The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-05-25


strong evidence anei~"' --
Then I suppose you mean to denounce
me2" said the baronet, coldly.
Not if you agree to give me the hand
of May Penfeld." :.
Il cannot force her inclinations.
NO; but you are her guardian and can
influence her.
IF refuse?"
You do SO at Your own risk
And that riskf"
Means hanging to you!" said Ellersby,
brutally.
The two men stood looking f1edly at
one another, and for q few moments
there was dead silence, while the three
listeners waited with beating hearts for
the end Of the conversation, which
seemed to promise the solution OF this
extraordinary mystery.
Balscombe remained for time In deep
thought, and then looked up with look
of determination in his eyes.
Il decline to accede to your demand,
he said, firmly. -.
Then you must take the consequence. !"
Il am prepared to do SO.
Ellersby paused for minute.
Will YOU tell me the reason for your
decision?"
First, because am innocent of the
crime YOU accuse me of; and second,
believe YOU placed this poisoned arrow
head here in order to implicate me in the
murder"
L can speak openly to you," said Ell
lersby, coolly, because you are in my
power. Il did place the poisoned arrow
head there, in order to secure evidence
against you!"
Then it was you killed my wife!" cried
Balscombe, stepping toward him with the
arrowhead in his hand.
"Inever said did," retorted Ellersby,
audaciously; but can tell you this-l
met your wife on that night after you left
her, and I asked her for those letters, as
they compromised both her and myself.
She told me where they were, and de-
scribed the hiding place to me. Last time
was here searched and discovered the
secret, but the letters were not there"
mo. They we're removed by me-.
$50 I see-but if did not lind the let
ters found something better, the locket
with my portrait which you took from
your wife's neck on that night-so, as I
wanted to marry Miss Penfold, and
wanted you to help me, placed there the
arrowhead 30 as to force you for your
own safety to help me. have succeeded,
and you must do what order or swing
for it."
You devil!" cried Balscome, madly.
It was you who murdered my unhappy
wife. Do not deny it! can see it in your
cowardly face. will accuse you before
the world and hang you for your crime.
Bah! Who will believe your word
against miner There is no evidence
against mel"
Your own confession!"
Does not include confession Of MUIR
der. What I have said to you in private
will deny in public; you have no wit
nesses."
You lie-here are three!"
The two men turned round with cry,
and there on the threshold OF the room
stood May Penfold, with g look Of tri-
umpn in her eyes-and behind, Dewker
and Norwood. Ellersby saw he was lost,
and with harsh shrek made bound
for the door of the library, but before he
could reach it Balscombe threw himself
on him and bore him to the ground. The
two men rolled on the floor fighting dess
perately, and then Dowker Joined in to
assist in securing Ellerby, when suddenly
his struggles ceased and he became quite
passive.
@It's all over" he said quietly, with
livid face, as Balscombe arose to his feet.
Il will escape you yet.
"You will not escape the gallows. cried
Balscombe, painting.
Yes, I viii, sneered Ellersby, with a
ghastly smile, 4and by your own act. You
forgot you had the poisoned arrowhead
in your hand, and you have wounded me.
See"
He held up his right hand and there
they saw long red, ragged wound where
the weapon had torn him.
In ten minutes will be dead man,
he said quietly. Not all the science in
the world can save me now"
Curse i'll" cried Dowker, in rage,
while the other three remained silent
with horror.
aAh! You are angry at my escaping
from you" said Ellersby, with his usual
cynicism. Console yourself, my astute
my capture would have
not redounded to your credit, as you
we're quite on the wrong scent. You
Desmond, Lena Sarschine,
and Balscombe; every one but the right
one. I have fooled you to the end, and,
now I am caught. will yet escape your
clutches"
May Penfold stepped toward him.
AS you have sinned SO deeply, she
said, in q low tone. you had better
make saparation while you may, and
confess all, so as to release Myles from
prison. Meanwhile, will 60 for doc
tor"
He signed her feeblysto remain.
No doctor can do me any good, he
said, family, but I will tell all. Mr..
Dowker will, perhaps, write it down.
and, if I'm not too far gone, I'll-Tn
sign it.
twill write your confession, said Nor
wood, and. sitting down at the desk, he
took up pen and waited.
It was strange scene. Ellersby lying
on the floor with his eyes half closed,
Balscombe leaning against the desk, with
his clothes all torn. and n white, haggard
face, and May Penfold, standing beside
Dowker, looking with pitying eyes at the
dying man at her feet.
As he knew he had not long to live, FL
lersby commenced at once:
Il am, as you know, the son of West
Indian, and came to England to be edu-
Gated. I was brought up, in early child
hood, by negro nurse, and before left
Barbados she gave me an arrowhead,
which, she told me, was stepped in poi
son, and that one scratch would kill.
Something to do with their Obi business,
suppose. She told me to use it on my
enemies, but was not SO savage ss she
was, though I have got negro blood in my
veins. and l did not bother much about it.