Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-23
CHAPTER X.

the Fen inn on the 10th of June, that fatal night of the murder.
 CHAPTER x.
 When I told Dr. Merrick of my good fortune in finding Rose Strent, or, to use her stage name, Rose Gernon, he was considerably astonished. The case had taken hold of him so completely that he could think of nothing else He had large practice and attended fairly well to his patients, but informed me that he did so in a mechanical fashion, more or less, as his brain was busy with the Fen inn mystery. We were now wonderfully familiar, considering the short period of our acquaintance, but this was doubtless due to the inter est we both took in the case. Upon my word, Denham,' said Merrick, rub hing his head irritably. II wish you had not come near me with your hallu- cinations. Instead of attending to my business, think of nothing but your mysteries The sooner we unravel this riddle the better will it be for me. You are an idle bachelor, so it does not mat ter much to you, but I am busy med ical man. and this internal business worries me greatly. At this moment ought to be attending to patient, in stead of which I am wasting my time with you
 Shall go away
 No, corrfound you! l wish to sec the end of this affair, or I'll get no peace of mind It is too late to remedy the matter, so I must have my curiosi- ty allaycd by learning all the ins and outs of this enigma Come, lot us begin. You have found Rose Strcnt:'
 Yes. She Is q hurlcsque actress and plays at the FrivOlity theater. Her namc in the programme is set down as Rose GcrDon, but this is doubtless her stage name. Rose Strcnt is her real one
 I'm not so sure of that, said Mcr- rick sharply. If she went into that Fen inn business with her eyes open, she doubtless took false name, SO as to bafflc inquiry.'
 Then what about the landlord, who called himself Edward Strent:"
 "Oh, we must find out all about him also. No doubt his name is false also. Did he look like her father:''
 Well, I cant say that there was much likeness between them. He looked to me like valet.
 "A valet" muttered Mcrrick reflect lively. Queer! I wonder if he really was valct-valct to Felix"
 'In that case he'll be with him now. :"
 1t is not impossible He has Felix ill his power and can stay on just as he likes It's my opinion he'll stay till he s pensioncd off. Case of blackmail, I fancy"
 ''I think Rose Gcrnon is blachmailing Felix also.
 Quite so. What else can he expect? Or else, added Mcrricli, looking straight at mo. its q case of love and marriage. ''
 What. Do you think Felix promised to marry Rose if she helped him to get rid of his brothcr:''
 II think he might lead her to believe he would do so. -
 This is absurd, Mcrrick, :" said sharply Felix is i'll love with Olivia. The motive of the crime was to gain possession of Olivia's hand. Rose would not help Felix if she knew that.
 Precisely. If she knew it. But it's my opinion that she does not know it. I believe Felix gulled her into belief that he would marry her if she gave her assistance, but he has not the slightest | intention of keeping his promise.
 And what excuse could he make for wishing to murder his brothcr:'
 An, there you have me! I don t know that. Of course you and I arc aware of the real motive of the crime, but Rose is ignorant of it. She thinks she knows, no doubt, but I'm certain she been put off with lie.
 But he can't keep the information from her for ever. Even if ho keeps l quiet, some one is hound to tell her that Felix is engaged tu Miss Bcllin. 'Thcre you are wrong" said Mcr- rick. with grim jocularity. Every one thinks Francis k engaged to Miss Bel lin"
 "Yes, but Rose GCrnou knows well enough that Francis is dead, and that the engaged man must he Felix posing as Francis.
 There's snnic truth in that. " admit. ted the doctor. looking puzzled. ''I sup, pose he must have kept that fact from her so far. as I don't see what possible ] explanation he could give her. " Always assuming she is ill love with him" said I IuusiuSly
 ''Oh. as to that, am certain 1t is so. A woman like Rose GCruuu drawing a good salary would Iut mix herself uI in such q dangerous business merely foI money. There Is q stronger motive, and that is love I'll lay anything" con. tinued Merrick. in sporting phrase, "I'll lay anything that she is madly ill love with the fellow.
 "Wcll, and Olivia, thinking Felix is Francis, loves him madly also. If these two women como together, there will be trouble for Felix.
 "Eurekar' cried the doctor, jumping up excitedly, ''the very thing. Wher thieves fall out-you know the adage Let us bring the two women togcthc, and see the upshot." "
 There will simply be row." sait I. What is the use of that:'
 This, '' retortcd Mcrrick sharply "that when Rose finds she has been be trayed she will reveal all the mystery out of revenge and assure Olivia tha Felix is not Francis v
 That's not bad idea, Merrick; alsc it might occur that Olivia reveals some thing in her turn
 Impossible. She can't possibly know the mans villainy, else she would no think of marrying him"
 "I suppose not, and yet" added re fiectively, 'I wouldn't be surprised i she were cognizant of Felix's move ments on the 10th and 11th. She cer tainly stuck up for him in the mos amazing manner at the first interview.
 "Of course she did, because she be lieves he is Francis. Depend upon it doctor, she knows nothing, and if w bring her and Rose together there vii