Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-01

NO. But reilN uiu ana asked me 10
meet him here before seeing her,
"Now, l We da if this apparent
treachery of Mis- Ecil:n has anything
to do with your w nship:"
what do y;l mean?' asked Briar.
field, starting IN.
lyon are SO like in appearance, "said
l, THAT no one could tell you apart
You have lived constantly together save
for the last six months and know every
action of each others lives. 1t may be
that Felix has passed himself of TO Miss
Bellin as you.
"impossiblel She would detect the
deception.
Il doubt it, save by intuition. l as
sure you, Briarfeld, that the resem.
blance between you is most 'rerplexing
There is not the slightest difference.
You dress the same; you have the same
gestures; yea almost think the same. 1t
is scarce possible to tell which is which
when apart thought tonight that
you were Felix"
lit cannot be; it cannot be, he NUT.
tered feverishly. Her own heart would
tell her the truth.
Ibid You tell Felix of your engage
ment?" asked abruptly.
Yes | told him all &"
| "And when did you hear last from
Miss Bellin?'
| "Some three months ago 1t was be-
cause she did not reply to my letters
that came back so soon.
| ITO whom were your letters sent?'
ITO her, of coarse
Care Of Felix:'' said l, with in
stinctive suspicion.
"Why, yes" he said, with a sudden
frown ~ did not want Mrs. Bellin to
know of our engagement, so did not
dare to write openly. Felix undertook
to deliver the letters"
He may have undertaken to do so,
but, " added forcibly. 'he did not"
''Denham.''
1.-The whole case is as clear as day, T"
said l. Felix was i'll love with Miss
Bellin and wished to marry her. Know
ing she was in love with you, he was
well aware he had no chance. so resorted
TO trickery. When you left for Chile, he
gave her your letters for three months,
then, saying he was going abroad, osten-
sibly left England, but really staid and
presented himself as you"
las me-"
"Ycs. He has traded on the marvel.
Gus resemblance between you. He
knows all your life, all your love affairs,
and have 10 doubt that Miss Bellin
believes that he is Francis Briarfield,
her lover, returned from South America
III three months instead of six"
IF thought SO, muttered Francis,
biting his fingers, 'if thought so''--
II am sure it is So Now you see why
} it is imperative that he should inter
! view you before you meet Miss Bellin
He wishes to reveal the deception an,
throw himself on your mercy"
He'll get no mercy from me if thi'
is so, - said Briarfeld in somber tone
} ''Oh. fool that Twas not to write direc
TO Olivia when | came back to England
J But 1t is not too late. When he come
} here. III learn the truth and denourc
him to Olivia Then our troubles vii
be over
"A man capable Of such trick i
capable of worse" said | sententiously
u advise you to be on your guar,
against Felix"
do you think he'll kill me:''
Il don't 20 as far as that, ! replies
cautiously. but your meeting viii be-
productive of trouble. Just now you OK
: pressed wish to kill him.
, And / shall if he has tricked me n
you say
Nonsense, Briarfeld, you talk wild
~. This matter can surely be settled j
E less mclodramatic fashion. / am gla
] am here, as perhaps you will permi
i me to be present at the interview.
Willingly. l know how clever yo
: are. Denham. You may assist me to VI
mask Felix"
DO you think he'll come tonight?
said |, going TO the window.
: His letter said tonight or tomol
= row. -
Then il will be tomorrow Fell
wouldn t risk meeting you at night
t he had thus betrayed you. Let US go
bed and tomorrow settle the matter. "
At first Francis was unwilling TO r.
tire. but when the landlord came to loo
u up for the night and laughed at Il
idea of any one coming there fro
Westminster he fell in with my desir
Together we went up stairs and partt
on the threshold of his room. 1t w
five or six doors away from mine.
Lock your door,, '" said as we par
ed.
what, do you think III be murder,
in my sleep?'
''No, but don't like the inn, and
dislike the face of Strent, the landlor
Besides. l continued, tapping Bria
fields breast, that girl Rose. -
What about her?''
"She knows Miss Bellin Go,
night.
With that l departed, notwithstan
ing his desire for an explanation of II
&c last words. So wearied was that
spite my suspicious of the inn spec
~ lily fell asleep.
N CHAPTER II.
ne 1t was close on 10 o'cloc': when