The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-11

he dropped them in confusion, I thought.
"Havier is the right pronunciation; the
Z is pronounced as strong aspirate.
And it is pure SPANISH"
$50 far as know, yes"
Are there any other Christian names
in Spanish beginning with XP"
For the moment, can recall none.
But why do you ask all this?"
II am only taking advantage of your
knowledge, which is not common, and is
likely to be particularly in request just
now"
In what way, pray?"
You may be called upon to give evil
dence as. to the Christian name. Through
it the police may yet succeed in identity
ing the murdered man."
Il thought he was called Cooch."
THAT is, and I think rightly, thought
to have been only assumed. There is an
other name the police have unearthed" -
In what way?"
His portmanteau bears the initials
they were concealed under the address
labels-the initials x. de Y"
1Pshaw! He may have bought, bor-
rowed or stolen the portmanteau. Who
knows?"
Have you any idea what this is?"
And I produced from my waistcoat
pocket the little brass ring which Hasnip
had picked up in No. SO and given me in
exchange for the hair-pin.
THAT! Let me look at it in my hand"
The ring was transferred from my palm
to his. where it lay for minute or two
while he examined it curiously.
NO, it beats me. have not the least
idea what it is. Is there any history at
tached to it2 Who gave it ttoyou2 Where
did you get it from?"
Should I tell him? Why not? This
ring, or whatever it was, had been picked
up near the scene of the murder; but there
was nothing to connect it with Captain
Fawcett. Why should conceal what I
knew about the ring?
The ring is Of no intrinsic value, nor
of any use, possibly; but I, like you, am
in tho dark as to that. It is only inter-
esting from the fact"-I paused, slightly
that it was picked up"-I again paused
Fin the bedroom Of the murdered man.
This shot told. His hand closed con-
vulsively on the ring as though he would
retain it. Was it, then, tangible piece
of evidence, what the French call piece
de conriction, clew tending to incrimi-
nate the guilty person?
Il must ask you to give me that back,
said with some sternness. i haye told
YOU where it was found, and it belongs OF
right to the officers Of the law. Give it
me, please"
4Oh, of course, directly!"
But I gathered from his hesitating
manner that he would like to convey it
away anywhere, for choice to the bottom
of the sea.
II must have it at once" went on,
growing more and more .peremptory.
Don't be not
done looking at it."
Il don't like this, Captain Fawcett; T
must insist upon your surrendering it at
once"
Come, come, sir, don't talk to me in
that tcne," said Captain Fawcett, evil
IDENTIFY nettled.
whats all this about9" cried new
voice. High words2 Don't lose your
temper, Fawcett."
1t was his friend, Mr.. Sarsfeld, who had
come into the smoking-room unobserved,
and overheard the last speech.
Il appeal to You, said I, "a friend of
this gentleman. He is not behaving as
he ought. I lent him something to look
at, and he will not restore it to me-"
Il was on the point of restoring it to
him. It is ridiculous thing to quarrel
about See, Sarsfeld, and Captain Faw-
cett put the little ring into his friends
hand.
1T is small thing, will admit" said
I, angrily, but it has an Importance far
beyond its appearance, although neither
Of US know exactly what it is. Do your"
Mr.. Sars6eld stood silently examining
it for 80 long that was disappointed
when he said at last:
II fear I cannot help you. Perhaps you
will tell me why it is SO valuable?"
Simply because it il one of the only
clews that have yet turned up about the
murder"
Can it be possible?" cried Mr.. Sars-
field, as much moved as Captain Fawcett
had been. How is that2"
This trumpery bit Of brass may yet
lead to the detection Of the murderer; it
was picked up by the bedside Of the
corpse"
"You are right to say that it is Of deep
Importance. There it is, and he handed
it to me; "but if were you, sir, should
not allow it to pass out OF your own los-
session"
you are quite right, sir. shall not
part with it again until can surrender it
to the police" And as I spoke I darted
q meaning look at Captain Fawcett.
But he was busily engaged in reflling
his pira, and as I had no desire to get
into fresh dispute with him, rose and
left the room.
ITO Pc CONTINUED
Chinpsa Country House.