Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-06

tell me all about this case. and ! give
you my word of honor that III let you
be tried here, instead OF taking you
back. Is it bargain?"
Frank Ames' white lips moved, but
no words came from them.
Doctor" said the detective, shave
you drop of brandy? It'll do him
good"
The wretch swallowed the spirits
greedily and revived somewhat.
1T is bargain" he said, though 1
denythat Lynde street Job. But I'm
done up. There is no hope for me, and
/ might MS well speak out, for ut least
wish to deny that meant to murder
that poor girl.
"fou are right in all that you have
said. 1t was to whom she fed. She
thought it was simply secret mar
riage. l deceived her by the usual sto-
ries- had another wife living and
Charlotte found it out too late. She
was afraid to come home then. Let
me pass over all that. Her story is too
common, suppose. OF course wea.
ried of her, but would have provided
for h IT always, and would have kept
her near me, if l had not learned to
love her sister. That was two wears
ago, and from that moment l schemed
to be rid of Charlotte.
"She was wholly under my influence.
intended to use her to break Max.
wells engagement with Anna. NV
plan was to have Charlotte come home
and refuse to tell her story. Then
would have thrown the blame on Max.
we'll.
1T suited my convenience to bring
her here when l sprung that plot to
save my brother from arrest. Charlotte
came by means which l provided.
She went to her fathers house, and
looked in upon him through the win.
dow. She could not bear to face him.
She returned to me at my fathers
house. l ferred what she would do,
and SO l drugged my father lest he
should see her.
when she came took her to the
room where lay the coffin. had re.
moved my father in his stupor to an.
other room. Charlotte and quarreled.
tried to force her to carry out her in
tention of going to her father, and
somehow don't know howl let her
see the real secret, that loved Anna.
"Her wrath was terrible. In an
instant she would have alarmed the
house. sprang upon her to stihe her
screams-fOr l knew that she would
scream in a second. She fell with my
weight against her, and her head
struck one of the heavy metal handles
OF the coffin. / had no idea that she
was much hurt. My horror and re-
morse were terrible when found that
she was dead.
Then the scheme of hiding the body
came to me. l wrenched open the
coffin; took out the paper books with
which it was weighted and burned
them in the fire; put her body in and
closed the coffin as best could. That
is the whole story. Do you believe
mc?r
Il do" said Mulligan, "and I will
keep my word. My curiosity, think,
has saved your neck. Is there any,
thing more, DR.. MAXWELL"
Nothing. May go to Anna now?
must have her help in breaking the
news to this wretched creatures par
ents."
my mother is beyond knowing it,
thank Cod" said Ames. las for my
father he is man of iron. He can
bear anything"
He spoke so calmly that even the
experienced detective was deceived,
and believed that this was the con-
session Of despairing and beaten
man.
But Frank Ames was not that kind
of man, by any means. He was
watching his chance. AS Maxwell
turned to leave the room the de-
tective's attention was distracted for a
moment. 1t was time enough for the
| desperate criminal.
In flash he had leaped upon Multi
gan, and had got his hands upon the
revolver. There was q struggle, vio-
lent, but so brief that before Maxwell
could interfere it was over. Ames had
secured possession of the revolver; he
had pulled the trigger intending to send