The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-25


return till midnight "
During which time he disposed of
his brothers. body?"
Precisely. l tracked his horses hoof
marks to the pool wherein I am con-
WINGED the body lies hidden. "
"Egad! You are wonderful man,
Denham. Did you have the pool drag
ged for the body?"
"Not yet wished to tell you all my
discoveries before doing So"
Many thanks. am so interested in
this case that it is great pleasure for
me to follow it step by step.
"Iwish no thanks from you, Merrick, "
said heartily, 1T is rather the other
way, as your reasonings have led me to
these important discoveries: First, that
Felix was in Paris; second, that Francis
did not arrive from Chile till this month,
and, third that Felix himself hid the
corpse By myself l should never have
discovered so much. But | have made
one most famous discovery.
eyes? And that is?'
81 know how the crime was commit
ted and by whom.
"You don't say so'' exclaimed Mer-
rick in much excitement "Have you
seen Strent?'
mo 1t was not Strent who killed
Francis Briarheld.
"You don't mean to say is was Rose
Strcnt?"
''No. It was Felix himself"
Merricll uttered an exclamation of
surprise and remained silent for a few
''But you said yourself that Felix
never came to the inn on that night,
he objected.
$50 l thought but it appears that I
was mistaken. Fundy, the livery stable
keeper, told me that Felix hired horse
from him on the 10th and l lth Of June.
On both occasions he did not return till
midnight Now, Francis was murdered
on the 10TH and his corpse disappeared
on the 18th. Felix is therefore respon-
sible for both the murder and the con-
cealment of the body"
"That is purely circumstantial evil
dence."
I laid down the arrowhead on the
table.
"This is proof positive, I said tri-
umphantly. with that piece Of flint
Francis was killed. "
Really" said Merrick skeptically,
picking up the arrowhead. "With such
a clumsy instrument he must have bun
gled the job considerably.
"Not at all. That arrowhead is steep
ed in virulent poison"
"The douco" cried Merrick, drop
ping it hastily. "Why did you not
warn me Of its danger? l might have
cut myself and gone the same way as
poor Francis Briarfeld. How do you
know the murder was so executed"
81 told you about the discolorod
wound in the palm of the right hand. !"
Mewick nodded.
"Well," " continued, "that was the
cause of death, as there was neither
scratch nor violence on any other part
of the body. l picked up that arrow
head in the fireplace Of the dining room
Gf. the Fen inn, where it had doubtless
been thrown by Felix after the COM
INITIAL of the crime"
"Where did he get the arrowhead"
''That is just what puzzled me for a
long time. Fortunately l remembered
that the entrance to Bollin Hall was
decked with 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 suspicions:"
Eyes l found that an arrow had
been removed from the wall.
GLOW could you tell that?"
"Because the weapons were arranged
i'll patterns, and one of the patterns was
incomplete. Moreover, on comparing
that arrowhead with those on the wall
l found it was precisely similar in ap-
pearance. "
"Humph," said Merrick thought
fully "There is only one deduction to
be taken from all this. Felix stole the
arrowhead, and knowing it to be poi
soned rode to the Fen inn to kill his
brother. He is a clever scoundrel." :"
"Vely clever indeed, answered dry
ly. "But for you Merrick, he would
have baftled me altogether. "
II think you have him this time, " said
Merrick, laughing. "Now, what do you
intend to do next?"
"Hayo the pool dragged for the body
and Felix Briarlield arrested. "
Before doing 50 it would be adyisa-
BILE to find Rose Strent or her father"
"Why so?"
"Because they only can give positive
evidence as to tho committal of the
crime. Failing them, Felix may slip
through your fingers.
"They won't show up or give evi-
dence for their own sake, :"
In that case they must be found and
forced into confession, gaid the doctor
quickly. "And what about Felix and
Miss Bellin:"
"They are now in town-Mrs. and
Miss Bellin in Swansea square and Fe-
lix at his chambers in Jermyn street. "
81 wonder if Felix is still in commu-
nication with Rose Srent," queried
Morrick half to himself.
"It's not impossible Whatever Rose
Stront was or is, she is not waiting
maid. l believe some guilty bond
unites the pair, and Rose assisted Felix
in his scoundrelly schemes out Of pure
love"
Hardly" responded Merick. "If
Rose loved Felix, she would not assist
him to marry Olivia, and by removing
Francis she certainly did So"
How would it do to see Felix at his
chambers and bully him into confes-
sion?"
4 IL