Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-08

gers, rue ae st. Honore, but talks Of
going to Italy"
examined the letter closely. It was
genuine enough. Of that there was nc
doubt, as it bore the French and Eng
lish postmarks. quite believed that il
was written by Felix, but also that il
had been forwarded from Paris BY an
emissary Of the young man in order &c
keep up the needful deception. Certain.
~ Felix had a marked talent for in.
trigue
IF Felix Briarfield is in Paris, +" said
/, handing back the letter to Olivia,
who was it ! met at the Fen inn last
night?''
1.-THE Fen inn:" replied Olivia, with
puzzled look. why, no one lives there
now, Mr.. Denham. 1t is in ruins and
has been empty for over two years
Nevertheless it was tenanted last
night, and l slept there; also l met
Francis Briarfield at the same place"
Francis was not out of the house last
night. declared Olivia decisively.
Quite true" he replied. II went tc
bed early with bad headache"
1T was not you l met at the inn last
night, but your brother Francis
How can you persist in so foolish
story" said Olivia angrily. "This is
Francis, and Felix is in Paris You
could not have met either of them at
the Fen inn last night, and indeed
can't believe that you slept there at all ;"
81 did, Miss Bellin, and there met
Francis
IF you did, where is he now? Why
not clear up the mystery by bringing
him here with you?''
Because he is dead"
''Deadr' she echoed, catching the
arm of Francis. Dead! Who is dead?"
Francis Briarfeld
He is mad," she said to Felix in
low tone, her face white with fear.
Upon my word, l am beginning tc
think SO myself / said, losing nv
temper, ''but declare on my oath that
Ispeak the truth. There is only one way
of solving the riddle. Come out with
me to the Fen inn and look on the face
of the dead man l say is Francis Briar.
field. A single glance will give the lie
to the assertion of this man who pre-.
tends to be your loverr'
Felix looked at Olivia, she at him.
1t seemed to me that they grew shade
paler. wondered whether any guilty
bond existed between them, as certain.
~ they seemed to understand one an.
other very well. Olivia appeared anx-
ious to protect Felix from harm. Either
she really believed him to be Francis O,
had taken her heart from one brother
and given it to the other. 1t was she
who spoke first, and throughout the in.
terview the woman played a more dar.
ing game than did the man. Her atti.
tude puzzled me, and for the moment
was quite i'll the dark as to what were
her real thoughts regarding my story
and that of the pseudo Francis.
I'VE cannot go tonight" she said,
with some hesitation, but tomorrow
morning, if you like, we will ride out to
the inn
] glanced at my watch.
1T is now o'clock" said l, land
will be light up to 8 or thereabout.
There is plenty of time for us to ride &c
the Fen inn, and think it advisable
to do so at once"
why not tomorrow morning." oh.
jected Felix.
Great heavens, Briarfield, have you
no natural affection: Don't tell you
that your brother is lying dead there:
Can't you understand the necessity Of
attending to so serious a matter without
delay? If you have no affection, you
might at least have decency.''
fac1 To 1,a1
is dead" said Briarfeld coolly. THAT
letter shown to you by Olivia proves
that he was in Paris yesterday He
could not have come over SO quickly,
and besides would have no reason to 60
to the Fen inn. -
"Of course if you insist upon assum-
ing your brothers name l can say moth
ing, but l know the truth and had it
from the lips of Francis. -
What do you meant" asked Olivia
II mean that Francis returned from
Chile few days ago and went to the
Fen inn by appointment in order to hear
the explanation of Felix"
What explanation"
The reason of Felix passing himself
off as Francis.
''You are utterly mistaken. Mr.. Den
J ham. / swear that this is Francis, the
man to whom am engaged"
7, Can you wish for stronger proof?'
asked Felix, with the marked intention
of insulting me.
paid no attention to his sneer, but
turned round to Miss Bellin and asked
pertinent question.
where is the pearl ring you gave
Francis, Miss Bellin?"
1.-The pearl ring?" she said, much ag-
itated. eyes, did give Francis pearl
ring, but he lost it. Did you not lose it,
Francis?" she added, turning toward
her lover
1.-Two months ago."
| We'll, Miss Bellin," said deliber-
ately. IF you come out with me to the
Fen inn, will show you the pearl ring
ON the finger of the dead man.
1T cannot bet is impossible, she