Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-22

But if I go down at once to Marsh minister I'll detect the absence of Felix and so guess what has taken place.
 ''If you go down to Marshminster, you'll find Felix back again in his old place
 "Then Paris?'' I queried uneasily. was beginning to see l had been duped.
 "You forget MT. 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. I believe he arranged all these matters to baffle your prying and then calmly returned to Marshmin- ster.''
 But the manager of the hotel?''
 ''He is in the pay of Felix. You'll get nothing out of him. Now. am cer- tain that is the explanation. Are you not surprised at its simplicity?"
 "Yes, I am. It is astonishing I never thought of it before''
 Columbus and his egg once again, |"
 
 you going to do next?"
 ''To drive to Marshminster and find out the movements of Felix on the night after the murder. "
 Quite so, but first satisfy yourself on the subject of Francis.
 What do you mean?" I asked.
 What day of the month were you at the Fen inn?" continued Merrick.
 'On the 10th of June"
 Good! Francis there told you that he had just arrived from Chile. Now find out what boat he came by, look up his name ill the passenger list and as- certain the date on which the true Fran cis arrived in England. That point es- tablished, you can prove the false Francis to be an impostor.
 "An excellent idea" said l, starting to my feet. "I'll see about it at once "
 And mind" said Merrick, raising his forefnger, 1T expect to be kept fully advised of the case.'
 "Never fear, doctor. You are excel lent at solving puzzles. When find another nut, I'll bring it to you to crack. '
 Do! I take great interest in this sort of cases. I ought to have been a lawyer instead of a doctor.'
 'I'm thankful for my own sake you are the latter" said I, shaking his hand. ''Goodby. doctor. I am greatly obliged for the kind interest you have taken in this case
 'Pure selfishness, 1 assure you, re- piled Merrick. and so took my leave.
 Before searching the shipping lists I sent two telegrams. one to the manager of the Hotel des Etrangers, asking il MT. Felix Briarfield was still there; the other to my Aunt Jane, inquiring whether MT. Francis Briarfield was in Marshminster. This business having been dispatched, took a hanson to the city and saw a merchant of my ac- quaintance. He was an old friend and willing to oblige me in every way.
 Chambers, said I when in his office in London from Chile during the pres ent month.
 During June.'' said Chambers Well. there's no difficulty about that. What is her name:"
 That is one of the things I wish to find out; also the names of the passen- gers.
 Come with me to the Jerusalem, !" said Chambers, picking up his hat You'll find there her name and agents Go to the agents, and they will supply you with list of passengers. What s up nOw?'
 Nothing particular" I answered farelessly, II have reason to believe a friend of mine returned from South | America this month, and I want to make certain" "
 Well, if he came under his own name, you'll have no difficulty in doing SO. Here's the Jerusalemr' This is, it is we'll known, a shipping club for the convenience of merchants. It tells them all about ingoing and out. going vessels, gives information regard. ing cargoes and in fact supplies all kinds of knowledge useful to those who hay, argoSies afioat. Chambers was well aC quainted with the mode of procedure so I let him do all the work It wa. now the 16th of Jure, and as Frapci: had informed mo he mad arrived during the month there was not much diff culty in finding what I wanted.
 Here you are," said Chambers, beck oning to me. ''Only one ship this montl from Chile-a steamer, the Copiapo Arrived on the 9th of June Dane 6 Paxton, 45 Devereux lane"
 I copied this down in my notebook refused Chambers hospitable invitation to luncheon and went of at once t Devereux lane Here I had no difficult in seeing the passenger list of the Go piapo, and one of the first names I se my eyes on was Francis Briarfield. "This puts the matter beyond d doubt," said I, making a note of thi: "If Francis Briarfield did not arrive i London till the 9th of this month, h cannot be the man now bearing hi . name at Bellin Hall. "
 I was now perfectly satisfied tht , Merrick's idea was correct. In order , confuse and throw me off the scent, F, lix had followed me to Paris and al peared in propria persona But for u , doctors suggestion of the shipping lii : I should not have been able to prov this, but now I held incontrovertib evidence in my hands to prove that F. lix was trading on the marvellous resen blance between his brother and himsel Francis had arrived in England on u 9th of June, h" .l:.l Ut me at the Fe inn on the 10th and had Il, re been foul done to death by his brother throul a third party. But was now on u trail and hoped to run to earth both u unnatural brother and his vile tool. felt like the hero of some wild romano
 On returning to my rooms in Dul street I wrote off at once to Merric telling him of my success in proviI the identity of Francis with the In; who had been slain at the lone inn. now remained for me to go down n Marshminster and there make inquiri ns tn thn rnnrar.,nI,ts of Enlir nn t