The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-23
CHAPTER VI.

TWO days reviewing Jne strange events
In which l had lately been an actor At
Dne moment it was in my mind to aban-
don what certainly seemed to be a
hopeless search, for l could but see it
was matter of great difficulty to lay
my hand on the assassin of Francis 1t
would be better, I thought, to place the
matter in the hands Of the police and
let them thrash it out for themselves.
Two reasons prevented my taking this
lgnoble course.
One was that Francis Brairfeld had
been college friend, and was unwill-
Ing that his death should go unaveng-
ed. The story of his love for Olivia,
which he had told me at the inn, con-
tanned the elements Of a strange ro-
nance fltly capped by his tragic end. l
felt certain that Felix, through his hired
bravo-for l could call Strent by no
other name-had encompassed the death
of his brother Felix was pasSionately
In love with Olivia, and the unexpected
return of Francis not only threatened to
take her away from him. but also to re-
veal the scoundrelly fashion in which
he had behaved. At one blow Felix
would lose her love and respect. There
fore his motive for ayerting such ca
tastrophe was strong one. That he
should determine on fratricide was a
terrible thought but there was no other
course left to him by which to secure
the woman he loved and the respect he
valued It was the mad action of
weak, passionate man, such as l knew
Felix to be. Too cowardly himself to
strike the fatal blow, he had hired
Strent to carry out his plans, and the
death had been duly accomplished,
though in what way was quite unable
to say. 1T was sufficient for me to
know that Francis was dead, and l felt
myself called upon to avenge his death.
The other motive was perhaps the
stronger one Of detective fever. l was a
bachelor. l had good income and
nothing to do. Therefore this quest was
one Of great interest to me. / had often
hunted beasts, but this man hunt was
much more powerful incentive to ex-
element l could hardly sleep for think
ing of the case and was constantly en-
gagged in piecing together the puzzle
AS yet had no clear clew to follow,
but the first thing to be settled was the
identity of Felix at Westminster with
Felix at Paris. Once 1 established that
point and proved conclusively that Fe-
lix had never left England, would be
in position to prosecute the search in
the neighborhood of Marshminster.
own that there was an additional
reason in the pique l felt at the scornful
disbelief of Olivia. She evidently con-
sidered my story pure fiction, and the
strange disappearance Of the corpse from
the inn confirmed her in this belief. IT.
ritated by such contempt, 1 was resolved
to bring home the crime to Felix and
to prove oonclusively to her that he was
masquerading as her lover, the dead
Francis. ID would be cruel blow when
assured of the truth, but it was better
that she should suffer temporary pain
than drag out lifelong agony chained
10 a man whom ! knew to be a profit
gate, liar and a murderer.
at the end of two days confirmed
myself in the resolution to hunt down
the criminal and decided as the first step
10 go to Paris. Leaving Victoria by the
night mail, I arrived in the French cap
ital next morning. Anxious to lose no
further time, hastened at once to the
Hotel des Etrangers, in the Rue de st.
Honore, and there took up my quarters.
Recovered from the fatigues of the jour-
ney, l partook of luncheon and then
made inquiries about Felix Briarfeld.
To my surprise, l not only discovered
that he was in Paris, but that he was
in the hotel at that moment.
"Has he been staying here for any
length Of timer" l asked the manager.
For SIX weeks, monsieur, and now
talks of going to Italy" was the aston.
ishing reply.
To say that I was surprised would
give but a faint idea of what / felt.
That the assertion Of Olivia should thus
prove true was almost impossible Of be-
lief. If Felix was here and had beer
here for the past six weeks, it coulC
not possibly be he whom | had met al
Marshminster. Assuming this to be the
case who was the man of the Fen inI
who called himself Francis? My heat
was whirling with the endeavor tt
Srapple with these thoughts Suddenly
W idea flashed into my brain which
ilight possibly account for the mystery
Can it be-" thought l, that it wa
Felix whom I met at the inn-Felix
who tried to pass himself off as Francis
and then invented that lying story? Per
haps he was not dead, as thought bu
merely plunged into trance. When h,
revived, seeing the uselessness of fight
ing with Francis, he fed back to Paris. ;
All this time l stared hard at tn
manager. In reality I was puzzling GU
the mystery and not paying any atten
tion to the man before me. He, howev
en-, grew weary under my regard an,
moved uneasily.
"Mr. BKiarfeld is now in his room
monsieur. Shall I take to him you
card?''
If you please" answered mechan
ically and handed it to him. In fev
moments waiter came with a messag
stating that Mr.. Briarfeld would b
glad 10 see me. followed the man il
state of the utmost bewilderment an
found myself IN the presence Of Fell
before l knew what to say or do H
was 30 like Francis, whom though
was lying dead at the Fen inn-so hk
the man who passed as Olivia's lover
that for the moment could do nothin
but stare at him. Yet he could b
neither Of the two, for one was dead
and the other I had left behind O
Marshminster.
ssHow ape Won. Denham?n he said