The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-18
qHE GREAT MILL STREET MYSTERY,
By ADELINE SERGEANT
Author OK Jacobs WIRE oY
PRErENcEs" Ere
IALL RIGHTS RESERVED

"Well, Pm not cheating you altogether"
he answered, drily; ''for | am near the
truth enough for all practical purposes.
and one or two more people suspect George
Eastwood; and If we chose to give informa-
ton to the police we should have him locked
up in pretty good timel You say George
Eastwood was out of England III January.
Well, that can be easily proved. The mo-
ment see George Eastwood, shall know
whether or not he is the man whom at
tended in the house next door to Number
Twenty. If he is, your denial and your
statement only make matters worse for
him.
II don't see why" said jess, boldly. 'If
just supposing it for a moment-if that
man Wood was George Eastwood, as you
say, it wouldn't prove that he had been in
Number Twenty on the night of the muir
der. or had anything to do with it,"
mo, but we should then ascertain when
and how he came into the lodging house.
The woman of the house says that he was a
friend Of the hawker's-I forget his name.
We should find the hawker and question
him. Ny dear girl, we should have the
story in five minutes"
"But indeed. indeed, DOCTOR" said Jess,
who was now very white and trembling
from head to foot, indeed, you are wrong.
1t was me and nobody else that pushed
Stephen out of the window. Nobody else
had anything to do with it, The man that
was with me wouldn't like to give me I'D.
of course, and he's broke off all friendship
with me in consequence of what l did
them
'That believe, )" muttered the doctor.
"And it wouldn't be at all fair to bring
him into the case when / had been to
blame-to blame entirely. Nobody else
ought to be vexed or punished for it. 1t was
my doing"
'You'll never get me to believe that"
81 can't help it,n said jess, letting her
hands fall before her in an attitude of
extreme detection. 81 must not let any
body be blamed for me-"
Her tone carried more weight than DIR.
Price quite wished 10 allow. He had GER
tainly begun by believing that Jess was
mixed up with the Mill Street Mystery; but
on further acquaintance with her, the min
gled sweetness and purity of her character
had manifested itself to him and staggered
him in his belief. Yet he could hardly con-
clude that q woman would accuse herself of
so serious crime as murder without rea-
son. She ought by rights to be anxious to
conceal her guilt-and yet she spoke Of it
without reserve.
What did it mean? DR.. Price was con-
founded; he had not the key of the mys-
terry. He was forced to believe that she
was speaking the truth after all; but he be-
lieved it against his better Judgment,
against his instincts, against his perception
of character. And he was accordingly per-
picked.
"Well." he said at last, 81 don't under
stand this affair.""
Nobody can understand it but me-" said
jess.
"And why don't you explain it then?"
II am doing my best" she answered,
meekly.
Have you no thought for your childa
What will be its lot if you confess to a
murder, womanW
Her lip trembled.
''Alice Drew will take care of Meenie,
till she is old enough to be sent to her
Friends"
''Alice Drews What after you tell her
that you killed the man she lovedF"
Jess turned aside and did not speak.
''And as to the child's friends-by whom
you mean Eastwoods relatives, 1 suppose, !"
said DR.. Price, relentlessly, show do you
think they will approve of your conducts
Will they befriend or acknowledge her!
What sort of a fate do you mean to bring
on here"
Jess shrank back and held up her hands
with an appealing gesture
''Oh, don't 20 on, don't go on" she cried.
81 can't bear It'll Wouldntit be worse for
her if her own father was thought to be the
murderer? Yes, she is George Eastwood's
child, and you tell me that people will ac-
cuse him! He did not do it-he did not, and
| had better be punished for it SO that no
body may blame him I tell you he was
far, far away when / did it, and although
he does not care for wicked woman like
me, Pm ready to save him and to die for
him if need ber'
A very unusual moisture had gathered
in DR.. Prices eyes. He wiped 1t hastily
away with the back of his hand, and
cleared his throat several times before he
spoke.
"My GIRL" he said at last, nobody wants
to accuse either him or you. My advice to
you is-Let sleeping dogs lie. There's no
use in raking up the past. Let it alone and
it will let you alone. Wait until you see
that Eastwood is in danger before you i'm
plicate yourself. l promise you that won't
say a word. had an idea that could fer.
ret out the whole matter, and | felt some
curiosity as to how things would turn, but
l wash my hands of it from this day for
ward. It's no business of mine, and / don't
want to know anything more. I've heard
enough"
Jess had gradually raised her dropping
head, and now looked at him piteously.
"Do you think that he's safe then, doc
torg'
''Safe enough if you don't pirate about
the matter to every fool you come across. u
'l've only spoken to you, said Jess, with
unconscious irony.
DON'T say any more and then you will
be safe. Nobody suspects Eastwood except
myself-and perhaps one other person.
Never mind that. 1t won't get into the
newspapers. By the time it gets into the
newspapers you may think about confess
sion."
"If he is suspected, / shall tell
swat till he is And don't tell this fine
story of yours to Alice Drew"
Jess flushed a little and WINGED.
because, if you do" said the doctor,
rather roughly, "you may depend upon it
she'll never desert you the for the rest of
your life. She'll spend all her time in try
ing to save your soul and that of your baby,
and she'll be lost to the world henceforth.
She simply wants somebody to have done
her an injury. in order to prove how sanity
she can be-"
Jess eyes moistened.
"She's very good, she murmured.
"And now let US walk back to the vii
lage," said the doctor, glancing at his
watch. "or we shall get no dinner to-day.
And mind what say to you. Don't make
confession until you are obliged to. Let
sleeping dogs lie."
They walked back to the village in ST.
lence. Alice was already watching for
them, and some relief showed itself in her