Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-10-16

II want you to accompany me in my
search through the hall, Mr.. Eastmead, both
because you will be an unimpeachable wit.
ness regarding any discoveries I may make,
and because l may need to appeal to the aid
Of the law in my task. For you will under.
stand that 1 shall not do things by halves.
This power of attorney makes me Mis-
Stancliffe's legal representative, and l shall
use all my rights under it, not only to prove
her innocence, but, If possible, to discover
who the guilty person is"
"You have set yourself q hard task, Mr..
Fenton," he replied; "but there is some
hope of success; for I am quite certain that,
as yet, We do not know the truth"
We had to walk from Little Lorton station
to the hall. My interview with Daisy had
taken place in the early morning, and it
was barely two o'clock in the afternoon
when I found myself once more standing on
the broad terrace in front of the quaint old
house.
The first person I saw was the evil-omened
Flinter. He came forward with an insolent
air and demanded my business.
"My business. sir, might very well be to
I give you into custody for the outrage which
you committed upon me. As it is. l am here
in the exercise of my rights, and have moth
ing to say to you"
"You won't get into the hall, at all events"
he said, doggedly.
"None of that nonsense" interposed the
| chief constable, cor l shall have to take you
into my hands, my man. Mr.. Fenton, I i'm
agine, is the only person who has any rights
here, if it comes to that"
At that moment l saw DR.. Branksome
sauntering along the terrace from the direc-
ton Of tho garden. He looked genuinely
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whom Ninter was having this alteration.
his usual air of bland gravity.
sMr. Fenton! Mr.. Eastmeadl This is an
unexpected pleasure"
possibly" said, all the suspicious of the
man which during the last few hours had
risen in my mind betraying themselves in
my face and voice. II am here, however,
DR.. Branksome, as the representative OF
Miss Stancliffe, and, as you will see, ! am
accompanied by Mr.. Eastmead, as the rep
c.scntative of the law"
81 think, sir, you forget YOURSELF" replied
Branksome. 81 have no wish to cast any
doubts upon the sincerity of your interest in
the unfortunate lady whose guardian I am,
but l have the honor to be the only person
who can claim to be her legal representa-.
tive"
My hot blood mounted to my checks, and
I was about to answer him angrily, when
Eastmead again %interposed.
"This gentleman, DIR. Branksome, acts un.
der q power Of attorney from Miss 4tancliffe.
You will hardly dispute his right to repre-
sent her when you know that"
"a power of attorney! Monstrousl I'm
possiblel She would never have signed such
a document without consulting me-"
"Dr. Branksome," 1 said, Eve will not
handy words. if you please. I hold this
power of attorney. and I thank God that
do so; and now ! am going into this house to
look for, and l believe to find, the proofs OF
tn innocence Of the girl whom you pro
fessea to shield and lett to die"
"My dear fellow" retorted Branksome,
with just the suspicion of q sneer in his
tones, why will you be always so melodra.
matte! IL you had told me at first what
your object was, you would not have needed
any power of attorney to get admittance to
this home. BY all means enter and wei.
come"
He threw open the door in front of which
we had been standing, and, bowling politely,
waited till We had preceded him.
In the hall l turned and said, II nave cons
here, DR.. Branksome, to mako q genera
search through the house; and although, a.
Miss stanclitfe's legally appointed represen
tatlve. l can take any course please, I have
no objection to your accompanying me il
that search"
"My good sir" he retorted, II think 70,
must really excuse me. You have not CONT
here in a very friendly fashion this after
noon, and you can hardly be surprised If
under the circumstances, I conceive that i
may Re more satisfactory to yourself, as i
certainly will be to me, that you should e
about your work in your W way: At tn
same time, whenever you wish for luncheon
you will find it on the table, and l shall b.
happy to join you. OF course, as Miss Stan
cliffe's representative, you need have no feel
Ing Of delicacy about making your wishes il
that matter known"
His perfect GOODNESS and composure hat
their effect upon me, aud that lightning
Hash i'll which l had seen him for an instant
as a villain OF colossal ~iniquity, faded more
and more completely from my memory.
But lost no time in beginning my search
Mary Taylor, Daisy's maid, was summoned
and cane quickly, as did Mrs. Cawthorne
who had returned broken-hearted to tn.
hall at tho close of the trial. I soon ex
pla ned to the girl that what we wanted K
see was the door leading to the private
staircase. She looked somewhat c~onfuset
when told her this probably she recollectel
the last occasion On which she had herself
made uo of that door.
We found that the door was in one of thu
panelad recesses of the drawing room corri
dor. 1t hal no handle, and any one might
have passed. it a hundred times without per
ceiving its existence. Taylor pressed the
door III the middle, and it slowly opened, re
vealing..a staircase, narrow, dirty and dusty,
beyond.
NJ Eastmead," l said, ayou represen,
the law, and leave it to you to make the
first attempt to verify the statement which
Miss Stancliffe has made to me-"
airing a light here" said the officer; anc
one of the many servants, who were watch
ing us in wonder, darted into the adjoining
room, and quickly %reappeared with a lighted
wax candle. Taking this in his hand, East
mead passed through the door. l could see
him moving the can 10 to and fro, and then
he uttered a slight exclamation and closed
the door upon us. Immediately afterward
he opened it and came out into the corridor,
%begrimed with dust and cobwebs, but wear.
Ing an air of triumph on his face.
II have found his on the narrow ledge OF
shelf above the door inside" he said.
He held out to lie, as he spoke, a small
parcel wrap d in paper that had one been
white. l$e.Zcl it with feverish eaeerness,
Pasted Upon it was n label, bearing in writ.
ing the address: "Miss Stancliffe, Great Lor.
ton Hall" and in print the word poison" in
large letters, and the name and address OF
6nllrkc, the Little Lorton chemist. The
parcel was sealed. and we saw that the seal
bore Smirke's name.
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