Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-11-27
THEL0NEI INN
By FERGUS HUME
lcopynsh,. iss by Ii. As,hor.i
CHAPTER VII.


CHAPTER VII.
After that interview with Felix ~
turned forthwith 90 London. had no
complished the object of my journey
and did not care about staying longer IN
Paris Ny mind was much psrturbed,
A. was quite unable to come to any
conclusion rcspcting the episode at the
fcn inn Beyond all doubt hal proved
that Francis was at Marshminster. fe'
Lin In Paris Who then. was the mai
hal met nc the inn. IL was impo~sibl,
that could be mistaken In the identity
of my college friend. yet In the face ol
such evidence as hal gathered II WA
ridiculous To cling 10 my first impr~'
sions There could not be three brother
exactly alike I'm personal appearances.
and yet had bcheld three men-at th,
Fen inn. at Marshminsier and Ina Pari,
who rcscmbl~i each other In every ~.
sy-ct The more ! pondercd over Oh,
mystery. the deeper did II tscome and
the moro confu-cd grcw my brain.
Ibcgan 90 think that I was the vic
tim IL some hallucination. ~ ] could
explain the matter In no other way.
With this idea. which was the only
feasible one left to mc. took the ad'
vice If Felix and ON my return To town
wen, 20 scc Dr. Mcrrick. lie. aspcial'
ist on diseases % the brain. listened a.
my story with great attention and ques'
toned mo closely ON all POINTS
There IL some trickcry about this.
Mr.. D,nham." he said after oonsidcra'
tiOn-
"YOu do not. then. think my meeting
with Francis Briarfiold was . halluci.
nationi' ! asked eagerly.
There j. no hallucina'ion about yOu,
.ir. was the comforting r-pon-- "You
scrin 90 M. n IAN. and matter of fact a
prs0n as ever met. p"
"Th.n. II 10 L. not hallucinAtion, how
do yuu accOunt for my having met thru,
men all exactly alike when I know
,hcru arr only two with that sIscial ap-
pcarancc in c,is,cncei'
II think IL L. trickcry." repeated
Mcrrick. nursing his chin This l.
mOrc ca-o for detective than Tor a
doctor. View I you. Mr.. Dsnham.
would employ gos-i detective and prOb-'
the mystery thoroughly. Tn. matter
s.yms miraculous to you now. but feel
sur, when you learn the solution you
will /. surprised a, its simplicity"
III ! am sane. n you lay and ~
believe myself to h.. will thrash cut
the matter myself
Better g.t n trained man. Mr.. D,n.
ham. from what YOU have told me ]
s-c yuu have to deal with u criminal of
no ordinary intelligence II Is an cN.
traurdinary cass," inus.d the doctor.
"and do hot wonder at the fascina
tiun IL seems to oxorvis. over yVu-
We're l in your placc" -
Were you In my plac.f' SEEING hc
hositatcd
Here am I setting up for lawyer. "
said Merrick quantity. ITO tell you the
honest truth. Mr.. pcnham. you have
inoculaicl mo with detective fever. ]
should like ,o solve thi. problem my.
S.lf Criminal investigation has always
b.cn rather a hobby of mine In my
business I meet with some queer cxIs-
ricnc,s. There arc more insane I'coplc in
the wcrld than yuu think. "
"Tcll mc your ideas. doctor. and I'll
carr them out and rport progress.
"Gosll I'll b. the sleeping partner. ="
he said In an amus-l tone. but warn
You. Mr.. Dcnham. that from what sss'
% this cas-. II will b. one ot great difii
Guilty and may take D.sn,hs TO work
out 4"
Il don't mind that. II L. nothing to
an idle man like myself. but ] am
afraid. DIR. Merrick. take up your val
liable time.
"Oh. I can spare few minutes. ="
said the doctor quickly. II work hard
enough. - IL is permitted 10 even pro.
fossiunal man to indulge occasionally
In some amusement This case Is - To
me.
"well. and your idcai''
lin the frst placc. ! am inclined %
Igr,c with your ideas of Felix passing
himself of ~ Francis Z"
II have abandoned that idea. " aid
dolefully. II law Felix In Paris
wait moment, replied Merriok
We'll come to that later on. Further
more. believe II was Felix you met at
Marshminsicr-felix. who called him
self Francis and po~cd as the lover Of
Miss Bcllin."
"But I saw him In Paris" F" said ].
again clinging Ia that undeniable fact
II know you did. but the pretended
Francis of Marshmins,er and the real
Felix of Paris Are one and the same Per
con"
"YOu mean that he followed me
over" cried. suddenly enlightened