Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-20

would surely settle the matter.
 Felix was bolder than I gave him credit for, as his witness proved to be none other than Olivia Bellin. She csi- tered the room with assumed lightness, but her face was anxious, and she glanc- ed every now and then at Felix as though to seek his aid and countenance. He, as was natural. wore a haggard ex- pression. His nerves were tensioned up to the highest pitch, matter of small wonderment, seeing that his life's hap piness depended upon this interview.
 What is this strange story you bring, Mir. Denham?" asked Olivia, greeting me coldly. In our best days we were never overfriendly.
 Has not Mir. Briarfield told yor?''
 "I have not had the time," inter posed Felix quickly. Beyond few hints of the truth she knows nothing"
 Mot even that you are Felix Briar- feld?'
 "Felix?" repeated Miss Bellin in sur prise. But you are making n mistake, MT. Denham. This is Francis ''
 ''So he says"
 You see, Olivia" said Briarfield, addressing Miss Bellin, "Denham in- clStS ullol t. lix."
 How absurd! I assure you, MT. Denham, that Felix is in Paris. re- ceived letter from him only this morn ing"
 Impossible, said I, taken aback by the authority of her tone.
 It is quite true. she continued hur riedly. Excuse me for moment, and Y T.l, hr, t.sN licvc the evidence of your own eyes. When she left the room, Felix turned toward me with gleam of triumph in his eyes
 "Are you convinced?" he asked raock- ingly.
 "No. I am puzzled" ''1n what way?'' ''To think how you managed to get that letter sent on from Paris without being there yourself. :"
 Against stupidity the gods them selves fight in vain. quuth Felix. shrug ging his shoulders. II assure you that my brother Felix is in Paris Miss Bel lin is about to produce Il letter received from him only this morning. and yet you insist that I am not myself and that he whom I pretend to hc is dead. You arc mad
 ''Hcrc is the letter. said Miss Bel lin. entering at this moment. "You see, it bears the date of yesterday. He is at present staying at the Hotel dcs Etran- gers, Rue de St Honorc. but talks of going to Italy"
 examined the letter closely. It was genuine enough. of that thcro was no doubt, as it bore the French and Eng fish postmarks. quite believed that it was written by Felix. but also that it had been forwarded from Paris by an cmissary of the young man in order to keep up the necdful deception. Certain | ly Felix had q marked talent for in trigue.
 If Felix Briarfield is in Paris. [" said l. handing back tho letter to Olivia, "who was it met at tho Fen inn last night?"
 ''Thc Fen inn?' replied Olivia, with a puzzled look. Why. no one lives thcrc now, MT. Dcnham. It Is in ruins and has been empty for over two years '"
 Nevertheless 1t was tCnantcd last night, and 1 slept thcrc; also met Francis Briarficld at tho same place" "
 Francis was not out of the house last night. " declared Olivia dccisivcly
 Quite true. he replied. II went to bed early with n bad headache.
 Ut was not you met at tho inn last night, but your brother Francis '
 ''How can you persist in so foolish n story" said Olivia angrily. This is | Francis, and Felix k i'll Paris. You could not have met either of them at the Fen inn last night. and indeed cant believe that you slept there at all. :"
 ''l did. Miss Bcllin, and there l met Francis"
 ''If you did, where is he now? Why not clear up the mystery by bringing him here with you?'
 "Bccausc he is dead. "
 "Deadr she echoed, catching the arm of Francis Dead! Who is dcad?''
 Francis Briarficld.''
 "Hc Is mad," she said to Felix in . low tone, her facc white with fear
 Upon iny word. I am beginning tC think so myself 1 said, losing my temper. "but declare on my oath that Ispcak the truth. There is only ono way of solving the riddle Come out with mo to the Fen inn and look on the fac, of the dead man say is Francis Briar field. A single glance will give the Ii, to tho assertion of this man who pre- tends to bc your lOvcr!'
 Felix looked at Olivia, she at him It seemed to me that they grew q shad, palcr. wondered whether any guilt, bond existed between them. as certain ly they seemed to understand one an other very well. Olivia appeared anx ious to protect Felix from harm. Either cl, I,f, had taken her heart from one hruthC and given it tO the other. It was sh, who spoke first, and throughout the in tcrvicw tho woman played q moro lar ing game than did the man. Her atti tude puzzled me. and for the moment was quite in the dark aS tn what wer her real thoughts regarding my stor, and that of tine pseudo Francis.
 We cannot go tonight" she said with some hesitation, but tomorrow morning. if you like. We will ride out l. the inn
 glanced at my watch ''It is now ! o'clock" said l, ''an, will bc light up to or thcrcabout There is plenty of time for us to ride t the Fen inn. and think 1t advisabl to do so at once" "Why not tomorrow morningg' ot jcctcd Felix
 Great heavens, Briarficld, have yo no natural affection? Don't tell yo . that your brother is lying dead there : Can't you understand the necessity c attending to so serious n matter withou delay? If you have no affection. 70 might at least havc docency." ''I decline to believe that my hrotho is dead" said Briarficld coolly. ''Tha l letter shown to you by Olivia prove | that he was in Paris yesterday. Fl could not have come over so quickly