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

we QlSCuSS9d the matter extensively,
hut neither of us could come to any
conclusion. When the clock struck
noon, Rose GeInon, true to her appoint
ment, walked into the room. Without
waiting for an invitation she sat down
in q chair and soowled at me.
''That man Of yours is outside, " she
said savagely. He's been following
me about everywhere and watching my
house all night. Perhaps you'll ask
him to go away.
"That depends on the result of this
conversation. You're not out of dam
ger yet, Miss. Gernon.
81 am not aware that 1 was ever in
danger, Mr.. Denhsm. Are you going
to accuse me Of killing Felix?"
81 might even do that unless you tell
the truth.
"Oh" said she with a sneer, sis
that your game, sir? Then suppose do
tell the truth and say you killed Felix2"
you're quite capable of doing so,
but no one would believe so wild a tale.
l had no reason to kill Felix Briar-
field"
"Then what motive had l for so do
ing?"
"That's best known to yourself"
answered tartly, weary Of all this fenc-
ing.
"It is waste of time talking like
this, " interrupted Francis. "YR must
be aware, Miss Gernon, that you stand
in very dangerous position. "
"Not more so than you do yourself"
she replied, with superb insolence,
Pardon Inc, l think otherwise. By
your own confession you went down to
the Fen inn to assist my brother in get
ting me out Of the way. You said that
last night before two witnesses-Miss
Bellin and Mr.. Denham.
81 talked at random" she muttered.
81 did not intend that any crime should
be committed"
perhaps not. Nevertheless my broth.
er is dead, and you know how he died. {"
81 know the cause of his death, but
l do not know who killed him."
eff you know one thing, you must
know the other"
81 do not. When Felix arrived, he
showed Shent and 1 an arrowhead
which he said was poisoned. "
''Is this the arrowhead" / asked,
producing it out Of a thick piece of pa
per.
eyes. Where did you get it?''
Il found it in the ashes of the fire.
place, where you threw it, ="
"That is not true, d" said Miss Gernon
angrily. 81 did not throw it into the
fireplace 1 never even had it in my
hand The idea that it was poisoned
frightened me-"
"Pray 60 on with your story, Miss
Gernon."
81 SEQ you don't believe me-" she
flashed out defantly, "but / am telling
exactly what took place. Felix said he
was going to kill his brother with the
poisoned arrowhead. told him l would
have none Of that sort of thing; that l
only consented to play the part of a
waiting maid in order to deceive his
brother into meeting. said Francis
could marry Miss Bellin, and he was
to marry me-"
"And after that?"
"He jeered and said he intended to
marry Miss Bellin. Then l grew angry
and struck him.
She was in real earnest for her mouth
was set, and her hands were clinched,
not a pretty sight by any means re-
membered Merrick's idea and conceived
that it might be possible the woman
before me had killed the man who fout-
ed her--not Intentionally, but in a fit
Of blind rage
"You struck him with the arrow
head?" / limited.
"No, | didn't He had laid that
down on tho table | struck him with
open palm and said if he killed his
brother l would denounce him to the
authorities as murderer. Then he
would go to the scaffold instead of the
altar with Miss Bellin."
"What did he say?"
Nothing at first Then / saw look
pass between him and Strent, and
they seemed to understand one anoth-
er. Felix said he would return to Marsh
minister and let his brother marry Miss
Bellin. did not then know he had
been passing himself off as you" she
added, turning to Francis. ''If had,
l would have guessed that he was ly-
ing. AS it was, l thought he spoke the
truth and kissed him. Then ! went to
bed"
"And afterward?" said Francis, see-
ing she paused.
"Well, I never saw Felix again till
he was dead. "
''In the morning."
"No An hour after I left him.
Strent knocked at my bedroom door
and asked me to come down.
guessed by his voice he was afraid, so
dressed hurriedly and came down
stairs, Felix was lying dead by the
table. / could not see Strent and
went to look for him. He was out at
the back door mounting Francis horse.
! asked him where he was going, and
he said Felix was dead, and he did not
want to stay in order to be accused of
the crime.
''Did he say he had killed him?"
'No nor had / time to ask him. He
went off at gallop and left me alone
with the body. / was horribly afraid,
as thought you OF Francis would
wake up aud accuse me Of the crime.
Besides I could not account for my pres
ence in that house without suspicion,
50 put on my hat and cloak and fed
to Marshmiuster.
"Hew did you fy2''