The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-04-07
CHAPTER VIII,

The faces Of the audience, who had
listened to Pratt's evidence, betrayed
the impression he had made.
Stuart was regarded in such a manner
that he was sure Pratt was believed by
the majority.
True, none Of the stolen money had
been found in Stuart Harland's posses
sion, but this could not be regarded as
an evidence of his innocence, since he
had ample time to secrete the proceeds
of the robbery.
Thus reflected the jurors.
There was little further evidence to
hear, and presently the Coroner sub
mitted the matter to the jury, who
thereupon rendered verdict without
leaving their seats, that John Oakburn
came to his death at the hands of some
person, whose positive identity was I'M
known, but that the evidence was such
as to fasten strong suspicion upon
Stuart Harland."
Thereupon, the Coroner directed that
Stuart be held prisoner to await fur
Their developments.
Stuart retained his compOsure admir-
ably, as he listened to the verdict of
the coroner's jury, and heard the order
which condemned him to detention in
prison.
The officers were about to conduct the
unfortunate young man from the Office,
when Jason Garrison came forward and
grasped his hand in warm greeting.
You will tell Edna that l am falsely
accused" said Stuart
Yes, yes. She will never doubt you, "
answered the broker.
Harland was moving to the door, be-
tween the two officers, when Marion
Oakburn gained his side, and said to him
in tone of the most positive conviction:
Take with you the assurance that you
will be saved"
Stuart was conducted to Ludlow street
Jail forthwith, and his mind was in q
condition of doubt and trouble most
harassing. So many circumstances OF
a surprising nature had crowded them
selves into his life within the last few
hours, that he was dazed and confused.
In the midst of the confusion in his
mind, he saw constantly, however, like
portrait which had been stamped in
delibly upon the camera Of memory, the
horror stricken face of Marion Oakburn
as he had seen her when she left the
Office in which her father had been muir
dered. Her face haunted him like a
ghost that would not be laid, and as he
reflected he thought:
When she came out Of the Office hel
father must have been dead. Before
saw her steal out Of that apartment the
murder had been done.
Where was she when the awful crime
was cOnsummated?"
There was a horrible doubt in Stuart
Harland's mind then.
But, no, no; such thing is so en-.
tirely inconsistent with Marion's char
acter that the monstrous thought that
she may be implicated In the murder OF
her own father cannot find lodgmen,
| In my mind. And yet what was she do.
ing in the Office at that hour, and why
was she in such a state of terror wheI
she left it,"
These unanswerable questions natur.
ally suggested themselves to Stuart {
mind.
Then he recollected how he had beer
awakened by the loud noise, which hi
could not account for, and he thought
now that it must have been the detona
| ton Of the pistol shot that had killed
1 OOuu Odh OQAu lU0t nC Aou uSoAN
He did not know that Paxton advanced
the theory that the assassin's weapon
was an air-pistol. But he had caugh
enough of the police sergeant's mutter
ings to learn that the time of the muir
der had been fixed at twenty minutes o
one, and so he knew that John Oakbur1
must have been dead when Marion lef
the office.
Despite AL his suspicious and conjec
lures, Harland had not mentioned tn,
incident of his having seen Marion leav
ing the office, for he had always enter
tanned the most exalted opinions of he
character, and he had reasoned:
There is mystery inexplicable il
Marion Oakburn's conduct, but can
not believe her guilty. There is som
explanation which will yet be made tina
will clear up all this dark affair, and
shall not regret my silence.
The ignoble thought that he might ID
l rnc& o,,ay,i.irp from, bir,eoIf nv. rovQn0in