Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-12-09
The Sandycroft Mystery.
CHAPTER YIII-CoNrrNurn.

however awkward it may appear at
first sight could doubtless be readily
explained by Bosworth II he were
here. For instance he may have dis
covered the body OF Darvill some time
before did, and finding he was dead
and past hope have resolved. through
nervousness or timidity. TO leave him
where he found him rather than run
the risk OF being mixed up in any
way with the affair"
such a theory is by no means i'm
probable. But have not done yet. |"
Speaking thus. Mr.. Ives dipped his
hand into the tail pocket OF his coat
and produced therefrom the damask-
eened dagger in its sheath OF silver
mounted shagreen. May / ask. sir.
whether you have ever seen this arti-
Gle beforoP"
Yes it is my property" gasped the
colonel. 'But how did you come by
itp"
1T was found by me in drawer in
Mr.. Bosworth's dressing table. With
out more ado he drew the dagger from
its sheath and held it out for the
colonel to see. The blade was stained
with blood.
The colonel shuddered and held up
his hands Put it away. Ives for
Gods sakem he said. What you
have just told distresses me even more
than the death of Darvll Ives. to me
that boy was as if he had been q son
OF my own. Nay-what do / say?
Was!-Is!-for that he is guilty OF
this awful crime l VII never believe
till ! hear the avowal from his own
lips g" His features worked strangely
and it was evidently all he could do to
control his emotion. lie made be-
lieve to be busy rubbing the glasses
OF his pince-nez with his handkerchief
but his hands trembled so that he
could scarcely hold them.
'Of course sir" resumed Ives.
'you understand that shall have no
alternative but to lay al! the items of
evidence in my. possession before the
jury, which is fixed to sit at three
o clock.
''0f course Ives, / quite under
stand that. You must do yoar duty
rs we all must But i say as / said
before. that it was not Roden Bos-
worth's hand that slew Vivian Oar
will"
To this the superintendent made no
response, and each OF the men went
his way
Emma and Mrs. Asplin had been
waiting luncheon for the colonel, and
he at once joined them, but it was not
till the meal was over and the SER
wants had left the room that he said
a word about his interview with Ives.
Then he told his tale. Emma listened
TO il with amazement and incredulity
equal to his own When he had done
speaking. she said quietly. but In a
tone OF supreme conviction: How
ever strong-in his absence-the evil
dence may seem against Roden. moth
ing will make me believe that it was
his hand which did the deed
spoken like my own e-hearted
girl exclaimed the colonel with
fervoE That's exactly what said
to Ives"
They talked awhile longer but
none OF them was able to suggest any
thing which seemed likely to throw
the slightest ray OF light on the mys-
terry. Then the colonel was sent for
| by the coroner. He was gone q
couple OF hours and when he came
face that the aaws he brought was
the reverse of good. He sat down
without speaking and for a while the
silence remained unbroken.
Then the colonel said-speaking
with a quaver in his voice like that
OF a very old man They have
brought in verdict OF wilful murder
against him."
There was no need to ask who was
meant by him.
Then came another space OF silence;
then Emma rose and crossed the room
and put her arms around the colouel's
neck and kissed him. 'For all that
uncle" she said. you and believe
as firmly in his innocence as ever"
THAT we do. girl; but I'm afraid
we are the only two people who can
say So"
Wherever ,Roden may sbe. said
| A-hhot hO III OO hCdily ohAS w ote
a newspaper either in the course OF
tomorrow or the day after-I mean
OF course a newspaper containing the
particulars of this shocking affair. AS
soon as he reads the account l feel
sure that he will return with all speed
and clear up the mystery. which after
all. will doubtless prove capable Of a
very simple explanation.
! That's just what / am living in
hope of" returned the colonel.
What / said TO myself was When
the lad finds out what a coil OF trouble
he's got himself into bell come back
as fast as steam can bring him. and
face the charge like man. But oh
dear! oh deari-what change for a
few hours to bring! 1t seems hard &c
believe that no longer ago than yes
terday evening we were all as happy
as sandboys. Darvlll was full OF his
tiger stories and But / can't bear
to think OF It,"
lie took turn or two from end tc
end OF the room.
After all" he resumed 'wher
one comes 10 consider tho case with.