Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-15

keenly, VINO IS tho dead man at the
Fen inn"
There is none there" he answered
jestingly, yet with lurking anxiety
which l was quick to note. 81 have no
third brother. We are twins, not trip.
lets.''
vouchsafed no reply to this witt
cism. which l judged to be in bad taste,
but rode on rapidly. By this time we
had left the town far behind and were
some way on the winding road which
crossed the marshes. Miss Bellin evil
IDENTIFY did not desire to talk. for she
pushed forward well in front, and as
Felix also relapsed into silence we rode
on smartly without uttering word. A
more dismal riding party never saw
The keen wind brought touch Of color
into the pale cheeks Of Olivia, but she
had dark circles under her eyes and
looked considerably worried. Felix rode
by her side and addressed her every now
and then, but was too far in the rear
to know what they said. Ifelt anything
but comfortable while in their compa-
ny, as they regarded me with great dis
favor.
Never mind" thought, touching
my horse with the whip. "Once bring
Felix face to face with his dead brother,
and he will be forced to abandon these
airs. At whatever cost, must tear the
mask off him, if only for the sake Of that
poor girl, who believes so firmly in such
a villain" There was no change in
the appearance Of the Fen inn as we
rode up to it save that it looked more
ruinous than ever The solitary build
ing had a sinister aspect, and even in
the bright sunshine limited at secret
murder. I noticed how thick grew the
grass around the house, thereby marking
more strongly its desertion and desola-
tion. Sure enough, it had not been in
habited for considerable period, and
this fact alone reused my suspicious as
to the motives of Strcnt and his daugh-
ter. They could have no good design in
staying in so haggard dwelling.
lyon see, the inn is a ruin," said
Olivia, pointing toward it with her rid
ing whip. mo one could find shelter
there even for one night
Il did, Miss Bellin.
1T was dream, she answered-'an
idle dream. You may have slept there,
but you never met Francis within its
walls
1--WE are on FOOLS errand, said Fee
lix derisivcly. II thought so all along"
Come and see," said, dismounting
at the door Of the inn. He laughs best
who laughs last"
1t seemed to me that Olivia made as
though to turn her horses head away
from the house. but by this time the
hand of Felix was already ON the bride
rein. and she suppressed the momentary
inclination to fee. The action revived
INV suspicious. With o half sigh she
we entered the house.
All was as I had left it. The blinds
were down, the room widowed and des-
olate, the fireplace filed with heaps Of
gray ashes. Olivia drew her riding
skirts closely round her and shuddered.
l led up stairs to the room Of Francis
Here the door had fallen down, and we
walked on it into the room. To my sur
prise. the bed was empty.
well, Denham," said Felix after a
pause, where is the dead body TO whom
you have given my name?''
''Some one has been here and taken ii
away"
II don't think 30. The absence of the
body only proves the truth of what
said from the first. You dreamed your
adventure
Before 1 could reply Olivia burst into
hysterical tears The strain on her
nerves was very great, and now that the
climax was reached she broke down ut
terly. Felix took her in his arms and
soothed her as he best could, while 1,
utterly bewildered by the turn events
had taken, carefully searched the ROOM
All was in vain. l could find neithe,
body nor clothes nor aught pertaining
to Francis Briarfield. I began to think
to myself that must be dreaming But
that was out of the question. The only
conclusion / could come to was that
Strent had watched me leave the house
and then returned to make away with
the body. Without doubt it was Strant
who had slain my unfortunate friend
and now had hidden the corpse in some
quaking bog.
When Olivia broke down, Felix lee
her from the room, and I went to the
front door, there to find them mounted
on their horses.
1--WE are going back to Marshmin
ster, said Felix, gathering up his reins
Thanks to this wild goose chase, Mis-
Bellin is quite i'll. trust now, sir, tina
| you are convinced.
II am not convinced that you ar,
Francis" answered doggedly.
"You still think l am Felix?' h,
asked, with sneer.
81 do, Notwithstanding the disappear
ance of the body, which has been mad
away with by Strent. l firmly believ,
that Francis is dead and that you ar
Felix Briarfield.
GAS we have seen nothing. Mr.. Den
ham, said Miss Bellin coldly, 81 mus
decline to believe your statement. Thi
gentleman is Francis, and Felix is il
| Paris"
VERY good, said quietly. ''Thel
leave for Paris tomorrow.
| ssEor xx,bat rooco,,o,s