Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-05-15

he had gone in to the district attorney
possessed him, but dominating every
other sentiment was his feeling of keen
and bitter disappointment. His quest
had ended in failure, his triumph had
turned to ashes.
He made his way hurriedly to Hol-
brook. The lawyer was engaged with a
client, and Tom paced the outer office in
a fever of disappointment, thankfulness,
humiliation and ever anger. How could
he have been such an idiot as to have
! supposed Fountain could have been
guilty of such a crime? he asked himself,
and then in the most illogical way he
found himself growing angry with Foun.
tain for going off on that yachting trip,
and thus making it impossible for him
to have committed the deed.
Unable to contain himself longer, he
! sent his card, on which was scrubbed
Important. All the fats in the fire." to
Holbrook.
Holbrook came out Immediately.
He looked wonderingly at Tom, who
bore the visible traces of his crushing de.
feat.
Whats the matter, man?' asked Hol.
brook.
Harry Fountain didn't commit the
murder"
Holbrook could not have suppressed
his surprise if he had desired, nor his
evident relief at the information.
That increased TOMS bitterness.
"Why?' asked Holbrook. do they
know who did it,
"No."
How do you know, then, that he
didn't"
"He was not within a hundred miles
of Union square when the deed was
DONE"
! Holbrook told him to wait a moment
and he would dismiss his client at once.
This he did speedily, and calling Tom ir
made him tell all that had occurred.
There was silence at the conclusion.
After a moment Tom said:
1--WE are just where we were ten days
ago. We've been on a false scent"
mo" said Holbrook, "not quite.
There is the motive we reasoned out this
morning. We must now follow up the
Pierson inquiry"
ohtll We Kew 1tCdl JIG Allloll3 "tlEA
suppose you'll baulk again" replied Ton
bitterly.
Holbrook laughed.
"Be reasonable, Tom, You know Il
was a hard thing to bring Flora Ash
grove into the matter, and / am sincerely
glad she is oHt of it."
"Unless," said Tom, Fountain hired
some one to do it."
"Oh, dismiss that idea," replied Hol
brook. "Our suspicious of Fountain
were caused wholly from our belief thai
Flora thought Fountain had himself
done the deed. If her manne and words
did not mean this, they meant nothing
No, the handsome Flora herself ha!
been on a wrong scent"
But she didn't think SO without there
was a reason for it,"
You're right there, Tom. Now wha'
was that reason?"
ITO find that out would put US on thu
right track again. By Jove. Holbrook
I've an idea"
"Let US have it, then"
"See. The Ashgrove girl thinks Foun
tain did the murder. She hasn't told hin
Oh iiST DeISi, hut WOu @SOu TeHeulDel
the conversation, Now. she still labor
undpr that belief. You can go to hel
and earn her undying gratitude by dis.
abusing her mind Of that error"
"Well, what them
"In her joy at finding that the object
Of her love is not a guilty man, she will
tell you herreason for %supposing he was.
"You have an idea, Tom"
yes, and besides, she'll tell you who
was the owner of the diamond button"
Surely. But she is still in Newport. "
NO." said Tom, 81 saw in this morn
ing's papers that the Witherspoons have
returned to the city"
! "Then I'll go to her this very day."
"Do. And while you are on that line
I'll seek out Fountain, tell him my
former suspicious, and ask his assistance
in our effort"
"He won't talk to you"
We'll, I can try all the same"
Having agreed to this plan, and ap-
pointed a place of meeting, they parted.