Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-25

thing"
 '"Thank you," he said gratefully. Had 1 known you were so true friend, should have made you my con fidant. As it was, when I remembered my wild threats of killing Felix, dreaded lest, finding him dead, you might accuse me of his murder.
 Who killed him?''
 ''I don't know. When saw him, he was dead"
 And Strent and Rose:"
 ''They had left the house."
 "What time was this?''
 About 6 in the morning."
 And I was not Up tin 10 o'clock. You had plenty of time to fly. But what put it into your head to place the dead body of Felix ill your bcd?"
 "It's long story, and I hardly know if you will understand my mo- tives. -
 "Yes, do You were afraid Of being accused of the crime. It was foolish of you to mistrust me. would have aided rather than blamed you"
 ''I sec that now. It was kind of you to try to avenge my death. Unfor- tunatcly all your industry was danger
 
 You certainly did so very adroitly. But tell me the story. l am anxious to know what took place" Francis was quite unnerved by the ! late interview and before continuing poured himself out glass of brandy. Then, pushing the bottle toward me, he began his strange narrative without fur ther preamble
 r kNI T. t1.oN, .4 L., said slowly, II could not sleep for ever so long. I kept wondering if your the ory could possibly be true about the treachery of Felix. + it were, cOnsid- cred how I should punish my brother. While thus thinking I fell asleep and didn't wake up till close on 6 o'clock in the morning All my troubles came on me with full force, and you know how much worse things look at that hour than in broad daylight. There was no chance of further sleep, so put on my clothes and went down stairs. The first thing saw was my brother Felix lying dead on the floor. " Had you any idea who killed him?"
 "Not the slightest thought it was either Strent or the girl, so I went in search of them They had fled. for I found my horse gone, so this flight con- firmed me in my suspicion. At first determined to wake you up and explain all, but remembering my foolish talk of the previous night thought you might think me guilty of my brothers death |" That was foolish idea
 Well. put yourself ill my place, and you would have thought as 1. :" Not bit of it. l should have had more moral courage"
 ''I hadn't at that moment. 1 thought you would dcnOunce me and l would bc hanged, so took steps to secure my own safety. I went outside and found my brother's horse at the eide of the house. Strcnt and his daughter had talk an mine and overlooked my brothers in the hurry of their guilty flight. saw means of escape and took it
 But what about the substitution of yourself for Felix?'
 'I did that to throw of the scent. guessed that your idea was right, and that Felix was masquerading as I, so thought might go back with safety as myself Felix was far cleverer than I, and it was certain that he had provided some reasons for the absence of his real self while he passed himself of as mo. The whole plot unrolled itself in mo- ment before me, and saw in carrying 1t through lay my only chance of safety"
 "It would have been far easier tc have trusted to my friendship"
 'I sec that now," said Francis peni. tently, ''but did not then. wanted to leave the house without your walk ing. so took the body of Felix softly uI stairs, undressed it and laid it ill my bed. Then I folded up my clothes oI the chair beside the bed and dressed myself in his suit
 And the pearl ring"
 ''I had to part with that so as to car " out the deception; therefore I slipped it on the finger of the dead man. TheI I locked the door of my bedroom ant came down stairs again. In few min utes I was on my way to Marshmin i ster.
 How did you get the horse back t' Fundy's stables. and what made yol think of going to Bellin Hall:" "As to the first, found Fundy' name on the saddle, so knew Felix haC : hired the horse. I took 1t back to tn stables, and, owing to my resemblance ) to Felix, easily managed to deceive tn hostler. Then, as Felix in his letter haC } told me he was staying at Bellin Hall went there"
 "Was there any suspfcion?' } ''None at all. told 0 footman ha1 been out for Q morning ride and askeI
 him to bring me brandy and soda {. , I my room needed the drink after al t had gone through. but my principa |, reason for asking him was to find ou 3 my rtom-"
 ''How sor'
 7 Well. I made him carry the tray ul l stairs ill front of me Of course he tool
 1t to the room of Felix. and thus gain | ed my point without exciting suspicion
 All the baggage. clothes, etc. of Feli; : were in the room knew all abou 0 them. as I had Seen them plenty 0
 times Then dressed in morning sui s and went down stairs to find Olivia "
 Did she guess the truth?' s Mot at first, but she saw there Wa
 something wrong as she kept referrin a to events of the previous week abou Il which knew nothing. Luckily Mir
 Bellin did not come down to breakfast '- so was able to tell her all when tn n servants left the room.''
 Had she recognized that Felix WI @ masquerading as yOu?'' o "Sbe had more or less, but was nc \ quite certain When told her all thI e hnd occurred, she believed me at ono,
 In some instinctive way she knew thi g was really her lover. Then VIC set {
 work to concert measures for my safet, d Olivia told me Felix was supposed to 1 q | fn Paris at the HoteI tieS Etranoprs m ], showed mo his letters. so it was decide !" as wisest to keep up that fiction sl O told me all that had taken place durir