Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-25
CHAPTEP VIn

Alter all, IT Is true that tho uncN- pected always happens In my unravcl- ing of the Fen inn mystery I never for a moment expected to find that Francis was alive. l was even ignorant that 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 had not heard his ar- rival. Under these circumstances it was easy for me to make the mistake and think the dead man was Francis, particularly as I was mislcd by the marvellous resemblance between the brothers, and, moreover. saw the pearl ring on the finger of the corpse My mistake was n perfectly cxCuSahlc one, and had hCcn confirmed in such or rconous Eclicf hy the adroit fashion in which Francis, for his own safety, kept up the deception.
 Now l knew the trutll-that Francis was alive and Felix q, ad-yct as re.;ar,is | the name of the man who had commit I ted the crime 1 was still quite in the dark. Rose GcrnOn knew. but it Was questionable whether sine would confess, even to save her own skin. Either she or Strcnt was the guilty person, ;Is n''U" other Was in the inn at that time. Strtnt had vanished. Lut nu duuht she knew his whcrcabuuts. Tn" question Was whether she would tell.
 "Oh, shell tell where he k, right enough" said Mcrrick, to whom I put shc is guilty herself. ''
 "You don't think shc is the criminal, Merrick?'
 "There is no reason why she should not be-" ho replied argumentativcly. "She had every reason to hate Felix Briarfleld. He had promised to marry her and was engaged to Olivia. Quito enough reason thcro for jealous wom- an such as shc seems to be. ' | But she wanted Felix to kill his brother, so that shc might force him to marry her..
 l "Yes, but that little arrangement did not come of. My idea is that shc saw Felix when Inc arrived Tt the inn and asked him straight out if he had ar ranged to marry Olivia. She would hear of tho engagement while passing through Marshminstcr on her way to tho lone inn. No doubt Felix lied about tho matter, and she lost her temper. 1t may be that she did not intend to kill him, but having tho 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 blackmailing Francis:"
 She guessed what Francis had done and saw d 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.
 "Sdll, why did she want to marry him? She loved Felix. not Francis
 Its my opinion she loved neither of them. " said Morrick dryly. ''and simply wanted to marry for responsibility.
 ''Do you think she will denounct Strent2''
 Shell denounce any one to save her self"
 Wont you come and hear her con fession, Merricll?''
 Mot l. A respectable practitione,
 like myself has no business to be mixed
 up in such criminality. Hitherto hay, been the sleeping partner in this affair and you have carried through my idea' excellently we'll Continue to do so anG , then come and tell me all about 1t " , Every pleasant for you" grum
 bled. but have all the hard work. "
 Merrick laughed and pushed me ou ; of the door. He had dozen patient r waiting and could spare no more time He said one last word before left
 ''Oh. by the way, Denham," said he lifting a warning forefnger. ''don't 3 you trust that Rose Gcrnon in the least
 Two been making inquiries about her 5 and she has black record-about tn
 worst in London. should sat. t On my way to Jermyn street won f derod how he had gained this informa ton. A specialist of Merrick's stand [ ing does not go round making inquirie n about loose characters. Yet knew h spoke the truth. His faculty for learn 8 ing things was marvellous. Decidedly I Merrick should have been a detective I His opinion about Rose Gernon coincid a ed with mine One had only to look i q her fnoe to see what she was. Q At Jermyn street found Franci f eagerly waiting my arrival.
 ''I've sent down to the Marshminste e police, " said he quickly, "and instruct
 ed them to drng the pool near tho Fe d inn"
 |. 'I am afraid you'll get into tror $ ble over that, Briarfield." u "I don't care." said Francis doggeS r ly. ''I have been O coward too lont h Had I trusted you and told all the1
 would not have been this trouble