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

In my mind. Tho least danger must be
avoided; my silence would lead them to be-
lievc that was asleep.
Only the innocent could sleep in such cir
cunstunens as those In which I found my
se.f. This miserable piece of sophistry
brought IL smile of sel!-dcspisal to my lips.
But this smile OF contempt changed to one Of
pity. l was innocent. l had thou sht of sin,
but l had committed none. True. l had in
my pocket the dead mans ring, but l had
not the remotest idea how It camo there.
Yet, were TO produce it I should be in dam
ger, for it was scarcely likely that my profess
sions OF ignorance would be believed. Put
ing another man in my place, and receiving
from him such a statement as it was only in
my power to make. should discredit it, as
my statement would be discredited by others.
The ring had been secn on my unclo's finger
by Mr. Mortlock on the previous night; and
after MI. Mortlock's departure from my
uncle's rooms, no other person in my cstab-
lishment, with the exception OF Samuel Fleet
wood, could have had access to him. Then
how came the ring in my possession? The
inspector had said, THAT ring discovered,
we shall soon lay hands upon the murderer
The time to produce 1t, If 1t were produced at
all, was when those words were uttered; the
time was gone, and the opportunity lost.
might say picked it up, but the passages as
we'll as the rooms had been. searched by thc
lynx eyes OF the police officers. Had the
ring been lying anywhere about it could not
have escaped them; and might not my false
statement throw suspicion upon some inno-
cent person? could throw the ring away in
the garden, or in a pond in my grounds
wherein waIer-lilies grew; but my act might
be Observed and the construction 1t would
invite would undoubtedly be guilty one.
During all the time was engaged in these
considerations l knew that l was guilty Of
moral cowardice. Being innocent, what had
l TO fear? And yet could notlnstil into my
sell the courage to proclaim the truth, even
Though the absence and proSumablo flight of
Samuel Fleetwood pointed TO him rs the
criminal.
Again and again did the image Of this man,
whom had believed to be So faithful and up
right, present itself again and again did find
AbyoNi N"iihSiAAS Aheo oPSSuA"eAohAs' ss' "
whether he was really the guilty person; but
drove him, and all thought OF him, for the
present from my mind which desired should
be wholly concentrated upon my own position
in this tragic incident.
had arrived at the conclusion that there
was no course open to me but that OF abso-
lutte secrecy with respect to the ring, when
my eyes fell upon the piece of thin whip-cord.
of which have already made mention, hang
which had slept.
Tremblingly drew 1t forth and examined
II. There were marks on it which, in the
light OF what had occurred, proved the fell
purpose TO which 1t had been applied. 1t
was just such a cord, and, indeed it could
hardly be doubted that 1t was the cord with
which my uncle had been strangled.
Then KNEW that was in deadly peril.
What the detective had said with reference
to it recurred to me word r word: "Third,
the cord with which deceased was strangled.
That's a triae, you'll say. Not at all. Keep
it about you, and it may be found. Burn it,
and the act may excite attention. Throw it
away, say in u garden ora street. and 1t may
be picked up. Throw it into the water, and
If will float. 1t must be strong piece OF
cord with which 1t was done. 1t must TO a
thin piece. Conclusion-whipcord." In the
silence l seemed to hear the damning words.
And the fatal cord itself was in my hands,
and dared not rid myself Of il.
My mind was agitated by whirling thoughts.
All kinds Of horrifying possibilities presented
themselves. What if the door were suddenly
burst open by the officers Of justice, and
was found with the ring and the cord In my
possession? What If my wife were to call to
me, urgently desiring to see me2 Outside
my bedroom window was tree, from the
branches Of which a person could see into
the room. What II Mr.. Mortlock my enemy,
were 10 climb this tree and peer in9 l thrust
the cord hastily into my pocket, aud looked
this tree and and peer ia? thrust the cord
hastily into my pocket, and looked In fear at
the window and .the door. and listened with
the terror Of n man who was being hunted
to death. All was still and silent. Thank
God
set myself at the bar OF conscience, and
questioned myself as though were dual
beiny-a Judge, and Il man accused OF mur-
der.
"Arn you guilty or not guilty."
"Not guilty, as heaven is my judge!"
How came that ring in your possesslonf"
II do not know"
How came that cord to be concealed be-
meath your pillow"
Il do not know"
"And yet you declare yourself to be inno-
cent?"
In the presence OF Eternal God, swear
that am innocent"
The man who was murdered held your
future in his hands!"
He did
"He threatened you with ruin?"
"He did
Had he lived few hours that threat
would have been carried into into execution?
You and yours would have been thrust beg
CARED, into the worldt"
ut is true.
Last night you said TO your wife that It
was monstrous such.a blow should be dealt
to you by feeble old man. You repeated,
Feeble and old He is over seventy. II he
should die tonightr"
IL spoke those words. God forgive me for
them"
Last night you gave your wife an opiate,
to insure that she should not wake while you
committed the crime you had determined