The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-21

Briarfield, said coldly Your broth
er Francis slept at tee Fen inn last
night. -
II slept in this hotse."
81 quite believe that. But yen are
Felix"
"Oh. said Bri'rfeld, bursting into
harsh laugh, II see you are making
the inevitable mistake of mixing me up
with my brother. 1t is pardonable un-
der the circumstances; otherwise l
might resent your plain speaking"
The assurance of the man was so COM
plete that | wondered if he knew that
his secret was safe by the death Of his
brother, Such knowledge would account
for his complaconcy Yet it was quite
impossible that be could know of tho
death, as he certainly had not been to
the inn. knew that from my own
knowledge
"If you are Francis" said l slowly,
"you are engaged to Miss Bellin."
81 am. he answered haughtily,
"but by what right you
Zone moment, Mr.. Briarfeld. Miss
Bellin gave her lover Francis a pearl
ring. do rot re- it on yorr Gnqer."
He glimc,l down at his hand and
grew confused.
Il lot it, Lo iauttcred-"I lost it
some tn a@o.
THAT is not tr-a!"
"Do you dare t. -
81 dare anything in connection with
what | know 70 he fraud You are
passing yourself Off as your brother
Francis "
"By what right do you make this
mad assertion "
From what Francis told me last
night"
But l tell you | am Francis" he
said sayagely Don't l know my own
name:"
"If you are the man you assert your
self to be, where is the pearl ling?"
II lost it"
"You did not. You never had it. l
saw it ON the finger of Francis no later
than last night.
~ think you arc mad, Denhamw
said Felix, white with passion, cor else
yeu must be talking Of Felix, who is in
Paris. "
THAT untruth will not serve" 1 said
coldly. Felix is before me, and Fran
cis is lying dead at tie Fen inn"
WHAT Francis dead?" he cried un-
guardedly.
"Ah, you admit it is Francis?"
mo, don't" he retorted quickly.
81 only re-echoed your words. What do
you mean by saying such thing?"
For answer rose from my seat and
made for the door. The farce wearied
me.
Where are you going, Denham?" he
asked, following me up.
"For the police, I answered, facing
him. eyes, / am determined to find
out the mystery of Francis Briarfeld's S
I death. You, his brother, decline to help
me, so 1 shall place the matter in the
hands of the authorities
Upon my soul, Denham, said Fe-
lix, OBTAINING me, you are either mad
or drunk I declare most solemnly that
am Francis Briarfield. From this story
of yours l should think it was my broth
or Felix who is dead, did l not know
he is in Paris?"
"a fine story, but it does not impose
on me" l answered scofiingly. "Listen
to me, Briarfeld. Your brother Francis
went out to South America some six
months ago. Before he went he was en-
gagged to Miss Bellin. The mother
would not hear of the marriage, % the
engagement was kept quiet. You alone
knew Of it and took advantage Of such
knowledge to suppress the letters sent
to Miss Bellin through you by Francis
and represent yourself to Olivia as
her lover returned three months before
his time. You, Iquite believe, are sup
posed to be in Paris, SO that you may
the more easily carry out the game"
'This is mere raving."
'It is the truth, and you know it.
AS Miss Bellin did not answer his let.
ters, Francis thought something was
wrong and returned home Afraid lest
he should find out your plot, you asked
him to meet you at the Fen inn, and
there either intended to throw yourself
ON his mercy or-to murder him. "
Murder himr" he repeated fiercely.
"It is falsel'
"That will be for the police to deter.
mine"
But surely, Denham, you don't In
tend to inform the police?"
II am going to do so now"
Felix seized me by the arm and drag
ged me back to my seat. He was now
much agitated, but made every effort tx
restrain his emotion.
"Sit down." he said in hoarse tone,
"You do me wrong, Denham-on my
soul you do me wrong. was engaged,
am engaged, to Olivia Bellin. Hel
mother consented to our engagement
after returned to England three months
ago. Felix, I believe, is in Paris.
1R g.