Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-04-12
Nashiagtuu StanaarS
BEAUTIFUL JIM.
By JOHN STRANGE WRITER.
CHAPTER XVI.

BY JOHN STRANGE WRITER
CHAPTER XVI.
SUSPICION
Private Edward Leader, batman to Mr.
James Beresford. of the Blankshire regi-
meet, sat in the kitchen of his masters
quarters looking and feeling that a more
miserable devil than himself did not ex-
ist upon the face of the whole earth that
day.
he was not q young man who had en-
joyed the advantages of liberal educa-
ton; in truth, he could Just read and
write sufficiently well to be able to scrawl
notes to his sweetheart, ana to make out
the addresses on his masters letters, but
certainly not sufficiently we'll to trouble
to make himself acquainted with the con-
tents Of the epistles which came to and
were sent off by Mr.. Beresford. Had lie
been O better educated young man he
might have known and felt the wisdom
of certain very sensible remark which
comes to us from the Italian: THE word
that once escapes the tongue cannot be
recalled; the arrow cannot be detained
which has once sped from the bow" but
alas!, Private Edward Leader was blessed
with no wisdom of that kind, and only
acquired it after the fashion of most
laundering fools, by the aid Of the expen-
sive school of sad and bitter experience.
Now that the mischief was done and
the effect Of his babbling tongue had
passed beyond his control, he saw but too
plainly the extraordinary value of silence;
but it was too late-the mischief was
done-tho word had escaped his tongue
the arrow had sped from the bow, and its
progress could not be stopped by him who
had let It fy-no. not even though it
should lodge in the very heart Of the one
who in all the wide world least deserved it.
For, during the excitement Of that fear.
full day on which Capt. Owen was found
still and stark in his own quarters, done
to the death by the dastardly hand of q
murderer. Leader had, in talking over the
events of the previous night with his
comrades. let slip that his master and
Capt. Owen had had "a shindy" in Mr..
Bcresford's quarters Immediately before
dinner.
''Some at must have iappened to put
the captain out" said Leader, shaking
his wooden head with q great Dir of wis,
dom. "for in general he's such o quiet
sort-ay. dear, was, l mean-'pon my
life, it's hard to believe that 'c's really
gone"
"And they 'ad a rowf" asked one Of the
bystanders.
Eyes; Of course. you know, wasn't
there In tho room, but the captain, {
masters room-and then I card Ugh
words, and at last the captain banged out
again and into his own room"
But you don't mean to say, Leader
exclaimed another listener, THAT you
think Mr.. Beresford did itS'
Course not; but it looks rum that thes
Ahould ave Ugh words that very night"
returned Leader, stubbornly.
Naturally, after this, II did not take
scry long for rumor to spread through
out the barracks that Leader had good
reason to believe that Mr.. Beresford was
tho murderer of Capt. Owen; and when
the London detective, who came down
from Scotland Yard to watch tho case for
the Owen family. appeared on. the scene.
almost the FIRST information he received
was an account Of Leaders remarks. an
account doctored and heightened In such
way that the unfortunate young man
scarcely recognized his own story when
be heard It again.
Poor wretch, when he realized what
his blabbing tongue had done, what mis-
chief he had wrought, he made every ct.
fort in his power to minimize the impress.
sion which he had given.
my master murder any onei" he OK.
elaimed In unmitigated horror, when the
detectives meaning frxt dawned upon
him. mo, no. master, you're on wrong
scent this time Mr.. Beresford amt ono
Of that sort-'c amt capable Of It,"
II don't say he Is. my man; but at the
samc time III trouble you to give me an
account Of the row that you say took
place bstween the two gentlemen on the
night Of the murder" said the detective.
calmly.
Il nsver told you any row had taken
place ct I'll. returned Leader, In . vain
attempt to fence the question.
II Fever said you did, did r. said the
detective. eontemptuously. But You told
Il to othsrs. and III trouble you to tell it
70 me-"
Then m b ID II I tell you any.
thingr shouted Leader. In . blind rage Of
fury.
And not Gngls word more could the
detective coax or bully out Of him; and
the immediate result WAS that Beautiful
Jim was few hours later arrested on sus-
picion Of bsing the murderer Of Capt.
Owen.
It cannot b said that Jim WAS half 70
ssriously disturbed about the matter a.
his now abjectly rspentant servant was.
He felt. With the assured consciousness
Of innocence, that the detective had
hlundefed. and that close Investigation
wouN vary soon ~ the whole matter
right 70 far - le was concerned. II was
. bore eoAg of to tho county Jail. Of
course. but beyond this Inconvenience he
did not mind veg much. And before this
had happened. Col Barnes had arrived
from Hankhampton. full Of distress at
the tsEfibls tragedy. and desperately
anxious that the offender should be
brought to Justice
Il literally took his breath away when
he returned to the barracks, after trans
acting some business in the town, to find
that Jim Beresford had been actually ar
rested on suspicion Of being the culprit.
and he hastened OF to the prison at once
70 try II he could not SEQ him. Tho gov.
Gnor raised no objection. and he was ut
ouce ushcred into Beautiful Jim's pres
well. Beresford." said he. suiting his
voice and manner to the occasion, this is
. very terrible business. p
hope its not necessary for me to pro-
test my innocence to you. sir" said Jim.
gravely.
my dear lad. need not say that moth
ing short Of your own confession could
mako me believe you capable Of an act SO
cowanaly. sati the colonel, kindly; but
ct the same time. Beresford, It would be
. satisfaction to me to have your positive
assurance that al was right between you"
''Col. barnes" said Jim, solemnly hold
Ing out his hand, Il give you my word.
on tho honor Of an officer and gentle
man. that ! am absolutely innocent Of this
charge. and q utterly ignorant Of the
truth - you can be yourself"
II believe you implicitly" said the
colonel. taking the young mans out.
stretched hand and gripping 1t hard.
1T was the greatest blow to me. }" Beau
dful Jim won't on, wrctchedly. "In fact,
colonel. l could scarcely believe my own
eyes when went in tho next morning
and found him. Obi" with O shuddcr ito
think 1t could be poor old Owen, the best
friend ever had in all my life-tho dear
chap who smoked his last pipe with me
only seven or eight hours before
He was with You the last thingf" the
colonel cried.
Yes, colonel; he generally turned into
my room on his way to bed. and he did
that night"
"But what Il this story about your
having had quarrel with hims" the
colonel asked.
"A quarrel-with Owen-Is" repeated
jim. In accents Of such unmistakable as.