The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-31

k the steward found it open, as he ha
I told you, You will observe that ih
O portfolios in that part of the ship ar
/ eighteen inches in diameter, sufficieD
r to admit the body of a slender man
D and that Feltwike's room, No. 90, is i'm
mediately under the spot where Staple
4 tons body was found. The davits sup
, porting boat are also close to thi
portfolio, and by means of them an &C.
tive man could reach the deck afte
) crawling through the portfolio. WheI
the body of MIR. Stapleton was exam
ined, at first no marks we're found upoT
it, but an odor of musk was noticed
coming from the region of the beard
This perfume is used by only one person
on this steamer; but its nature is such
that he could communicate traces of II
to another person simply by laying his
hands upon him. A further eXamina-
tion showed marks on the deceased's
throat sufficient, in the opinion of a
medical man, to cause death, but by
means generally known TO medical men
only. pretend to no legal training, as
you know, added the captain, but these
facts are suggestive to my mind, and
should like to know how they strike
you. If motive be required, as of
course it should be, need not tell you
that the person at whom this evidence
points had probably what he might con.
slider a sufficient motive for wishing
Mr.. Stapleton out of the way. If any
of you have any remark or suggestion
TO make. shall be glad to hear it,
i have one thing to suggest said l,
after pause. i suggest that the boat
that has been spoken of be examined. l
noticed that it was swinging on It's sup
ports when | found Stapleton's body,
and though it didn't seem to me impor-
tant at that time, it does seem 80 now.
1t might give us some further clue.
The captain gave orders to overhaul
the boat with a lantern, and man went
off to do it. In few minutes he came
back and laid something down on the
table.
4 found that in the bottom of the
boat said he.
We pressed forward to look at it. 1t
was tiny bowie-knife of gold with a
diamond hilt. Everybody recognized iC
Immediately.
why, that belonged to Mrs. Staple
ton, did it notT demanded the captain
in astonishment.
1t belonged to her for a time before
she became Mrs. Stapleton,' said l.
Originally II was FeltwIke's; he gave it
to her, and when she became engaged
to Stapleton she gave it back to him; l
happened to notice it on his watch
chain this evening"
As said this something impelled me
to look up, and l saw through the half
open door white face peering in at us.
1t was Fetwike's. His eyes met mine
for a moment with a look shall never
forget; then he vanished.
What, in your judgment, gentlemen,
should be our action upon this evil
dence2 demanded the captain.
My opinion is that you should order
DIR. FeltwIke to be put in IRONS said
Broxill, and when we get to port he
should be charged before the American
consul with the murder of Brian Staple.
tom
There was general murmur of assent
to this speech.
L entirely agree with you, gentle
mem and he added, rising, the arrest
shall be made at once
AT that moment there was a cry out.
side: Man overheard I
The captain sprang out and on to the
bridge. The engines were put full speed
astern. and a boat was lowered-the
same boat that had hung over Feltwike' 8
portfolio. 1t was then blowing half
gale, and there seemed little hope of re
covering the lost man.
Meanwhile l hastened to my room.
Feltwike was not there. There was nc
doubt in my mind who had gone over
board, and why. We lay to for nearly
half an hour, pitching and rolling ON
the heavy seas. Then the boat came
back and was hauled on board. They
had not brought him back.
Did you see nothing of that man ?
called out the captain from the bridge.
Yes, sir, we did see him. said the
mate, who commanded the boat.
You saw HIM and didn't get him, sir
How is that? Who was hep
1T was DR.. Feltwike, sir
'Ah! Well, did he drown before you
could reach himT
No, sir; we came on him in the water.
He had risen for the second time, l
guess, and seemed to be making away
from us. We pulled up to him and one
of the men caught him. Then he laid
hold of the gunwale, sir, and lifted up
and fetched the man blow in the jaw
with all his might. We was all took
aback for a moment, and then he threw
himself backward, and the boat came
down from a wave and the bow struck
him on the head, sir. heard his skull
go. We looked for him a good quarter
of an hour longer. but we never saw him
again. He's gone to the bottom, SIR
| felt some one touch my arm, and
looked down. 1t was Mrs. Staplston.
God has avenged you, Mrs. Staple
ton, l said solemnly, for l was a good
deal moved by all this.
Yes, she answered; and it is as well
80 as the other way. After ALL he did
it for my sake. l am content And
she walked away.
What strange creatures women are
widows, at least. For my part, l am a
bachelor and shall always remain one.-
Julian Hawthorne in America.