The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-09-11
FAIRVIEW;;
One September
Night.
" JAMES FRANKLIN FITS.
[CoNTTSUED.J


the place, upon the premises of one OF whom
your attempt at robbery was committed!
And you bring with you this disreputable
old gardener whom Mr.. Ferrers had to dis
charge for his tale bearing and his inter-
ference with his affairs. Is there any other
modest request that you'd like to make of
me?'
He had not asked me to be seated, but
drew chair to the table and sat down. de
eyed me with a stare of displeasIre.
Mr.. Warner" / said, Il am not here to
defend myself. When any accusation is
made against me to an officer of justice by
the scoundrels who have been seeking to
destroy nv good name, / will meet II. l
come to you now as an accuser; If you VIII
but hear me, | Will satisfy you that the
men / have named are murderers, and that
it is your duty to deal with them. viii
YOU hear me?'
Mr. Warner leaned carelesslv back in his
chair and lighted a cigar
To be perfectly frank with you, he
said, Il haze suspicion that you're not
Just in your right mind There have been
very queer stories afioat in this community
about you since you disappeared like a
thief in the night, and it wouldn't be well
for you to show yourself on the street in
daylight. Mind you, | don't say that l ep-
tirely believe these stories; | know how apt
we all are to give poor fellow kick when
he is going down hill. While you were at
work here in your profession, | had very
good opinion of you; and | am inclined to
think now that your fall was due to the
alteration of sensitive mind, acted on,
perhaps, by poverty. Excuse me, sir; but
| don't think you're right in your intellect
now"
"Wil YOU allow me to send for DIR. Gray
in,
presence? pledge you my word that if
he does not say that | am as perfectly sane
as yourself. ] will trouble you no more. /
have not seen him since | returned, and he
has heard the same stories that you have
VIII you do this?"
II don't care to get rid of you-yes. III
write line and your man there can take it
over to him
He dashed off a note, and Hugh departed
with it The lawyer resumed his writing
and | sat quietly across the table. In
twenty minutes DR.. Gray entered, followed
by Staples. TIE Doctor started when he
saw me, and seemed at a loss whether to
accost me or not. 1 spoke up promptly,
and saved him the trouble of deciding.
DIR. Gray, | came here to make crimi-
nal complaint against two of the first men
in the place. Mr. Warner doubts my sanity.
Please examine me as to the question, here
in his present. Examine me Just as though
you never had seen me before"
DR.. Gray looked at the attorney; the lat
ter nodded his head and the examination
begun. The Doctor felt of my pulse, looked
at my tongue, and asked me several ques-
tions about my health and feelings. | saw
that his object was to draw me out, and
make me talk, and | gratified him. He
stared hard into my face, and his own face
began to wear a very puzzled look,
Il am compelled to say, Mr. Warner,
he at last said that this man is as sane as
we are. lie shows traces of recent severe
bodily exhaustion and nervous excitement;
nothing else. Whatever may be the trouble
with him, his mind Is all right.
Mr.. Warner began to be interested. He
pushed his chair back from the table, gave
the Doctor cigar and took fresh one
himself
&c on and tell your story, he said 4
hear whatever you wish to say. Doctor, stay
aud hear him; | may want to talk with you
further about him."
told them my story.
The clock struck ten before ! had finish
ed Beginning with the overheard con-
versation in DIR. Beaumont's house in Nav.
| told them the whole story very much
as it has been told in these pages; emitting,
of course, much that related to the rela-
tions of Paula and myself. l threw my
whole soul into the narrative. and spoke
strongly, swiftly, and clearly. The effect
upon the listeners was marvellous to see
From kind of plying indifference they
passed to an appearance of attention; next.
of profound interest; and had not talked
twenty minutes before | was interrupted
with eager questions from both of them
My story swept straight on through all its
strange scenes and incidents, and long be-
fore it was finished had both of my listen
ers leaning eagerly toward me, anxious not
10 lose a single word. When [ had finished
they looked at me and at each other, as
though amazed into silence, and perhaps
some little self-reproach, by what they had
heard.
Il will add" said, that there is one
test that will prove the truth of what have
sailor give the lie to it. # Edison
Whalley died from the effects OF arsenical
poisoning, an examination of his body will
show it. Make the test; will stand or fail
with it.
DIR. Gray slapped his knee emphatcally.
IN be hanged myself, Mr. Warner" he
said, but there's something here to be
looked into. If one-half of what we've
heard to- nights true, there's been black
crime committed, and DIR. Minton has been
apologiZing to him myself for believing the
talk that has been set aioat about him.
What he says has given me light ON a dozen
unaccountable things that have perplexed
me since Mr. Whdlley died Give me a
permit to disinter his body, and you shall
have the truth of this business"
i quite agree with you, replied the at
torney. How soon can you discover the
condition of the body?'
III get the necessary help and take it
up this very night. replied the Doctor,
full of energy and excitement at the pros
pect OF the disclosure about to be made
| can make my post mortem examination
and analysis during the day, and report the
facts to you by dark Tomorrow.
And If 1t turns out as DIR. Minton has
said, rejoined the attorney, there shall be
warrant issued for the guilty parties at
once, on your report. Go on, DIR. Gray; do
your work quietly and secretly, and as
speedily as you can. for what We have
heard shows us that we may need to hurry
to catch the culprits.
The Doctor withdrew, intent on his err
rand. | was not permitted TO depart before
had put the more important of my state
mentS IN the form OF an affidavit and
was cautioned upon leaving to remain
quietly at Staples house until word was
sent me by the attorney that | might leave
1t as nv appearance might create alarm,
and cause the premature flight of the cul-
prlts. The caution was one that | was
glad TO heed; most willingly returned with
Staples to his humble home to await the
explosion of the train l had that night
fired. A cot was prepared for me in a
corner Of the sitting room, and a welcome
repaSt set before me. Before going TO rest
visited the bedside of Paula, and found
her calmly slumbenng. Peace was in her
beautiful face. and a faint smile PLAYED up
on her lips. With a thankful heart 1 went
TO my rest, and it was such rest and sleep
as only he can enjoy who has borne the
evil and the pain of body and mind that
had of late been mine. Sleep. blessed
sleep! May Paulas and mine never more
be disturbed by the specters that haunted
those memorable days and nights
brief meeting, Just a tender inter-
change of greeting, and the kiss that could
not be prevented, were all that Paula S
watchful guardians, under the careful in
structons that DR.. Gray had given, would
permit between us the next day. SlumbeI
seized upon my wearied brain and BODY
IN the afternoon and tha dav was uall I'D