The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-08-02

GnankfulneSs that searched In vain. Then
l finally decided upon my course OF action.
I would keep the ring and the cord about me /;
not even to my wife would l utter one word
concerning them. When Samuel Fleetwood
was caught should be safe. Until then
must play my part and pursue my usual way,
with dead weight of terror in my heart
Making everything straight in the room, re-
joined my family.
Upon the events Of the few following days
l need not dwell at length. An inquest was
held, nt which and all in my house were
examined. The jury returned a verdict OF
wilful murder against Samuel Fleetwood
against the man L would have trusted not
only with untold gold, but with my honor and
the honor Of those most dear to me.
Sad were the days. There was no talk of
the marriage of Eunice and Harry. Mr..
Mortlock left my house, but remained In the
neighborhood. The police hunted in vain for
Samuel Fleetwood. In conversation with
my wife we strove to discover a motive for
his crime. He was q man whom we had
always thought absolutely careless, almost
scornful of money. l owed him, indeed, a
sum of more than fifty pounds for wages
ThlNiI, Wheu 1 itiu SpOhcA " uDOut IL
he had begged me to retain until he had use
Tor it. He had no one dependant upon him.
He bore no grudge against the murdered
man. What, then could have been his motive?
| word about my uncles will. None being
found, it was for me- as next OF kin, to take
out letters Of administration. But delayed
to do so, and my wife approved Of the delay.
We both considered that any sign of haste
would be indecent. Meanwhile I offered a
large reward for the apprehension of Samuel
Fleetwood, and the bills We're posted through
out the country. SO things went on until
| fatal day arrived.
| How well / remember itl Ali the incidents
of that fatal day remain with me an indelible
memory.
II was Thursday. It had happened that
| on the very day on which my uncle met his
death my half-vearIy allowance was due,
ana his London lawyers had sent ii to my
| bank on the previous night. Thus there was
to my credit a considerable sum. But was
also largely in debt. The expenses attendant
upon my uncle's visit, certain OF my own
regular expenses, and tho charges for the
| funeral, which, not out of ostentation, but Of
respect, had made imposing, remained un-
betrayed. The accounts for all these had
come in and L resolved to discharge them on
Friday. 1t had ever been q habit Of mine to
pay what l owed in cash instead OF by check
| The bills amounted to IL sum OF between five
and six hundred pounds aud on the Thurs
day refer to drew out of the bank by check
one thousand pounds. Part of the extra
money I intended to give my wife toward
Eunce's wedding trousseau, the preparation
of which would assist to healthfully divert
| her mind.
Since the day OF my uncle's death had not
been outside the boundary of my grounds ex-
cept to attend the inquest and the funeral,
and had, therefore, not mixed as usual with
the townspeople. On my way exchanged
salutations with one and another, and 1t
struck me that there was a lack of cordiality
In their greetings; in some OF my acquaint-
ances, indeed. there seemed to be n certain
avoidance. This impression followed me to
the bank, with the manager OF which gen.
orally spent a few moments when trans
acted business there. l wrote out my check
| for one thousand pounds, and passed 1t
across the counter to the cashier, who took it
into the managers room. l was not sur
| prised at this deviation from ordinary Gus
| tom, the check being the largest had ever
dtawn. The cashier returned, asked how
would take the money, and paid 1t to me.
inquired If the manager was in, and was in-
formed that he was. As he did not come
out to shake hands with me, or send me
an invitation to come into his room, con-
cluded that he was too busy to see me; but
l,fk ka,, 70 nj on1
may mention that elected to receive pay
ment for my check in sovereigns. The reason
for this was that | thought it would please
my wife If gave her the money for Eunices
trousseau In gold. did not intend to give it
to her on this day but on Friday or Saturday.
At .he first blush, the mention OF these small
matters may appear trivial. but it will be
presently seen that they are OF great impor-
tance.
On my road homo, with the money In my
pocket, l mot Mr.. Mortlock; he scowled at
me and passed on. This did not surprise
me, but before reaching my house--to which
did not go direct, having something to say
to a tradesman-I saw him again, and this
time in the company OF the detective who
had come, with other officers, to my house
on the morning of the murder Turning
when had gone q few steps farther, saw
both of these men looking after me. My
fears awoke the ring and the fatal cord were
in my pocket they had never left my pos
session. entered my house In an uncom-
Portable frame OF mind. What did this ear
nest conference OF Mr.. Mortlock and the de-
tective bodet Was there suy connection be-
tween that and the lack OF cordiality had
observed in .he greetings Of the townspeope2
NV wife noticed that I was mentally dis
turbed, and she made tender reference to it.
l fsst that my manner was constrained as
repIied to her affeetionate inquiries.
All that have described took place On tho
morning Of this Thursday. was home be-
fore noon. AS the day waned my perturba
ton increased; could not shake off pre-
sage OF coming evil. Locking the door OF my
study, endeavored to cheat the gloom which
oppressed me by arranging the accounts to
be paid on the following day, and counting
out tho money had received for my check.
l did not succeed; throughout my task dread
possibilities presented themselves In threat
enlng shape; my nerves were strung to Il
high pitch of tension; with the torturing
fear that it needed an extraordinary effort to
meet with calmness n hidden danger, all my
senses were abnormally awake; and it was
due to this condition OF mind that was en-
abled to detect what otherwise would have
escaped my attention-the presence OF some
person outside the door of my study. With
Y ~ a