Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-23
THELONE INN
By FERGUS HUME.
ICopyrisht. 1894. by the Author.l


 he had thought of nothing else but the lone inn crime. The peculiar circum- stances of the case fascinated him great ly. Decidedly should be a detective, |" he said laughingly. II have been in venting all kinds of theories in connec- tion with this matter. By the way, my idea of searching the shipping list was a good one.
 Excellent. You received my letter."
 ''I did, with much pleasure. So Fran cis did not arrive in England until the 9th of June:"
 No! Therefore it was Francis whom I met at the Fen inn, who was killed by his brother. and it is Felix who now passes himself off to Olivia Bellin as Francis. ''
 Docs she not guess the impOsture:''
 No So far as can see, she firmly believes Felix to be Francis. You were also right about the hiding of the corpse
 "You don't say so:'' cried Merrick, highly delighted Did Felix ride out to the Fen inn and hide the body, as surmised:'
 He did have the evidence of the livery stable keeper to prove that he hired horse on the 1lth and did not return till midnight.
 During which time he disposed of his brothers bOdy:'
 Precisely. Itracked his horses hoof marks to the pool wherein I am con- vinccd the body lies hidden"
 "Egad! You are q wonderful man, Denham. Did you have the pool drag gCd for the bcdy:"
 Not yet. wished to tell you all my discoveries before doing SO"
 Many thanks I am so interested in this case that it is great pleasure for ne to follow it step by step"
 II wish no thanks from you, Merrick, said heartily. Tt is rather the other way, as your rcasonings have led me to these important discoveries: First, that Felix was ill Paris; second, that Francis did not arrive from Chile till this month, and, third, that Felix himself hid the corpse. By myself I should never have discovered so much. But I have made one most famous discovery"
 ''Ycs: And that is:''
 Il know how the crime was commit ted and by whom. v
 'You don't say so"' exclaimed Mer- rick i'll such excitement. Have you seen Strent:''
 No. It was not Strent who killed Francis Briarficld. :"
 ''You don't mean to say is was Rose Strent:''
 No. It was Felix himself ''
 Mcrrick uttered an exclamation of surprise and remained silent for a few minutes.
 "But you said yourself that Felix never came to the inn on that night, he objected
 ''So I thought, but it appears that I was mistaken. Fundy, the livery stable keeper, tOld me that Felix hired n horse from him on the 10th and 1Ith of June. On bO;h occasions he did not return till midnight Now, Francis was murdered on the 10th, and his corpse disappeared on the 1lth. Felix is therefore respon- sible for both the murder and the con- cealmcnt of the body"
 That is purely circumstantial evi- dence''
 I laid down the arrowhead on the table,
 This k proof positive, said ri- umphantly, With that piece of flint Francis was killed.
 Really" said Merrick skeptically, picking up the arrowhead With such q clumsy instrument he must have bum gled the job considerably"
 Not at all That arrowhead is steep cd in virulent poiSon-
 The deuccr' cried Merrick, drop ping it hastily. Why did you not warn me of its danger? I might have cut myself and gone the same way as poor Francis Briarfeld- How do you know the murder was so executed:"
 II told you about the discolored wound i'll the palm of the right hand |"
 Mcrrick nodded.
 Well, 1 continued, that was the cause of death, as there was neither scratch nor violence on any other part of the body. I picked up that arrow head i'll the fireplace of the dining room of the Fen inn, where it had doubtless been thrown by Felix after the com initial of the crime" -"
 Where did he get the arrOwhcad?"
 That Is just what puzzled me for a long time. Fortunately I remembered that the entrance to Bellin Hall was dcckcd with q perfect armory of savage weapons. I made an excuse of looking at the picture gallery and so gained ad, mission tO the hall
 Did you find anything likely to con firm your su>picions:''
 "Ycs. I found that an arrow had been removed from the wall =
 How could you tell that:
 Because the weapons were arranged in pattcrrS. and enc of the patterns wa: incomplete. Moreover, or comparing that arrOwh, .d with those on the wal found it was precisely similar ill ap pearance. -
 "Humph," said Merrick thought fully There Is only one deduction tC be taken from all this Felix stole the arrowhead, and knowing it to be poi sOned rode to the Fen inn to kill hi. brother. He is a clever scoundrel. ''
 ''Very clever indeed, :" answered dry ly ''But for you, Merrick. he would have baffied me altogether.
 II think you have him this time, " sai' Merrick, laughing. "Now, what do yo' intend to do next:"
 Have the pool dragged for the bod. and Felix Briarfield arrested ' Before doing so it would be advisa ble to find Rose Strent or her father. " l "Why so:''
 Because they only can give pOsitiv l evidence as to the committal of tn crime. Failing them, Felix may sli through your fingers. y
 ''They won't show up or give evi dcnce for their own sake "
 Tn that case they must be found an forced into confession" said the docto quickly. And what about Felix an Miss Bellin:'
 ''They are now in town-Mrs- an Miss Bellin ill Swansea square and Fe lix at his chambers in Jermyn street. '' ''I wonder if Felix is still in commu