The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-27
CHAPTER X.

w uNii Il hoih III NhtlliCh VI lily ROOu
fortune in finding Rose Strent, or, to
use her stage name, Rose Gernon, he
was considerably astonished. The case
had taken hold of him so completely
that he could think of nothing else. He
had large practice and attended fairly
well to his patients, but informed me
that he did so in mechanical fashion,
more or less, rs his brain was busy
with the Fen inn mystery. We were
now wonderfully familiar, considering
the short period Of our acquaintance,
but this was doubtless due to the inter
est we both took in the case. "Upon
my word, Denham, said Merrick, rub
hing his head irritably, 81 wish you
had not come near me with your hallu-
pinations. Instead Of attending to my
business, think of nothing but your
mysteries The sooner we unravel this
riddle the better will it be for me. You
are an idle bachelor so it does not mat
ter much to gu, but l am busy med
ical man, AID this internal business
worries me greatly At this moment /
ought to be attending to patient, in
stead of which am wasting my time
with you.
"Shall go away?"
mo, confound you! l wish to see
the end of this affair, or I'll get no
peace Of mind. 1t is too late to remedy
the matter, so I must have my curiosi-
ty allayed by learning all the ins and
outs of this enigma Come, let us begin.
You have found Rose Strent?"
'Yes. She is O burlesque actress and
plays at the Frivolity theater. Her
name in the programme is set down as
Rose Gernon, but this is doubtless her
stage name Rose Strent is her real
one.
'Tm not SO sure of that, said Mer-
rick sharply. eff she went into that
Fen inn business with her eyes open,
she doubtless took false name, so as to
battle inquiry"
'"Then what about the landlord, who
called himself Edward StrentT"
'Oh, we must find ont all about him
ALSO No doubt his name is false also.
Did he look like her father"
"Well, l can't say that there was
much likeness between them. He looked
to me like valet"
"a valet" muttered Merrick reflect
lively. "Queerl l wonder if he really
was a valet-valet to Felix"
In that case he'll be with him now.
''It is not impossible. He has Felix
In his power and can stay on just as he
likes. It's my opinion he'll stay till he's
pensioned off. Case of blackmail, l
fancy"
II think Rose Gernon is blackmailing
Felix also"
"Quite so. What else can he expect?
Or else," added Merrick, looking
straight at me, "it's case Of love and
marriage"
what! Do you think Felix promised
to marry Rose if she helped him to get
rid Of his brotber?"
81 think he might lead her to believe
he would do So.
LILO ID dboulu, nlClllShj Sttiu l.
sharply. Felix is in love with Olivia.
The motive Of the crime was to gain
possession Of Olivia's hand. Rose would
not help Felix if she knew that "
Precisely. If she knew it, But it's
my opinion that she does not know it.
] believe Felix gulled her into belief
that he would marry her if she gave her
assistance, but he has not the slightest
intention of keeping his promise"
"And what excuse could he make for
wishing to murder his brother?" D..
"Ah, there you have me! I don't
know that. OF course you and l are
aware of the real motive Of the crime,
but Rose is ignorant Of it. She thinks
she knows, no doubt, but I'm certain
she been put off with lie"
'But he can't keep the information
from her for ever. Even if he keeps
quiet, some one is bound to tell her that
Felix is engaged to Miss Bellin.
'"There you are wrong" said Mer-
rick, with grim jocularity. "Every one
thinks Francis is engaged to Miss Bel
lin."
eyes, but Rose Gernon knows we'll
enough that Francis is dead, and that
the engaged man must be Felix posing
as Francis
''Theres some truth in that" admit
ted the doctor, looking puzzled. 81 sup
pose he must have kept that fact from
her so far, as don't see what possible
explanation he could give her"
"Always assuming she is in love with
him." said musingly.
"Oh, as to that, am certain it is So
A woman like Rose Gernon drawing a
good salary would not mix herself up
in such dangerous business merely for
money. There is stronger motive, and
that is love. I'll lay anything" con-
tinued Merrick, in sporting phrase,
"Pll lay anything that she is madly in
love with the fellow"
well, and Olivia, thinking Felix is
Francis, loves him madly also. If these
two women come together, there will
be trouble for Felix
"EurekaP' cried the doctor, jumping
up excitedly, "the very thing. When
thieves fall out-you know the adage.
Let us bring the two women together
and see the upshot
'"There will simply be row." said
L "What is the use of that?'
''This, retorted Merrick sharply
"that when Rose finds she has been be
trayed she will reveal all the mystery
out of revenge and assure Olivia that
Felix is not Francis. "
'"That's not bad idea, Merrick; alsc
it might occur that Olivia reveals some.
thing in her turn"
Impossible. She can't possibly know
the mans villainy, else she would moi
think Of marrying him. "
II suppose not, and yet, added re-
fleotively, II wouldn't be surprised il
u n