Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-04-21


how much more terrible is the evidence
can give against you, she said.
Judith, you are doing me an awful
wrongl"
NO. saw you with my own eyes. I
know you had just come from the office
in which your father lay dead when you
called at my room and pretended you
were so much alarmed because your
father had not come home"
And you who know me can believe
such an awful thing of me?@
1T matters not how well you may play
your part, Miss Marion, am not to be
deceived. Girl, my evidence would
hang you'll"
Judith Kredge uttered the last words
DO you mean TO publicly accuse me?"
THAT depends.
Upon what? Speak plainly. Once
and for all, you and must clearly IN
derstand each other. Judith Kredge."
If it was made worth my while I
might keep your secret, answered Ju-
dith Kredge, and there was a cunning
All, you mean that I must bride
your"
Put it that way if you like"
The two women gaZed at each other
! in silence for a moment, and each was
/ striving 10 read the others most secret
| thought.
Tell me your price, said Marion.
You have three thousand dOllars?"
Yes, and that is all I have"
! Very well, then you can pay me no
more. That amount will do, said Ju-
/ dith, with a malicious grin.
And you would thus rob me-leave
me penniless?"
Yes, my fair lady. Ha. want to see
/ your pride have a fall. I'd like to see
] faa hot - 10 MT I hav IN,
my time. What are you? You are no
better than am. Work, work as I have
| done or-starve, Missed the Yindictive
creature in a harsh voice.
! You are an ungrateful wretch A SER
| pent to turn and sting the hand that has
| fed you. But you shall have your price.
| I'll not relinQuish my purpose vet, Ma
| riOn Oakburn answered resOlutely.
Judith Kredge chuckled exultantly.
To herself she muttered half maud
ibly:
Three thousand dollars. Not a bad
/ nights work. 1t was lucky that l hap
/ pened to be awake and see her. She
was honest when she said she only had
| three thousand dollars, which I knew to
be the amount of a legacy she received.
Now, who got the stolen money, I Won
der. All, my dear brother Levi, you are
keeping a secret from me, think; we
shall see whether you are more cunning
than am, or not.
One evening several days subsequent
ly, after the remains of John Oakburn
had been consigned to their last resting
place and the crime of the broker s
! office" had ceased TO be the one exciting
| topic Of conversation, Marion Oakburn
received a call.
The visitor of the cashiers daughter
was the old gentleman called Richard
| Stanmore.
The appearance Of the aged stranger
agitated Marion strangely, and she did
not regain her cOmpOsure until she had
been in his presence for some moments.
In a few well-selected words Stan
more explained that he had taken a
great interest in the mysterious murder
of her father. He also asked a number
of questions which Marion promptly an
swered.
Thus Stanmore obtained the informa-
ton that Marion supposed her father TO
be worth a small fortune and that the
money had been kept in his private
safe which stood in the rear apartment
of the brokers' office, which it seemed
the assassin had not opened.
This, we remember, was precisely the
information she had given Jason Carl
son.
Marion also in the course of the inter
view found occasion to reiterate her con-
victiOn in terms most positive that
Stuart Harland was entirely innocent
of all knowledge of the terrible crime.
So very confident was she on this
point that Stanmore thought:
One would surmise that she has some
proof Of Harland's innocence which she
does not care to reveal.
Permit me TO inquire, Miss Oakburn
if can be of assistance TO you in any
way?" Stanmore asked, as the thought
that she might be in need Of financial
help entered his mind.
Thanks, 1 need no help at present,
sir" answered Marion, and a flush of
color stole into her pale cheeks.
Pardon me. I was in former days
your fathers friend, and if at any time
you should find yourself in need OF a
friend upon whose fidelity you could de-
pend against all the world, call on Rich
ard Stanmore," said the old gentleman,
and he placed card on which was writ
ten his address in Marion's hand.
Then bowling low, after the manner OF
the gallants of the olden time, he pressed
the hand Marion had given him to his
lips and took his departure.
Stanmore's features were unusually
pale during the interview which had
Just ended, and a keen observer would
have suspected he was fighting a battle
with most powerful secret emotions
> which were struggling for the mastery
Once out upon the street he reeled as
though he was the victim of a sudden
vertigo and muttered in a broker
! voice:
Poor girl Poor 8Iarionl There is &
mystery here that must be solved
Fatesi How weak I am. The old spell
came upon me. 1t was an ordeal, but Il
is past. How beautiful she is, but how
; troubled and haggard her lovely features
are. Oh, Marionl Marioni"
When the cashiers daughter fOunC
herself alone after StanmOre's depart
l ure the agitation which she had represseC
during the interview just concluded be
trayed itself.
The excited girl trembled nervously
4 feel that he is an honest man. sh,
thought, and I Will trust him. VIII,
, can tell2 The time may yet com,
when I shall be glad to remind him o
> the promise to befriend me in the hOu
OF dire extremity"
I Then she drew a lOcket from a chain
about her neck, and, opening it, pressed
l to her lips a miniature which it con
tanned.
1T was the glance of this strange gen
l tleman's eye that unnerved me. fel
the same when I saw him in the office
His eyes are like those of poor Donald s
! Yes, I feel that he is honorable ant
/, true, she said, and gazed lovingly upoI
l the portrait in the lOcket.
Meanwhile, after leaving Marion
Richard StanmOre repaired to the oflc'
OF Paxton, the detective.
At this hour the detective was seated
at his office desk reading and pOnderinl
g. upon the contents Of the letter which h,
/ had distracted from the package Of cor
= respondence found in John Oakburn'l
q safe.