The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-23
THE JENELED HAIRPN;
The Strange Tragedy Of the
Grand Hotel.
BY ARTHUR

70 ~
CHAPTER xII-Continued.
To my surprise I vas received by Cap
Ain Fawcett.
Il asked to be allowed to speak to Mrs
Sarsfeld. or Miss Bertram," I began
sery stifhy.
-They are both engaged. Mr.. Sars
aeld requires close, constant attention
Four second dastardly stab will have
lone its work effectually."
"Captain Fawcett, I must demand az
trplanation. You have once. already
held extraordinary language with regard
10 me, and I will not tolerate it, under
stand that"
the evidence against you is unmistak'
able"
Indeed! What evidence?"
sThe first attack was made Just as yor
we're leaving Bytheses; it is renewed di
tectly you return"
.Pshawl man, you are willfully deceiv.
ne yourself. If Mr.. Sarsfeld has been
threatened, it was not by me; that I sol.
tmnly declare. on my honor. But 1 car
I had no time to complete the sentence
The bedroom door opened. I heard the
rustic Of q dress, and Miss Bertram cam
Sut, fearful, agitated, but with a bright
look on her beautiful face.
Il knew it. I was certain of it," she
said, as she seized my hand impulsively
you could not have done 80 dastardly 6
hing"
4Oh, Miss Bertram, is it possible thai
sou ever doubted me?" I asked, ~reproach.
hully, looking into her eyes.
sNo, no; not really. It was he, Captain
sawcett, who insisted; who would make
ont-"
captain Fawcett will yet admit his in.
Justice, I think. He will apologize
We shall see. But we are losing time
[ understand Mr.. Sarsaeld has been
th~reatened?'
Twice said Miss Bertram, eagerly,
Ignoring o gesture from Captain Fswcett
/ shall speak. Twice. The first time
BY the letter you saw delivered; the SEQ.
bnd, this morning. Here, see what they
aaNo, you must not, Miss Bertram," in.
erposed Captain Fawcett, trying to inter
sept the letters. DO remember. It il
Mr.. Snrsfeld's secret you are divulging.'
u do not lthink.:Mr. Sarsfeld has an!
seerst from me, l cried, quickly.
should like to know how you have
gained the knowledge, said Captain Faw-
sett, still insolent.
by fairs means. I have learned al
about the Dos Hermanos-"
.Oh, MI. Leslie, do not be harsh; dc
DOT condemn too hastily. He may have
BEEN to blame-morally, perhaps, but no,
actually or knowingly. He withdrew al
pnce from the firm when its wicked, dis
graceful conduct was known. They had
never told him; he was quite in the darl
I'LL after the capture of the ship"
But he always dreaded exposure?"
Don't you see, he would have been dis.
graced utterly in the city, in London,
everywhere. The man came and threat.
med to publish everything. He had the
fullest proofs, he said. and would pro-
auce them" And this, then, was the
secret that Cornelis Jansen had sur
prised!
I can tell you," I said, who wrote
those letters. I may read them, I suppose
I must, If I can help you as I wish-for
10 wish most sincerely, Miss Bertram
You believe that?"
She gave them to me without opposi
hon now and accompanied by q sweet look
Mat thrillad through and through me
saying: How can he be silenced? Must
be have what he asks?' Do advise usp'
And Captain Fawcett's face grew BLACK
as be saw himself thus thrust aside.
I road the letters. The first, received
lust before I left Bythesea, was very
hxas&. It said:
DO not think yourself safe. He is dead
but others know"
That was all.
The second ran Is fellows:
@The writer has in his hands the proofs
u your guilt. Yor authorized the mas
vscre, and are responsible for it. 70,
must purchase silence. Will you pay tn
price? I want ESQ now and 9500 in 81,
months.
IF you agree to this do not pull NJ
The blinds Of your bedroom-I know it
ill 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 1 shall
zee and understand. Then place .hs
money, in gold, ut shutdown, in the las
Of Bangles bathing machines on th'
north cnd of tho beach. The machine i!
padlocked, but you will find the key in
,hink between the thirteenth and four.
seenth stones of the seawall behind
counting down from the twenty.seventl
lamp-post.
II you do not agree; if you watch me,
Or try to play me false-beware. The
aay after my arrest o sure hand will post
letters to every London paper, contain
ing a full account of your completely
In the Dos Aermauos,' supported by
,opies of all the documents, the originals
Of which I hold. So do not touch me
and pay the price"
An adroit, astute s~ccIIdrel! Bold ant
INSCRIPTIONS, too, as was proved by his
return to Bythesea, and, his daring to
claim his blackmail for himself. For Of
.ou-se he was at BytEesea. His Letter
showed that. 1t bore the postmark. Their
the signal of approval could only be seer
py some one on the spot. And, again
The hush money was to be handed over OF
the Bytllesea Beach.
But In protecting hlmsel1 against sur
prise and capture he had overreache'
himself, a. I thought. The threat OF eI
posure in the daily papers was really
vain one. No eiitor would have risket
the publication Of the statements tina
looked 50 libelous. Yet even in thi
4 Cornelis had acted with consummat
cunning, counting on Mr.. sarsheld'
J fears, as ! presently found.
Now. whom my good faith was prove
beyond doubt to all except Fswcett, l wa
admitted to o family conclave. l say
Door Mr.. Sarsfeld himself, weak and SUI
2ering, but still able to insist upon DIM
submission to his prosecutors demand
think MI. Sarsheld would Still nav
spared Cornelis Jansen sooner than III
the risk Of exposure.