Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-13

re sutu OOstfVuttB.
"Suppose told you that some one had
confessed TO the forgeryr" asked, trcmb
ling lest hc should admit that such proof
OF guilt would be incontestable; but he
only shrugged hisshoulders forbearingly.
"If it was any one but Levens should
say they had made an untrue confession
perhaps TO cover the real criminal"
Even as the words were spoken n veil
seemed to fall from before my eyes, and
saw all things clearly.
When ! discovered tho loss OF tho
chequo on that fatal night at Kentish
Town, and accused Horace Of the theft,
Cynthia had also concluded he was
guilty, and had resolved to save him by
sacrificing herself!
The very words sho had spoken In my
Office the next morning camo back to INC
In support Of this theory. "lIe told me
everything you had said to him-your
threats, your accusation, tho Conse.
quenccs to him II he were tried and
found guilty, and how strongly appear.
ances were against him." ] knew Gym.
thia well enough to be aware that with
her feelings narrowed up by such details
as these, with her naturally strong In
stinct Of self denial worked upon by
Horacc's supposedklanger, she was capa-
bio Of throwing herself headlong into
the breach, Of sacrificing her good name
to save him from open infamy. But
again held in check tho glorious rush
OF hope that was threatening to take my
heart by storm; again feared to believe
this bewilderingly joyful news, lest
should presently bo driven back to my
former state Of hopelcssness, only to find
It a thousand times worse than ever for
my fleeting glance ut a brighter existence.
All this passed through my mind with
lightning speed, and when looked up
found Benson watching mo narrowly.
SWELL" he said. "what do you think
OF that theoryT
"What thcoryT
"That tho person who made that false
confession to you did 1t to cover the real
oiIender?'
~ think you arc partly right; but, IL
Tho forser is really Levens. you are also
partly wrong"
Mr.. Benson looked puzzled.
Come" cried-"I'll make a bargain
with you. Take mo to SEQ poor old
Leveps-let mo hear some Of this 'blab-
bing' that you are 30 afraid of, and, il l
Inn convinced by 1t that 1t Is really as
you say, will give you full account Of
The whole chapter of mistakes"
In two minutes we were In the street;
In ten wo were in my head clerks pres
ence.
Thnxr hnl ini1 Lilo, l., H..
tho room behind tho bar, and the doctor
was with him when we arrived, having
returned to administer draught him
self.
stood Mt tho foot of the couch for n
few moments watching tho patience of
tho medical man, as he again and again
persuaded his patient to put his lips To
the medicine glass, only to withdraw
them again in shuddering horror, with a
wild declaration that he was being pois-
Oned.
"I won't be killed like a rat in hole"
he shouted angrily, fiinging his arms up
with the evident intention of upsetting
the draught. "What harm have done
you that you want TO put me out of tho
way in this secret manner? Who are
you! i don't know you'll never saw
you before! What are you keeping me
here for? ! must go home at once-they
will be missing me and making inquiries.
lnquiries?" he repeated, rs if the very
sound Of the word had started another
train of ideas. "Who is making inqui-
ries-what about? Can't they let the
thing rest even now-after all these
months Of miserable torture? I've had
my punishment over and over again; l
should have suffered less i'm prison!"
Looking up, | caught Benson's glance
fixed upon me mequestioningly, and shook
my head. There WAS some disrraceful
secret on the poor old mans mind GER
tainly: but what proof had xyo that II
had anything TO do with tho distracted
cheque? The detectives theory was too
good to be true, / told myself. Twas
willing enough 10 consider any idea that
! pointed towards Cynthia's innocence, but
| l could not see my way TO shifting the
burden Of the affair bodily on to poor old
Levens' shoulders without unauestion-
| able evidence of his guilt.
"iou are an old acquaintance, think
are you not, Mr.. Quinton?' inquired
tho doctor, looking across at me.
"Of Mr.. Levens', yes.'
"Would you mind trying If he will