The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-15

.7heMysteryofaH anSonCab
By Fergus W. HUME.
CHAPTER XII.
SHE WAS a TRUE WOMAN.

yond the fact that IL was something new &
talk about. But now the affair was assum
: ing gigantic proportions, since the assassin
had been discovered To be one of the mos
fashionable young men in Melbourne Mrs
Gr,ndy was shocked and openly talked abou
having nourshed n viper in her bosom, which
had turned UNEXPECTEDLY and stung her. II
ToOrak drawing rooms and Melbourne club
the matter was talked about morn, noon an,
night and Mrs. Grundy declared positively
that she never heard of such a thing. Her
was a young man, well born-'thc Fitzger
aid, my dear, an Irish family, with roya
blood in their vcins'-wcll bred-"moS
charming manners, assure you, and 50 very
good boxing and engaged 10 one of The
richest girls in MelbOurnc-"prcttyc enough
madam, no doubt, but be wanted her money
sly dog And this young man, who had
been pettcd by tho ladies' voted "a good fel
low by the men and was universally popular,
both in drawing room and club, had commit
ted vulgar murder-it was truly shocking.
As to Mr.. Felix Roleston, it was time Of
GREAT ioy TO him. knowing as he did all TIC
circumstances of the case and the dramatis
persona. When any new evidence came tC
light, Rolleston was the first 10 know all
about il, and would go round 90 his friends
and relate il with certain additions Of his
own which rendered it more piquant and
dramatic But when asked his opinion as 70
the guilt Of the accused he would shake his
head sagaciouSly, and hint that both he and
his dear friend Calton-he knew Cation 10
nod to-couId not make up their minds upon
the matter.
I 1y,g oh NJ
RoIleston, wisely, ''there's more in this than
Imeets the eye, and all that sort Of thing
think tective fellers wrong myself-dont
think Fitz killed Whyte; jolly well sure be
didn't"
! Mr. RolleSton, however in spite of his as
severations, had no grounds for his belief that
Fitzgerald was innocent, and III his heart OF
hearts thought him guilty. But then he was
one Of those people who, having either tender
hearts or obstinate natures-more partlcu'
larly the latter-always make apoint of com
! ing forward as champions of those in trouble
with the world at large There IS proyerb
TO the effect that the world kicks man
: when he is down; but if one half of the
world does act in such brutal manner, the
other consoles the PROSTATE individual with
| half pence. SO, taking things as a whole,
! though the weight OF public opinion was
dead against the innocence of Fitzgerald,
! still he had his friends and sympathzcrs.
who stood up for him and declared that he
had been wrongly accused.
Cation was very much annoyed at Br'an'i
persistent refusal to set up the defense Of AT
abb and, as he felt sure that the Young man
could do so, he was anxious to and out the
reason why he would not do 50.
IF its for the sake Of a wOn-an he sac
to Brian, IL don't care who she is. it's alb.
surdly Quxotic. Self preservation is tbs
, first law Of nature and If my neck was il
danger I'd spare neither man, woman mol
I child TO save il"
81 dare say" answered Brian; 'but if you
! had my reasons you might think differently
In his own mind the lawyer had theory
which sufficiently accounted for Brian's re
| fusal TO answer for his doings on that night
/ Fitzgerald had admitted that he had an ap
pointment on that night and that 10 was
with a woman. He was a handsome fellow
and probably his morals were no better thar
those Of other young men, SO Cation thought
: that Brian had some intrigue with q married
woman, and had been withber on the night
in question; hence bis refusal tospcak. il h
did so her name would be brought into tho
matter: the outraged husband. whoever H.
might BE- would interposc, and the Who.
affair would probably end in a divorce court
Its better for him TO lose his character
than his life" argued Cation, '0ad tha'
woman ought to speak-it would b. hard OF
her, | admit, bat when q mans Ecc! l. i
danger she ought to risk anything rather than
see him hanged"
Full of these perplexing thoughts, Cation
went down to St Kilda to have talk with
Madge over the matter, and also to see if she
would help him to obtain the information be
wanted. He had great respect for Madge,
knowing what clever woman she was, and
thought that seeing Brian was so deeply in
love with her, if she saw him about tn,
matter he might be induced to confess every.
thing.
The lawyer found Madge waiting anxiously
~ see him, and when he entered she sprang
forward with cry of delight.
"Oh, where have you been all this timef
she said, anxiously, as they sat down. 81
have been counting every moment since
saw you last. How is he-my poor darlingF
Just the same answered Gallon, taking
Oft his gloves, ''still obstlnately refusing tC
save his own life Where's your fatherl~
he asked, suddenly.
"Out OF town" she answered, impatiently.
ale will not be back for wcel.-but what
do you mean that he won't save his own
lifep'
Cation leaned forward and took her hand.
"Do You want to save his lifeN he asked
'Save his lifer' she reiterated, starting W
out of her chair with "A cry; God knows,
would die TO save him.
"Pish," murmured Cation TO himself as
he looked at her glowing face and out
stretched hands, these women are always il
extremes. The fact is" he said aloud, "Fitz
gerald is able TO prove an alibi, and he re
fuses TO do So"
But whyr
Cation shrugged his shoulders
THAT is best known to himself-some
Quixotic idea Of honor, / fancy. Now. he
refuses to tell me where he was on that night
perhaps he won't refuse 10 tell you-so You
must come up and see him with me- and per
haps he Will recover his senses and confess
But my father she faltered
Did you not say he was out of town.
asked Cation
HNac bacitot..j Nal, s.D..