The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-08-23


when they returned to England that we got
fairly on the scent. From that moment we
never let 1t escape Us. We accompanied them
everywhere In various disgulses; we slept In
the nrXtroom TO theirs whe revor they put up.
We overheard their conversation, and took it
down In writing. Putting all we heard intel
ligibly together, it makes o strange story.
Your divorce Is all right, Mr.. Stanmore, but
thereis something much moro serious behind
all this than you can imagine. Shortly, sir,
what wo learned wss this:
From the day Mdlle. Rosalic entered Mr..
Pardon's service under false colors she COM
menced to plot and plan. She tried to in
yeiglo him into making love to her, but she
failed. An artful woman. gentlemen, is this
Mdllo. Rosalie, otherwise Mrs. Stanmore.
They don't make them much artfullerin these
days Failing, she took great pains to en-
tangle him, so that for her own purposes by
and by she might make 1t appear that he was
her lover. The unlucky gentleman was a
seep-walker; had been so from childhood,
and it was an hflrmity he could not cure
himself of. Well, ono night Mdlle, Rosalie
happened to see him In this state. What did
she dor Why, she slyly slipped her pocket
handkerchief into his pocket; and on the next
day, when he found 1t there, he couldn't for
tho life of him remember how it came upon
him. That was her first move.
"Her second move was the introduction of
her lover, Redwing, into the temporary SER
vice OF Mr.. Pardon. Only one person knew
that she was acquainted with Redwing; that
II
divining that Fleetwood had communicated
his suspicious to Mr.. Pardon, she sought
that gentleman in his garden in the dead of
night, and worked so artfully upon his feel
ings that she succeeded in destroying the
unfavorable impressions which he had
gained from Fleetwoods account of Rod
wing. She informed Mr.. Pardon that Red
wing was her brother, and he believed her.
Chance played into her hands on that night.
The interview, by her contrivlng, took place
after midnight and in the dark. She was in
deshabille, and she and her master were sur
prlsed by Samuel Fleetwood, who passed
them without speaking. Thus, in Fleet
woods eyes, Mr.. Pardon was seriously COM
promised. There arc other minor details
which l need not mention at present; will
come at once to the tragedy Of the murder.
"There is no doubt that Mdlle. Rosalie in
troduced Redwing into MY. Pardon's house
for the purpose of robbery but before the
plan they were devising was ripe higher
game presented itself. Mr.. Wilmot paid
visit to his nephew, Mr.. Pardon. He brought
with him q sum of $4,000. Mdlle. Rosalie, al
ways ON the watch, ascertained that there
was discord between tho old gentleman and
her master with respect to the marriage of
Miss Pardon, who had fixed her affections
upon one gentleman, whereas Mr.. Wilmot
wished her to favor another. Mdlle. Rosalie
and Redwing decided to murder Mr.. Wilmot
and rob him. To reach the bedchamber Of
Mr.. Wilmot they had to pass through that OF
Samuel Fleetwood upon whom they in
tended to cast the suspicion OF the murder;
If he awoko they resolved to kill him also.
In silence the deed was DONE The old man
was weak, and with swift cruelty he was
strangled, and scarce q murmur came from
his lips. He could not have screamed II he
had tried, because Mdlle. Rosalie's hands
were tightly fixed upon his mouth the mo-
ment the cord was pulled. There he lay
"Thcy found the keys OF the despatch box
In his pocket; unlocking 1t, they took out the
E5,',00, relocked the box, replaced tho key in
the dead mans pocket, and were about to
leave the chamber whom they were startled
by tho sudden appearance of Mr.. Pardon.
Certainly the devil was on their sido on that
night, for Mr.. Pardon was In one of his sleep
walking frances. Quick as thought they
changed their plans, and resolved to throw
the suspicion of the murder upon him.
Mdle Rosalio slipped a diamond ring Off the
murdered genteman's finger, and slid it into
Mr. Pardon's waistcoat pocket. Then she
took the cord from Mr.. Wimot's neck, and
glided with it to Mr.. Pardon's bedroom. The
door was ajar; his wife was asleep. In n
moment the cord was slipped under the pill
low OF u sofa which was in the room. The
murdcrers reached their own apartments III
safety, and bided the issue OF events
Again did the devil proclaim himself on
their side. Aftor they were gone from Mr.,
Wtimots room, leaving Mr.. Pardon there,
Samuel Fleetwood, 1t appears, awoke, and,
seeing his master standing by the mur-
hered man, instantly came to the conclusion
mau was suffering from heart disease and
was aware that he had but short time to live:
he was deeply, passionately devoted to his mis-.
tress and her young daughter; he knew that
the arrest of Mr.. Pardon would bring In
credible misery upon them. and he resolved
upon a course which do not pretend to
Justify, but which, no doubt, he justified to
himself, and which doubtless many persons
will admire. He fed, and thus the sus-
picion of the murder fell upon himself.
What afterwards happened to HIM l have
already related, and is public property"
The detective paused, and fixed his eyes
upon me. In breathless amazement and
gratitude had followed his words. I was
nnocent-innocenti Once more I could
clasp my beloved wife and child to my
heartl Once more, thank God once moro l
could kneel by their sides in prayer, and lift
all good In the silence that ensued the
terror was lifted from my soul. and involun-
tarily slid TO my knees and lifted my hands
to heaven, while the tears rolled down my
face and beard.
They did not interrupt me, but allowed the
tears to flow unchecked. Then, when my
passion of gratitude was In some measure
abated, rose to my feet, and said:
81 am Richard Pnrdonr
Il knew it, Sir" said the detective, mot
from your appearance, which completely de-
celved me, but from your voice when you
asked Mr., Stanmore whether you should