The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-31
CHAPTER XIV.

OIlAI LEN AlN.
We were no nearer the truth than
before Rose Gernon had told us moth
ing new, comparatively speaking. Ger
tainly she declared herself to be inno-
cent Of the crime and accused Strent,
but if we found Strent he might declare
himself innocent and accuse her. One
or the other of them must necessarily
be guilty, as they alone had seen Felix
on that fatal night. Rose was being
closely watched by detective, so that
we could obtain her evidence at any mo-
ment 1t now remained for us to find
Strent and hear his story. Francis be-
lieved Strent had killed his brother.
had my doubts, as | could see no motive
for his committing the crime, where
as Rose, in fit of blind anger, might
have done so. Merrick s theory as to her
guilt was more in accordance with my
belief
Hitherto we kept the case from being
meddled with by the police, but now
they began to handle the matter. In
Ibi uitAl bl IlhhtAH ttS w tuG MI1tIth-
bouts Of the body, they dragged the
pool near the Fen inn and recovered
the corpse of the unhappy young man.
Then the inspector wrote a peremptory
letter to Francis, requesting him to
come down and attend the inquest.
There was note of suspicion in the
letter, and Francis could not very well
help !obeying the summons
He requested me to come with him.
which l had every intention of doing.
We settled the time of our departure
and before going saw Olivia and DR..
Merrick. Mrs. Bellin had not been in
formed Of the death of Felix, nor did
she suspect that anything wrong was
going on under her very nose. Thanks
to the wonderful resemblance between
the twins, she accepted Felix as Francis
and Francis as himself without the
slightest suspicion. At first she had OBJ
jected to the engagement, bat afterward,
learning that Brairfield possessed good
income consented. To be sure, she would
have been better pleased had Olivia
married title, but as her daughter de-
clared she would marry no one but
Francis Mrs. Bellin gave way with a
good grace
AS to BOLIVIA, she was terribly dismay-
ed when she heard Francis was going to
Marshminster, and she dreaded lest he
should be accused Of his brothers mur-
der. The actions of Francis had been
SO very peculiar that was afraid to tell
them to the inspector lest he should
think the young man guilty. At the
same time it was impossible to keep
them secret, as Francis had thrown the
body of his brother into the pool and
would have to explain to the inspector
how it got there. Our only chance of
proving him to be innocent lay in find
ing Strent, and where he was to be dis
covered none Of US knew. Merrick's S
clever brain discovered clew to the
destination of the fugitive.
"Did you ride to the Fen inn from
Marshminster?" he asked Francis.
"No. Had l come by train to Marsh
minister l would have gone to Bellin
Hall, where my brother was staying,
and seen him before Olivia"
"lt's pity you did not go there"
said Merrick thoughtfully. "All this
trouble might have then been avoided.
Well, how did you get to the Fen inn?'
81 took the train from London to
STARRY, hired horse there and rode to
the Fen inn'
Glow far Is it from STARRY to til
Fen inn?'
about u miles.
"And from the Fen inn to Marshmin
ster?''
"Ten miles"
''Much about a muchness, said Mer
rick. "Did you tell Strent you had rid
den from Starby?"
Eyes. l had no reason to conceal m
movements. "
"Quite so. Well, according to Ros
Gernon, it was your horse Strent too
to escape?"
1T was. wonder he did not tax
the horse of Felix"
'For very simple reason. He kney
when the alarm was given that 20
and Denham would go to Marshmir
ster. Therefore, to hide his trail tn
better, he went back with your horse t
6tarby."
'Do you think so?"
4 am sure of it, Go to the liver
stable at STARRY where you hired you
horse, and | am certain you will fin
it there, restored by Strent.
well, said !, in nowise satisfied
"suppose we trace him to STARRY, Thi
will be Of no use. No doubt he took I'll
train there for London." "
Very probably, " said Merrick COO
ly, "and waited there for Rose Ge
nom.
but she has not seen him since
fed from the inn "
$50 she says, but it is not true, fl
all that. When he killed Felix, an
the evidence seems to point to him
the murderer, he told Rose to take Il
gig and go to Westminster. Then |
rode off to Starby and rejoined her
London.
but why should she conceal h
moyements?"
Because he knows too much abo1
the crime" said Merrick decisivel
"Either she did it herself and is afra
Of his speaking, or he did it, and 81
wishes TO screen him. "
HWhy should she wish to screen
man who killed her lover?"
81 can't answl, all questions, +" sa
Merrick irritably, finding himself at
lass. "All this is pure theory, but
think it is so. am certain there is {
understanding between Rose and Siren
If that detective watching Rose on
knew Strent, l am certain he wou
catch him paying her visit"
HWhv not give tho detactive n nj