The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-08-19

preface them with little preliminary in
formation, In the first place, do you rec
oprize this lady and this gentleman ss
Mr.. and Mrs. Jasper Marlowe?"
The banker made no reply, his face put
ting on q stony, impenetrable look, but
Croak answered, with smirk:
.Ah! we're in q court of inquiry, ars
we? And it's regular judicial examina-
tion, is it2 Well, we'll; think we can
safely saw that we have no recollection
Whatever or the good-looklng gentleman
and the yet handsomer lady in ques-
tion."
Indeed? Well, see that I shall have
to open with the piece of information l
spoke of. 1t is merely this: that rascal
named Wormer was put under arrest
scarcely twenty minutes ago by one Of
Mr.. Dalhousie's assistants. Further,
the said Wormer has proved as much
coward as rascal. He has volunteered
an informal confession Of his completely
in the crimes Of garroting and highway
robbery; this gentleman, Mr.. Jasper
Marlowe, having been the victim, in a
lonely London street, at or about two
O'Clock this morning, thus confirming
the self-accusing acknowledgements of
his comrades in villainy, and the chief
actors, ohe James Hoggman, alias Bug,
professional thief, and one other, Will
ian Badgers, alias Southwark Bill, q
notorious garroter, both of whom we're
tracked down and arrested before noon
day, and who have since made the
revelations subsequently leading to said
Wormer's arrest. Thirdly and lastly, In
this connection, said Wormer in his
panic stricken confession directly charges
you. Mr.. Marlowe, and you, MIR. Croak,
with instigating said garroting and high
way robbery. Short as has been the time
permitted me, I have, nevertheless, se-
cured and brought with me warrants for
your arrest on these frightful charges"
He came to solemn pause.
Croak still managed to keep up q
ghastly He, he, he!' and the banker,
who had pretty firmly helmeted himself
by this time. remained as stolid as be-
fore.
And yet these are but preliminary
charges, gentlemen" said Nr. HartweL,
resuming. Now, can you pretend that
you do not recognize this gentleman and
his wife?"
.Ths deuce!" exclaimed Marlowe. rous-
ing herself, with shrug of the shoulders;
II have made no pretense to the con-
trary. I recognized them both at the
first; but what of it?"
Thank you," said Mr.. HartwelL Il
may now proceed to my next charge sys-
temstical1y, if not exactly in chrono-
logical order. It is that you, Mr.. Mar
lowe, did feloniously and murderously
assault this same Jasper Marlowe six days
ago, here in this Office, at about this
hour of the evening; did strike him
senseless, and then, after robbing him OF
q valuable paper, lock him up in yonder
vault, believing that you bad murdered
him."
1T is false false as the father OF lies
himself" cried the banker, still without
changing countenance. This is the first
time in eighteen years that ] have set
eyes on that fellows face!" SO ~. =
"Softly! There was { awitness Of the
deed; that witness is not far away"
sImpossiblel I don't believe it! False,
false, false!"
we shall Bee. Sir, you have played
mad. desperate game, but its madness is
about TO recoil upon you"
Another slight pause, and then, as he
was about to resume, he was interrupted
by noise of hurrying feet in the ad-
Joining hall. Then the door opened
swiftly and the boy Dip burst into the
office, wild and almost breathless from
hard rnnning, and waving folded paper
over his head
Master, master! Am I in timer" he
gasped, running up to Jasper and putting
The paper in his hands, needless of the
rest of the company. Il have been twenty
minutes trying to get into the garden;
dared not ring the bell; the back gate was
closed and locked; at last managed to
scale the wall, and here I am. Here is
he missing paper at last. You must pro-
.ect me-Boncourt will want to kill me
for stealing it from him, as he stole it
from Mr.. Noel. Tell me; is it right?"
Yes, yes; how can it be otherwise!" e1.
claimed Jasper, drawing the boy affec-
.ionately to his side, and at the same
time handing the unopened paper to Mr..
Hartwell, with triumphant look. Fear
not, PIP; all is we'll, and you shall be pro-
Marlowe's impenetrability by this time
showed signs Of yielding, while Croak's
face grew perceptibly grayer.
The lawyer, Mr.. Hartwell, arose and
began to unfold the document that had
been put In his hands.
Before he could do 80, however, there
occurred another and far more startling
A scream, in Gwendoline's voice, was
heard from somewhere above. Then fol-
lowed almost instantly the report Of a
pistol.
Then there was a tremendous crash, q
tearing away of vines from the outside of
The house, the plunge Of great mass
falling past the open window, accomps-
MED by dust, loosened mortar and scat
tered leaves, and all was comparatively
silent for moment or two. when anoth
scream was heard in another womanB
voice, directly outside, in the border of
the shrubberies.
He is dead! he is killed. cried the
last voice, in despairing accents. All is
over!"
CHAPTER XLII.
The hand OF FATE
Instantly all was confusion and excite