The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-12-29

A sharp chorus OF rcvolycrs fol-
lowed: shot after shot was fired. and
then the dark figure wayered, the
hands grasped wildly az the air, and
then there was fall.
The water delugcd Muriel with a
shower of drops rs the body entered
the water. Shouts and the exnltant
retreating voices held her attention
until she felt something creeping into
the boat behind her.
She turned and uttered faint
shrek.
A man. and more than likely The
murderer, had taken possession of her
little craft
Give me the oars.' said stern
musical voice.
You are not wounded, thenp" she
said, shrinking away from the drip
ping figure.
II al not wounded" returned the
voice and then silently the boat was
rowed into the deepest shadows and
zap the stream.
Moment after moment crept by.
The moon went down. darkness fell
entirely over the sluggish waves of the
river, and yet the strange pair were
silent.
The high banks disappeared. the
stream grew narrower. and nc length
the stranger drew the boat close up to
the shore.
Madame" said the figure. bending
close up 10 Muriel. 'tell me what YOU
think about this affair"
81 think that YOU have shot some
one" replied Mnriel, awakening par
TALLY from the trance-like feeling
which had crept over her
You are right. Tonight / became
the murderer of Fred Warner"
Fred Warner Is my husband, and /
was on the river listening 10 his voice"
she said in the same calm tone.
You will hear his voice no more.
The woman that he brought TO Rocky
Hill is my wife"
And then Muriel knew the name OF
the man who had rowed her boat that
night
1t was Ralph Resseguie, the banker
and the millionaire, whose home and
happiness her husband had ruined.
She had never met him before hut
she had heard often of his generosity
and of his great wealth.
God have mercy tonight upon four
Of his miserable creatures she said
still calmly,
Three corrected Rcsseguie grim
ly. "Muriel Warner. ! know the en-
tire history of your life. | learned IL
while / was hunting your husband
down. | ask no sympathy. / have
done deliberate murder. / do not
wish you To conceal the mode of my
escape. Fred Warner was your hus-
( band. He would have returned 10 you
after time. have made tins int
possible. You have neither home nor
friends. / have money. the accursed
stuff with which / bought my wife. Ia
short time / shall be hung for muir
der. have no relations upon whom
10 bestow my wealth. IL viii all 90 Ia
strangers. Accept this packet, then;
and | cannot be but thankful for the
chance which has thrown you in my
way"
A packet dropped into Muricl War
ner's lap as these words were spoken
The boat rocked slightly as the tall
figure sprang upon the shore. and then
she was alone in the darkness upon
the river.
After this she wandered about the
world, woman whose life aud feel
ings seemed benumbed for ever. She
knew what had happened at Rocky
Hill, but she had no desire Ia return
there, and gaze upon the dead face Of
her husband. She had no wish 10 re-
turn TO the friends who had grown
cold when misfortune came upon her.
L, 81, - I..I
made her n wealthy woman, hut she
felt none of the scruples which she
once would have felt about accepting
his money.
She never spoke of that night in the
boat with any to whom she came in
contact.
She never heard whether Ralph
Resseguie was captured or not. She
never knew what became OF his miser-
able wife.
Her past life seemed half-forgotten
dream, and she was only dimly con
scioUs of the reality Of anything.
AT thirty-iive years of age. Muriel
Warner was beautiful aud cultured
woman. She had visited nearly all
the countries Of the Old World. Ac-
quaintances she made. but never
friends, and these often wondered
when. in reply to their enquiries, she
would say:
ii never read newspaper. j never
write Nor receive a letter"
But her time of awakening came,
and the one TO stir the dormant emo
tons Of her woman's heart was
stranger. aud man.
IL was AT the Bahama Islands where
she first met Norman Van Ness.
He was forty wears Of auc-a Her