The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-12
CHAPTER III.

At last the direct accusation which
Marion Oakburn dreaded. and to pre-
vent which she had besought Judith
Kredge to preserve silence regarding the
UNEXPLAINED departure of Stuart Har-
land, was made.
The police sergeant was responsible
for formulating the dreadful arraign-
ment into words, but in the minds Of the
others present it could scarcely be
doubted that the same suspicion had
found lodgment
1t is an age Of distrust No mans
past is regarded as q bond for his
future. Mep whose regulations were
spotless yesterday are buried in the
mire to-day. The temptation of gold
outweighs the honor and honesty Of men
who until the denouement comes are re-
garded as above suspicion
But Jason Garrison would have staked
his life upon the innocence and honor OF
the man to whom he meant to intrust
the future happiness OF his only child.
AS the police sergeant pronounced the
name OF Stuart HarIand the broker
leared to his feet.
"Never, sir! Never! Do not dare to
couple Stuart Harland's name with d
crime in my presence" he cried.
stuart Har. and Is as innocent as
am. know it, feel it. He is not capa-
BILE of d;shonorable deed" said Marion,
earnestly seeking to ezculrate the sus-
pected one. .
"you see, sir, even the daughter Of
the victim Of this tragedy is assured OF
the innocence Of the man you accuse, I"
said Garrison.
sand permit me to say that you are
entirely wrong in thinking t!at share
your suspicion of Stuart Harland," said
Paxton, the detective, smiling blandly.
Indeed, under the circumstances, am
convinced of his innocence" he added.
The police sergeant seemed amazed.
"The circumstances are all against
him; it cannot be any one e!se," he said,
deiantly.
aGood, keep on thinking so and work
on that line The way will be clear to
enable me to secure the real assassin,
said Paxton pleasantly.
ave shall see l have placed a shrewd
man on HarIand's track and he will be
arrested before morning"
II wish you Joy Of your capture, l am
sure" retorted Paxton.
Jason Garrison turned his back upon
the detective and the police sergeant
with an expressive gesture and strode
to the side of the dead man.
Long and earnestly he gazed upon the
face of the dead. and the man of the
world was deeply moved as he thought
that this po1r man, who had served him
with surprising fidelity for long years,
had perhaps met his fate in defense OF
his property.
"Poor John, poor john" he said. "He
was che of the few men who are honest
from principle alone He was honored
by all, and he leaves behind him rcpu-
tation OF which any man might well be
proud"
Then, turning to Marion, he added:
"Miss Oakburn, the memory of your
father will be respected by all who knew
him. He died as he had lived-faithful
to his duty and an honest man."
The dead cashiers daughter was
| strangely agitated, but her face became
transformed with q look of heroic re-
solve as she said:
"My father so lived that when he was
dead men might speak of him as you
have dono. His soul would have revolt
ed at any other destiny. His memory
shall be revcred."
There was something fierce and
| startling in the intensity of the girls
voice, and her manner was that of one
in a strangely excited mental state.
But her hearers. with perhaps one ex-
ception. attributed her excitement and
her strange manner to emotions occ"-