Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-12-04
THEL0NE INN
By FERGUS HUNE.
tcopyr,sh,. is.. By the Au,hor.l
fCoNTINuEp.l

II was late In the afternoon when
got hack 20 the Inn. and the cold vapor'
of the marsh made me shivcr. A am
subject 90 rheumatism. ] was afraid OF
future suiYcrings. 10 having some bran
dy In my fiask. determined TO light a
fre for the purpose of heating water
and comforting myself with hot drink.
There was plenty Of fuel about, and
had matche~ In my pocket ! began "a
rake the dead ashes out of the dining
room gsaie when I disturbed nm oblong
piccc IL flint. which ratified onto the
hearth
All ideas of lighting ire were for
gotten ~ stood with that In my hand
II was an arrowhead handled IL gin
g,rly. for I knew we'll that IL was
stccpcd In poison. and that with this
Francis had tcen murdered.
saw at once what had taken place.
Felix had arrived and had gone mp 90 his
brothers. rom Holding the flint with
the razorlike edge outward. be had
shaken hands with his trotber and 81
wounded him. A quarrel had ensucd,
but Francis. not thinking he was poi.
sonod. never dreamed Of his danger.
Then he had fallen dead. and Felix,
placing the body ON the bcd. had ~.
turned 90 the dining room and Hung
thu poisoned arrowhead into the fro
The most astounding thing was that ]
hal not bccn awakened by the ou,cry
oi Francis. but suppo~e ] was quite
wUrn out by my walk and in too deep
Sl..n Nevertheless 10 was strange that
had heard neither the arrival ~ Felix
nor the struggle which must have taken
place Possibly ! had bscn drugscd.
With this damning piece ~ evidence
In my pocket. wrapIsd NJ In paper. for
! feared the poison for myself. ] rode
back 20 MArhminstcr. wondering how
Felix had hit upon such terribly in
g,niOus fashion - removing his broth.
n. ~ far ~ I knew. he had not travelled
,iuch aud would not L. likely 20 have
any savage wcapons IA his Possession.
", be- could not have owned flint ar
ruwhcad in the ordinary run " thing
shis puzzled me greatly.
returned the hors. % fundy with.
GU, making any remarks. and thorough
ly tircd out went early 10 ret. still
pulzling over that arrowhead. Before
dawn I solved the mystery. in the en-
trance hall IL the Bcllins HOUSE pr.
feet armory % savage w.apons was ar.
raycd against the wall Th,p were
clubs. arrows bows. mats and grinning
hcathcn gods Doubtless Felix, know
ing the arrows Ia L. poisoned. hal tax
ga the flint head ~ one In order Ia put
his brother To death A. early as j
ouuld went to Bollin Hall TO satisfy
myself on this point
The hall was a show place, n 10 pos'
sc.scd fine picture gallery. - j had
little difficulty In gaining admission
frum the woman in charge Requesting
Permission o. examine the warriorlikr
implements patterned against the hall
wall. narrowly observed the arrows
II was n I thousht-Onc of the arruwr
was missing. and Felix had stolen it In
order to Kill his brother ! did not take
much interest Ia the pictures after such
q discovery. AMI the talk - the hOusc-
keeper fell unhc.dci On my ears n
nally gave her a sovereign and left the
house. impatient o. te alone and think
over my discoveries
had now sufficient evidence 90 prove
that Felix had killed Francis and suf
hcicnt to warrant having him arrested
II the pool were dragged. the body would
b. found with the ragged wound u the
flint arrowhead ON the righ, hand ]
could prove the finding of the arrow
heal In the ashes and how u hal bc,n
taken from Bellin Hall fundy could
give evidence to Felix having taken a
horse To the Fen inn on the 10th and
also on the iith. Aud altogether the
evidence against Felix was clearly sui'i'
cicnt 10 hang him Still ] did nothing
rashly. and before taking further pro
occdings returned 10 London TO consul,
Merrick. His advice. I knew. would Ia
judiciOus