Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-22

"I'tl stake my life 1t is So" said Merrick
! calmly
tho movements of Felix Briarfield on
that night, and I'll lay anything you'll
find he went TO the Fen inn''
! THAT, them" said /, WAS the rea-
son he was so ready to go there next
morning with me-
Exactly! He knew well, thanks to
his forcthought, that there was no evil
dcnce there TO convict him of a crime,
and he could still keep up his impos-
ture. So far all was in his favor hut
| your obstinacy raised a new danger.
You said you would go to Paris and sat
! isfy yourself of the existence of Felix.
Now, then, you remained two days in
| London.
Eyes. was not quite sure whether
it was worth while carrying on the mat
ter. -
1T was pity you wasted so much
time" said Merrick, ''for Felix took
! advantage of your negligence to slip
to Paris and lay q trap for you. In plain
! words. he disappeared from Marshmin-
ster rs Francis and reappeared i'll Paris
as Felix.
He might have done so But don't
you think | would have Guessed the
identity of the one with the other?"
How could YOU" said the doctor,
''when the twins are alike in every re-
spect? And, moreover, you firmly be-
heved Olivia Bellin's lover was in
Westminster.
But if l go down at once to Marsh
minister I'll detect the absence of Felix
and so guess what has taken place.
eff you go down to Westminster,
you'll find Felix back again in his old
place.
Then Paris?'' queried uneasily. /
was beginning to see l had been duped.
"You forget Mr. Felix of Paris has
gone to Italy and left no address It's
| all safe there, and as he said he was
going to the east for six months or SO
there will be plenty of time for the pre-
tended Francis TO marry Olivia.
.'You don't believe that Felix of
Paris has gone to Italy or the east?"
''Of course not / believe he arranged
all these matters to battle your prying
and then calmly returned to Marshmin-
: ster. -
.But the manager of the hotel?''
''He is i'll the pay of Felix. You'll
get nothing out of him. Now. am GER
tain that is the explanation. Are you
not surprised at its Simplicity
l YES, am. 1t is astonishing l never
| thought of it before. "
/ Columbus and his egg once again, y
said Merrick grin,ly. well, what are
: you going to do next?"
''To drive to Westminster and find
out the movements of Felix on the
: night after the murder.
"Quite so, but first satisfy yourself
. ON the subject of Francis.
o What do you mean?" I asked.
n what day of the month were you a
: the Fen inn?" continued Merriok.
ION the 10th of June. :"
Good Francis there told you that he
d had Just arrived from Chile. Now
= find out what boat he came by, look NJ
y his name III the passenger list and as
o certain the date on which the true Fran
els arrived in England That point es
tablished, You can prove the false Francis
o to be an impostor. y
q can excellent idea said l, starting
to my feet. III see about it at once. ,
d And mind said Merrick, raisin,
his forefinger, II expect to be kept full.
:. advised of the case. y
: "Never fear, doctor. You are excel
It lent at solving puzzles. When l flint
l. another nut, I'll bring it to you t.
# crack. F"
DO! l take great interest IN thl
sort of cases l ought to have been
lawyer instead of q doctor"
I'm thankful for my own sake yo'
i are the latter, said l, shaking nj
:. hand "Goodby. doctor. am great.
ohlired for the kind interest you nav
q taken in this case. "
pure selfshness, assure You, re
r. plied Merrick, and so l took my leave
Before searching the shipping lists
sent two kilograms, one to the manage
If tine Hotel DIES strangers, asking l
), Mr.. Felix Briarfield was still there; til
- other to my Aunt Jane, inqulrln
:, whether Mr.. Francis Briarfeld was Il
10 Narshminster. This business having
- been dispatched, / took a iansom to til
:, city and saw o merchant OF my &c
:, ouaintance. He was All old friend an
- willing to oblige me in every way
"a chambers, - said when in his office
10 81 want to find out a ship that arrive
:, in London from Chile during the pres
n ent month.
- During june" said Chambers
~ "vvell. there S no difficulty about tina
10 What is her name:
~ ..That is one of the things l wish
sud out; also the names OF the passe'