Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-03-24

Of convincing belief upon his countc
nance. his breast hcaving, his hands
working, he says fecbly:
1T is surely damning evidence, bnt,
Franklin, you are wrong. Right In one
thing, wrong in another. am guilty
of the crime OF exchanging my child
for that OF Conrad ia diner. You know
why l was tempted TO do that.
will confess TO yon that did follow
DR.. Wilbur to GARDENERS cot.
,agc that night, not 10 do him
harm. Tod knows did not intend
TO injurc him. but to soc. IL ! could not
in scmc way obtain possession OF the
b1o;. and change the entries They
were written in lead pencil. When I
rcache the cottage Or. Wilbur had
gone. followed II m short distance
up the road, but as hurried along
the thought came 10 M, Suppose ]
overtakc him. what then IL will be
useless. caprot force the boo, from
him. With Il hra,y heart. ! retraced
my footsteps, wert home felt
that al was over. tia. il the morning
all would bc hn"wn.
in the morn ng hcart: of the muir
der. The thought o crrred 10 me that
YOU had rommittci it. | remembered
your words. your desperation. Going
into my library or study. found that
some one had made forcible entry In
through the window. Several articles
OF silverware had been stolen from the
dining-room which adjoins the library.
.Franklins work. I said, with a
heavy feeling at my heart. James
Potter, who had shown curious agita-
ton the night before, heari my NUT
tered words. He fell on his knees be-
fore me and begged me not to pun sh
YOU. forced from him the fact that
Won had been seen by him at about
midnight, near the house. He said you
had nothing with you ut that time. !
concluded that you had hidden your
plumber. but had retui ned for 1t, and
made away with It, after he had left
YOU. later in the day. An hour or so
after this, found was iight
in ono thing, wrong in On.
other. The pl' tc was founi tied
up In q table.cloth in the recess OF q
cellar window. near the spot where
yo were standing. You had not re-
turned for your plumber. You know
what happened Mt the inquest. Mt
least. you have said SO. did not
mention the fact Of my house having
been burglarized. ] did not wish 70
maze You out such desperate wretch
rs all that. Up to this time did NOT
know that the notebook was missing.
When heard of II joy filed my heart.
could still carry out my plans. The
do tor was dead the notr-bo TX miss
ing! That night the children were
changed"
"Not until the night after the muir
der''
mo: felt assured that you had the
notebook. even thought it was to
n.go late with me in some way for
that DO, k tn tyou had sent for me to
visit you to-day"
"rhcn you claim that you actually
tho ,rht me guilty?"
Up to the time heard you speak
up to the time you accused mc-until
this m rninR!'
The brothers are silent Adrian
Dyke looking upon his brothers face
with eager es; Franklin Dyke, with
grave face, look OF bewildermen'
in his eyes. Had his brother spoken
the truth? Can IL be possible that he
is innocent? II + action, when ac'
. cused OF the crime. hid been one OF
horror. Was II one Of guilt!
"You say yon do not know anything
about this MURDER" he asks ut last,
deliberately.
Nothing"
''Yeu are In no way concerned In
itP" His voice Is doubtful.
The brother 81 etches on one hand
TO heaven.
'As God is my Judge, and Is looking
down upon me where I stand, am In
no way concerned In the death Of Ezra
Wilbur. knew nothing Of It until
the following morning
u;s '~~- Z: i..--Ss:!-.
CHATTER XIV.