Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-11-06


might resent your plain speaking.
The assurance ~ the man was % com.
plctc that I word,rcl II he knew that
his sccrct was safe by tho death Of his
brother. Such knowledge would account
for his complsccncy. Yet 10 was quite
impossible that he could know IL the
death. NJ he certainly had not been 20
tho inn knew that from my own
knowlcdgo
"If you are Francis. said slowly.
'you are engaged 30 Miss Bellin
II am" he answered haughtily.
"but by what right you"--
zone moment, Mr.. Briarheld Miss
Bellin gave her lover Francis . pearl
ring do not scc IL on your finger"
lie glanced down at his hand and
grew confused
Il lot It," he muitored--'I lost IL
some time ago"
THAT IL not truef'
"Do you dare to-
II dare anything I'm connection with
what I know 90 b. q fraud You arc
passing yourself OF a your brother
Francis
by what right do you make this
mad asscrtionl"
From what Francis told mo last
night"
"But I tell you ! am Francis. ho
said .avagely. ''Don't ! know my own
Manner
"If you arr the man you assert your.
sclf % b.. whore l. the pearl ringr'
II Lost it,"
"You did noe You never had IL ]
saw II IN the finger of Francis no later
than Last nigh.
II think you arc mad. Dcnhamr"
said Felix. white with passion, ''or else
you must b talking of Felix. who Is In
Paris
THAT untruth will not serve" said
coldly. "felix Is before me, and Fran.
els l. lying dead at the Fen inn Z"
WHAT Francis dcady'' he cried un.
suarlcdly.
"Ah. you admit II Is francisy"
"No. don't" ho retortod quickly
II only rc.echocd your words What do
you mean by saying such a thing'"
For answer rose from my sat ana
made Tor the door Tho farce woariod
me-
Where are you going. Dcnhami" he
Askci. following me mp
"For tho polioo" answered. facing
him. "Ye.. ! am dct Fn.incl - Cad
out the mystery of Francis Briarfelds
death Yol. his brother. decline o. help
me. - I shall place the matter in tho
hands % the authorities
"Upon my soul, Donhain, said IL.
liz. OBTAINING me, ''you arr either mad
OF drunk declare mot solonnly Lat
am Francis Briarficld. From this story
of yours should think u was nay broth.
cr Felix who l. dead. did not know
ho l. In Parisi"
"a fine story. hut II does not impose
on me. " answered. scofiingly Listen
90 me. Briarfield Your brother rranclG
went out 20 South America some siK
months ago Before he went ho was en.
gagged to Miss Bcllin. Tho mother
would not hear of tho marriage. - tho
engagement was kept quiet You alone
knew u II and took advantage II such
knowledge 20 suppress tho letter. sent
to Mis- Bcllin through You by Francis
and represent yourself 10 Olivia a.
her lover return@l three months before
bis time You. Iquito believe. aro sup
pc-cd to be In Paris, 80 that you may
the moro easily carry out the gamc "
This IL mere raying.
"lt IL the truth. and you know H.
A. Mis- Bellin did not answer his let.
trs. Francis thought something was
wrong and returned home Afraid lee,
ho should fad out your plot, you asked
him o. meet you at the Fen inn, and
there either intended 10 throw yourself
on his mercy or-to murder him.
Murder himi' he repeated aerccly
ut Is falsei"
"That will be for the police TO deter.
mine "
"Du, surely. Dcnhaia. You don't In.
trrl 90 inform thu poliocF
II am going 90 do so now"
Felix seized me by the arm and drag
ge-l mo back TO my sat lie was now
much agi,a,od. but made every effort to
rstrain his emotion
"sit down." he said In q hoarso tone
"you do mo wrong. Dcnham-On my
s1l you do me wrong was engaged,
! am engaged. 10 Olivia Bellin Her
mother consented 90 our engagement
after returned TO England thrce months
ago Felix. I believe. IL In Paris ]