Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-08

or Francis slept at the Fen inn last
night.
Il slept in this house."
Il quite believe that But you are
Fclix!'
"Oh." said Briarfeld, bursting into
harsh laugh, Il see you are making
the inevitable mistake of mixing me ND
with my brother. 1t is pardonable un-
Ger 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 complacency. Yet it was quite
impossible that he could know of the
death, as he certainly had not been to
the inn. l knew that from my own
knowledge
IF you are Francis" said slowly,
lyon are engaged to Miss Bellin.''
Il am." he answered haughtily,
but by what right you
'One moment, Mr. Briarfield. Miss
Bellin gave her lover Francis a pearl
ring. do not see it on your finger"
He glanced down at his hand and
grew confused.
Il lost it," he muttered-"I lost it
some time ago."
THAT is not true!'
DO you dare to-
81 dare anything in connection with
what l know to be 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 / tell you 1 am Francis, he
said savagely. Don't know my own
name?''
IF You are the man you assert your
self to be, where is the pearl ring"
Il lost it,
saw it on the finger of Francis no later
than last night.
Il think you are mad, Denham"
said Felix, white with passion, "or else
you must be talking of Felix. who is in
Paris. -
THAT untruth will not serve" said
cOldly. Felix is before me, and Fran
els is lying dead at the Fen inn. -
What! Francis dead?" he cried un-
guardedly.
"Ah, you admit it is Francis?"
mo, l DON'T" he retorted quickly.
II only re-echoed your words. What do
you mean by saying such thing?"
For answer l 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, answered, facing
him. Eyes, / am determined to find
ont the mystery of Francis Briarfield's
death. You, his brother, decline to help
me, so 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 / should think it was my broth
er Felix who is dead, did l not know
he is in Paris?'
"A fine story, but it does not impose
on me-" answered scoffingly. Listen
to me, Briarfield. 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, SO 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 a.
her lover returned three months before
his time. You, Iquite believe, are sup
posed to he in Paris, so that you may
the more easily carry out the game.
''This is mere raving."
''It is the truth, and you know 1t.
| As Miss Bellin did not answer his let
tiers, 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
cn his mercy Or-to murder him.
Murder him. he repeated fiercely.
ut is false!'
"That will be for the police to deter.
mine"
"But surely, Denham, you don't in
tend to inform the police?"
81 am going to do so now"
Felix seized me by the arm and drag.
Ccd me back to my seat He was now
much agitated, but made every effort to
restrain his emotion.
| "Sit down, " he said in hoarse tone.
"You do me wrong, Denham-on my
soul you do me wrong. / was engaged,
1 am engaged, to Olivia Bellin. Hei
mother consented to our engagement
after returned to England three month:
AGO Felix. believe, is in Paris.
uon { know whom you met at the inn last
night. 1t was not lit could not have
been Felix. There was no appointment