The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-29


stables, and, owing to my resemblance
to Felix, easily managed to dS.eive the
hostler. Then, as Felix in his HStter had
told me he was staying at Bellin Hall,
/ went there "
"Was there any suspicion?"
''None at all. told footman had
been out for a morning ride and asked
him to bring me brandy and soda to
my ROOM / needed the drink after all
I had gone through, but my principal
reason for asking him was to find out
my room"
"How so?"
"Well, made him carry the tray up
stairs in front of me- OF course he took
it to the room of Felix, and thus 1 gain
ed my point without exciting suspicion.
All the baggage, clothes, etc., of Felix
were in the ROOM 1 knew all about
them, as l had seen them plenty of
times. Then dressed in morning suit
and went down stairs to find Olivia"
''Did she guess the TRUTH"
''Not at first, but she saw there was
something wrong as she kept referring
to events of the previous week about
which l knew nothing. Luckily Mrs.
Bellin did not come down to breakfast,
so was able to tell her all when the
servants left the room. -
''Had she recognized that Felix was
masquerading as your"
"She had more or less, but was not
quite certain. When | told her all that
had occurred, she believed me at once.
In some instructive way she knew that
I was really her lover. Then we set to
work to concert measures for my safety.
Olivia told me Felix was supposed to be
in Paris at the Hotel des Ehangers and
showed me his letters, so it was decided
as wisest to keep up that fiction. She
told me all that had taken place during
my absence, and by the time you came
I was thoroughly fitted into the skin Of
Felix"
"Then I came and insisted you were
Felix"
"Yes. You see, told the truth, and
so did Olivia, when said Twas Francis.
But of course, as / had changed clothes
with the dead man, we saw where you
were making your mistake. never
thought you'd take my death SO much
to heart"
Seeing that, Briarfeld, you ought to
have told me all"
"Olivia suggested as much, but was
afraid. When you asked me to ride out
and see the inn, l asked for nights
grace in order to get rid of the body. l
rode out during the night and threw it
into pool near the inn"
"I know that pool, said I grimly,
"and traced your trail thereto" o.
II am afraid l did it badly" said
Francis, with shudder "It was hor-
rible task, yet necessary, as / thought
when you saw no body the next day you
would think it was a dream or hal
Inclination" F"
II did very nearly" l answered
gravely. "And what about Paris?'
"Oh, that was very easyl When you
said you were going there to look up
Felix, I followed you to London by the
same train and crossed over to Paris at
once. At the Hotel DIES Etrangers |
found Felix had bribed the manager to
send ON those letters to Olivia. He, of
course, thought l was Felix and talked
quite openly before me. Felix had in
vented very ingenious plot to enlist
the manager i'll his service. What it
was / need not tell you, but l told the
manager what wanted, and he did it
we'll Of course paid him lavishly."
"You mean he deceived me by say.
ing you had been six weeks in Paris?"
eyes, and about my going to Italy.
OF course when you saw me you thought
l was really Felix, and that you were
out of your mind"
"How could l do otherwise when
your statements were backed up by the
manager? did not know what to make
of it."
"Well, that's all l have to tell, said
Francis, land lot of trouble it has
been. wish had told you all at first. "
"What about Rose Gernon?"
"Oh, she foslnd me out and made be
lieve / was Felix. She wanted to marry
me. as you saw. Ihad great trouble with
her "
"We'll settle her tomorrow" said |
grimly. but, now, Francis, who you
think killed your brother?"
81 can't say. don't even know how
he died"
"He died." said /, "from wound
in the hand inflicted by poisoned ar
rowhead which was taken from BelIin
Hall.
"And who wounded hiln?" demand
ed Francis, turning pale.
"We'll find that out tomorrow" l
answered, ''frem Rose Shent, alias Rose
Gernon."
.rO m r,NNJrINrIYur, I