The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-30
CEApTER XIII


Felix had been to the inn ON that night.
He had ridden round the back way of
the house, and as my room was over
the front door I had not heard his AZ
rival. Under these circumstances it
was easy for me to make the mistake
and think the dead man was Francis,
particularly as | was misled by the
marvellous resemblance between the
brothers, and, moreover, saw the pearl
ring on the finger of the corpse. My
mistake was a perfectly exCusable one,
and l had been confirmed in such er-
reonous belief by the adroit fashion in
which Francis, for his own safety, kept
up the deception.
Now / lnew the truth-that Francis
was alive and Felix dead-yet as regards
the name Of the man who had commit
ted the crime was still quite in the
dark. Rose Gernon knew, but it was
questionable whether she would confess,
even to save her own skin Either she
or Strent was the guilty person, as none
other was in the inn at that time. Strent
had vanished, but no doubt she knew
his whereabouts, The question was
whether she would tell.
"Oh, sho'll tell where he is, right
enough" said Merrick, to whom l put
this view of the matter, Especially if
she is guilty herself. "
"You don't think she is the criminal,
MerricI?"
"There is no reason why she should
not be-, he replied argumentatively.
"She had every reason to hate Felix
Briarfold. He had promised to marry
her and was engaged to Olivia. Quite
enough reason there for jealous wom-
an such as she seems to be. "
''But she wanted Felix to kill his
brother, so that she might force him to
marry her. "
eyes, but that little arrangement did
not come off. My idea is that she saw
Felix when he arrived at the inn and
asked him straight out if he had ar
ranged to. marry Olivia She would
hear Of the engagement while passing
through Marshminster on her way to
the lone inn. No doubt Felix lied about
the matter, and she lost her temper. 1t
may bo that she did not intend to kill
him, but having the poisoned arrowhead
in her hand had forgot how dangerous
it was and threw herself on him. He
put out his hand to keep her off, and
. SO was wounded. Then he died, and, ter
rified at what the consequences might
be, she and Strent left the inn.
''But what about her Matchmaking
Francis?'
"She guessed what Francis had done
and saw chance of securing her aims
by putting the murder on to him. He
had so compromised himself by his fool
ish actions that of course he was afraid
to denounce her. "
'Still, why did she want to marry
himp She loved Felix, not Francis. "
cts my opinion she loved neither of
them, - said Merrick dryly, "and simply
wanted to marry for respectability."
''Do You think she will denounce
Strent?"
She'll denounce any one to save her
self. 4"
won't you come and hear her con-
fession, Merrick?"
mot l. A respectable practitioner
like myself has no business to be mixed
up in such criminaiity. Hitherto have
been the sleeping partner in this affair,
and you have carried through my ideas
excellently we'll Continue to do SO and
then come and tell me all about it.
Very pleasant for you," I grum-
bled, but / have all the hard work. /"
Merriok laughed and pushed me out
of the door. He had dozen patients
waiting and could spare no moro time.
He said one last word before l left.
"Oh, by the way, Denham, " said he,
lifting warning forefnger, don't
you trust that Rose Gernon in the least.
I've been making inquiries about her,
and she has black record-about the
worst in London, l should say"
On my way to Jermyn street won
dered how he had gained this informa-
ton. A specialist of Merrick's stand
ing does not go round making inquiries
about loose characters Yet ! knew he
spoke tho truth. His faculty for learn
Ing things was marvellous. Decidedly,
Merrick should have been a detective.
His opinion about Rose Gernon ooinoid-
ed with mine. One had only TO look in
her face to see what she was.
At Jermyn street l found Francis
eagerly waiting my arrival
Tive sent down to the Marshminster
police, T" said he quickly, and instruct
ed them to drag the pool near the Fen
inn.
II am afraid you'll get into trou-
BILE over that, Briarfeld"
II don't care, said Francis logged
ly. II have been coward too long.
Had ] trusted you and told all there
would not have been this trouble. If
the police arrest me, they can just do
so, and I'll leave it to you to see me
through"
81 hope We'll learn the truth from
Rose today"
f'It'spossible, but not probable She'll
lie like the devil, whose daughter she
lse"
I'm not too sure of that If she is
gqiltless, she'll be only too anxious too
save her own neck. Why should she
risk her liberty for the sake of this man
Strent? Who it hep
81 haven't the least idea.
"Then We'll make Rose tell today or
have her arrested -
''There is not sufficient evidence
against her, objected Francis.
"Yes thereis. I'll take the risk of all
that. Before Rose Gernon leaves this
room she has to confess the truth. It's
your only chance Of safety"
but you don't believe l killed Fe-
1ix2''
tfI 1s,otf 1,,f kI,o ,,ol.oo .s..-- W.,