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

istenee is" said Stuart.
True; but Stuart, I cannot express
my gratitude to you am a penitent
man. The experience through which
have passed shall serve me as a life
long lessOn-one that will never be for
gotten while live, said Garrison.
i will keep your secret inviolate, but
some day be made good to James San
bOrn's estate, said Stuart.
1T shall. II life is spared me, will
make restitution in full, answered Carl
son, earnestly. But you must hate and
despise me, he added.
NO, that would be TO do violence TO
our previous cordial relations. I pity
you and regret this unfortunate affair.
Money is but a mess Of pOttage weighed
against honor. But 1 understand your
temptation. You were seeking TO pro-
tect your credit, which is all in all TO a
man OF business"
Stuart understood Garrison's weak
and eOwardly nature, and he believed
that he was sincere in all he said
Above all, am thankful that Edna
knows nothing OF all this. Promise me,
Stuart, she shall hear nothing from your
lips In reference to the cheque, implored
the broker.
Your daughter would be the last one
to whom would think OF revealing it, 3"
replied Stuart.
I thank you again. But now let us
consider your own situation. I shall
send you lawyer, and Paxton, the de-
tive, who has affirmed his belief in your
innocence from the very first, will call, &"
said Garrison.
After that they conversed for some
time.
Presently, when Garrison was about
to leave the cell, he remarked: Edna is
very anxious TO see you, and she would
have insisted on accompanying me, had
she known I was coming to call here.
AS wished to see you alone, did not
inform her. However, you may expect
her before the day is over"
That afternoon, Edna visited Stuart S
cell, and, as may well be surmised, the
meeting between the betrothed lovers
was most affectionate one.
But Edna could not understand why
Stuart could so obstinately refuse to tell
what was the motive of his midnight
journey, when the explanation might
have saved him, and there were certain
circumstances Of which others were ig-
norant that troubled her.
Stuart had promised to accompany her
on an excursion by moonlight up the
Hudson on the night of the murder, and
they had planned to visit Stuart's aunt,
who resided in Albany, and return on
the following day.
Edna suspected a mystery, but she en-
tertained not the slightest suspicion of
the truth.
In common with most women who
love sincerely, she was inclined TO jeal-
ousy.
During the earnest conversation which
ensued between the brokers' daughter
of oh a1 4hG.
subject which troubled her.
Surely you can trust me, Stuart, for
you know / am devoted to you. Will
you not tell me the truth? what was the
cause Of your midnight journey to Al
bany?"
Stuart was silent for a moment.
She noticed his hesitation, and the
thoughts which were in her mind were
clearly reflected on her beautiful, mobile
features.
Stuart was quick to discern the shadow
of doubt which had appeared upon the
face of his betrothed, and he suspected
its cause.
Z cannot tell you why visited Al
bany. It is a secret of another, finally
said.
The shadow on Edna's fair face deep
ened as she answered:
I am disappointed. Even though you
would not trust my dear father whom
YOU know to be the soul OF truth and
| honor, believed you would eOnfide
in me.
You do not doubt my innocence Of the
| terrible erime?"
-Oh, no, no. 1t is not that. But YOU
strange reticence troubles me-"
All, thought Stuart. with some bit
| terness, the very act which I did tC
save her father. and the sacrifice fol
which 1 am paying the penalty now, has
/ caused the woman 1 love to doubt me
/ But even had I not bound myself L
keep the secret of her fathers forgery
1 could not blacken his reputation to his
child, could not shatter her sublime
faith in his Truth and honor"
| Edna departed still troubled by Stu.
art 5 refusal TO tell her the secret of hi.
midnight journey.
But while Harland was in prison
Marion Oakburn, the murdered eashier'i
| daughter, was in doubt and trouble
| She was working out the destiny whicl
| fate had ordained she should bring upoI
! herself.
From the time when she had discoy
cred Judith Kredge, the janitor's sister
at her chamber door, Marion knew tina
she was in a position more cruelty try
| ing than she believed could possibly
have been the outgrowth Of any serJe!
/ of episodes to which the fact of he
/ fathers murder and the attendant cir
cumstances could have given birth.
Marion Oakburn feared Judith Kredge
there could be no doubling that.
But why did she experience thii
| terror?
Only the guilty fear, it is said. an,
yet this noble girl was the last one a
whom suspicion of wrong-doing Of an,
kind would be directed, it seemed. Blu
herein is the mystery, herein a conlpli
cation so strange and inexplicable tina
we cannot fathom 1t. and which wa
destined long to perplex and puZzl
Paxton, the detective. in the task of IN
travelling the mystery of John Oakburn'
fate, which he had undertaken with al
his heart.
On the evening following the murde
Marion was elOseted in her sleeping
room. She had turned the key in tn
lock, and she believed the door was Sc
cured.
With trembling hands, she unlocke,
and opened a trunk, lifted out the tray
and removed the contents of the re
ceptacle beneath it until the bottom O
! the trunk was reached, and a strange
looking pistol of large caliber whle
was concealed there was disclosed L
her view.
Marion shuddered as her eyes reste,
upon the deadly weapon.
I dread to touch it, and yet il mus
be gotten rid of" she muttered.
The next instant a startled cry es
capped her lips as she felt heavy han,
on her shoulders, and through her minC
darted the appalling thought:
The secret is discovered! All is losti
CHAPTER "
Marion Oakburn had not secured tn
door as she supposed she had done, an
Judith Kredge, who seemed TO have de
voted herself to the task OF spying upo