no doubt that be is fond Of Eer. and
I find that he has got an influence over her
which must destroy as speedily as possible.
A commonplace inoffensive young man. but
in my way. and therefore to lie got ou: Of
it,"
This extract affords fair sample Of the
p.rfect frankness with which Branksome
had committed his thoughts to paper There
was not the faintest attempt In the diary at
self.deception If be told a lie. be said so
straight out; if he committed any crime,
trivial or great, it was described with cynica!
plainness Of speech. If the whole of that
extra ordinary volume were to be published
| 1I "Ouiu Ue Oue W LIZ lloop AptCl Coli16 PSJ
Geological revelations ever given so he
world.
But it must suffice for my purpose here to
give but b. ief series Of extracts from the
! diary. The entry referring to my visit to
tie hall was as follows:
September 20-This morning procured
from London my old medicine chest. Found
good supply of strychnia Ascertained that
| the boss had got new box Of pills from
Carrick yesterday Have been busy expsri-
menting ali the morning, making up pow.
ders in imitation Of Carrick's. Fenton came
CD o visit just before dinner hour-more des-
perately in love than ever After dinner he
and Daisy went into the garden together.
and set Flinter to watch them. He was
the witness of very pretty love scene
Daisy and her young gentlemen billing and
cooling in the most approved style. When
got the boss away from bis 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
scamp, probably in league with Gregson.
had a little difficulty with him at first. He
seemed to have taken rather liking to the
lad But when told him that be had been
speaking contemptuously OF him MAUI.
everer) to Daisy, and speculating upon the
chance Of bis dying soon. and leaving them
in 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, find, has grave suspi-
cions that Fenton knows something. and In.
sists upon bis being removed from the spot
| OF fba tho nrona 10 ctruok
Then came othe: entries describing my
departure from the ball, and tho way In
which Branksome succeeded in inAaming
both me and Daisy. Finally came the story
OF the execution Of the vile plot itself.
October 7.-Daisy was sent off to Little
lorton with strict orders to procure enough
strychnia to poison all the rats in the ball.
Brought back 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 be bad gone
to bed, and suggested that be did not look
well. Proposed he should have one OF bis
powders. He assented to this. ami l duly
administered it to him On taking ths
powder from the box in the dressing room,
slipped in my own powder OF strycbnia.
saw that the powders were taken in regu-
lar order, so placed mine near the bottom OF
the box 1t will come due, | calculate, IN d
fortnight.
October s.-Left hall this morning for
Scarborough and the yacht. Fosdyke went
with me, having evaded the old mans request
that he would complete bis 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 10 Scarborough, found it
was stormy d,y. Flinter had carried out
my orders about Fenton. aud 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 oil" said
Bielski, when he had finished the reading.
ave have to do with the greatest scoundre!
the Lord ever sent upon this earth. But We
have got him tight" He pulled out his
watch. "By this time, Mr.. Fenton. our
friend, Dr. Francis Branksome, ought to be
safein the hands OF the Scotland Yard de-
tective whom brought down from London,
but whom l did not think it absolutely
necessary to introduce to you in the station
two hours ago."
"You have got warrant against him'"
"Of course we have. When we had found
as much as was necessary out Of this book,
rushed off to Scotland Yard. and left that
kt.. IT. thoin 4 ,pilt