Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-22
CHAPTER VII.

,-r,..I tuttNNltu u iuhuoE. Iiai nc
..,...t.s,I the object of my Journey
,,.r u,a not care about staying longer in
u,.i. liv mind was much pcrturbcd,
u WIS quito unable to come to any
inclusion respecting the episode at the
t,.r inn. Beyond all doubt had proved
d.. Francis was ut Westminster, Fe-
rv in Paris Who. then, was the man
rbid met at the inn? 1t was impossible
,blt could be mistaken in the identity
n nv college friend. yet in the face of
,~rh evidence rs had gathered it was
,id,rul1us TO cling to my first impress
Sons There could not be three brothers
exactly alike in personal appearances,
.3I vet mad beheld three men-at the
BAN INN. dt Westminster and in Paris
-,l. rescmbled each other in every re-
rrt The more l pondered over the
Mystery. the deeper did it become, and
more confused grew my brain.
Ilr-ln 20 think that j was the vic
ftu of some hallucinatiou, as | could
,yulaiu the matter in no other way
With this idea, which was the only
feasible one left to me, l took the ad-
vice uf Felix and on my return to town
went to see Or. Merrick. He, special
i.- on diseases of the brain, listened TO
NY story with great attention and ques-
toned me closely on all points.
There Is some trickery about this,
Nr Dcnham. he said after considera-
ton.
You do rot, then, think my meeting
with Francis Briarfiold was halluci-
n.iion:' l asked eagerly.
There is no hallucination about you,
sir. was the comforting response. "You
seem o. me rs sane and matter of fact u
person n | ever met
Then, if it is not hallucination. how
d1 you account for my having met three
men all exactly alike when l know
there arc only two with that special APP
uaarJlce in Cxistence?"
II think it is trickery," repeated
N.rrirk, nursing his chin. This is
more ease for detective than for q
doctor. We're l you, Mr.. Denllam,
would employ good detective and probe
the mystery thoroughly. The matter
seems miraculous to you now, but feel
surr when You learn the solution you
viii be surprised at its simplicity
II l am sane, rs you say and as
b,iir;c myself to be, will thrash out
thc matter myself"
Better get trained man, MIR. Den
ham. From what you have told me
see vou have to deal with criminal OF
10 ordinary intelligence. 1t is an OK
tlardinary case" unused the doctor,
and / do not wonder at the fascIna
tiun it seems to exercise over You.
We're | in your place.
Were you in my placer" seeing h
hc,itated
Here am / setting up for lawyer,
said 3Ierrick quantity. ITO tell you tn,
honest truth, Mr.. Denham, you hav,
Hoculated me with detective fever.
should like to solve this problem my
self. Criminal investigation has Away
been rather a hobby of mine. In III,
business / meet with some queer expe
Fences. There are more insane people il
the world than you think.
Tell me your ideas, doctor, and II
carry them out and report progress.
Good! I'll be the sleeping partner, ,
he said IN an amused tone, ''but war;
You, Mr.. Dcnham, that from what l Sc
ut this ease it will be one of great diff
Guilty and may take months to worl
out "
Il don't mind that. 1t is nothing t
an idle man like myself, but l an
afraid, DR.. Merrick, take up your val
liable time"
"Oh, / can spare few minutes,
said the doctor quickly. II work har'
enough, SO it is permitted to even a pro
ir-sluaal man to indulge occasionail
an some amusement. This case is SO I
m..
Well, and your idea?''
In the first place, ] am inclined t
aeTpc with your ideas of Felix passin
himself off as Francis. -
/ have abandoned that idea, " sai'
/ dplefully II saw Felix in Paris. T."
Wait a moment" replied Merrick
Well come to that later on. Further
more, j believe it was Felix you met a
rsAminstcr-Felix, who called him
self Francis and posed as the lover @
Miss Bellin.''
But I saw him in Paris" said
again clinging to that unteniable fact
know You did, but the pretende
Francis Of Marshminster and the rea
friiS Of Paris are one and the same pei
slu. "
You mean that he followed III
over, y cried. suddenly enlightened.
Precisely, and suborned the manage
Of the Hotel dos Etrangers.
but why should he do that:"
Can't you see?' said Merrick imp;
tontly. Felix wants to put u stop
yonr following up this case. From yor
story 1t is quite probable that he kille
MS brother through Strent. The who
circumstances of that lone inn are yer
suspicious. Your unforeseen arrival @
That night complicated matters. 70
saw how unwilling they We're to adm
you. Had you not arrived Francis woul
have vanished from the world, ana MOI
would have been bit wiser. But wha
You came to Bcliin Hall Felix saw
IpNy caurc, Of Jau,oY mt only fn N