The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-14

and that she was held captive BY those
who were interested in her disappear
ance.
But it now seemed to the detective
that he could no longer entertain that
opinion.
1t appeared that he must abandon
that theory.
IF Marion Oakburn was a captive,
she would not have been armed, and she
would not have attempted to secure the
escape of the suspected man even at the
peril of her life as she had done"
Thus Paxton reasoned.
Notwithstanding all this, the detective
still entertained certain vague sus-
picion which he had never entirely
banished from his mind.
The idea would present itself that
Marion Oakburn was governed by some
mysterious impulse, which was secret
locked in her own heart.
For the time, however, Paxton put tie
perplexing rebus out of his mind, and he
said to himself:
Il will think no more Of the possible
cause of this girls conduct at present.
I have need only to concern myself with
seeking to capture her and the supposed
assassin.
This last defeat shall not prove a
Waterloo for me, he added resolutely.
In safety he and his companion
emerged from the dangerous locality
into which their quest had led them. and
then they parted.
NO more Of this work for me. To-
morrow leave with my wife and child
for the far West, where l shall begin
new life. I want to leave the old way
behind me forever. We shall never meet
again, Paxton, said Saul Hedden, anc
then the two men shook hands cordially.
Success to you, Hedden. Stick to
your good resolution, and life will yet
be to you worth living" said the detect.
i've.
Hedden turned away, and Paxton
never met him again, but some years
later he heard that he was prosperous
and happy in the far Western land,
where he had gone in quest Of new
life.
In the morning the detective met Stan.
more.
The latter had called at Paxton's
office by appointment.
Stanmore listened eagerly, and he was
lnwardly much disturbed, as the detec-
tive saw, despite his efforts to preserve
his equanimity.
But Stanmore's faith In Marion Oak
burn was unshaken by what he heard.
He was loyal to his belief in Marion'e
Innocence.
He protested that If the real truth wac
ever unearthed, 1t would then be known
that the cashiers daughter was true
hearted, noble girl. Thus he had always
defended Marion.
In the course Of conversation which
ensued, Paxton produced the letter
which he had abstracted from the pack.
age Of correspondence which the coro'
ner had found in John Oakburn's safe.
He read the letter to the detective.
Stanmore's face assumed strange
expression as he listened, and when
Paxton read the name, Donald Way.
burn" with which the latter was signed,
he started violently.
And what importance do you attach
to that letter." he asked.
The greatest"
In what way? Please make yourself
clear" said Stanmore.
Paxton thereupon explained how he
had put circumstances together AND
formed the theory that possibly the au.
thor Of the threatening letter, Donald
Wayburn, and the suspected man who
carried the skeleton Keys to Garrison'a
Office might prove to be one and the
same.
In silence Stanmor listened until
Paxton concluded, and then said:
Your theory does not strike me as q
probable one. Iwould think no more o:
attempting to connect this Wayburp
with the case, 1t seems to me.
Pratt and Weeks, as we are aware,
thanks to the discovery Of marked
money in their possession, must be In
some way connected with John Oak
burns murder. Through them, I hope
the key to the mystery will reach DIS,
he added.
The conversation soon ended after
this.
The following morning Paxton was on
his way to his Office, when, as he passed
the clearinghouse where Levi Kredge
had lived, he saw rag-picker overhaul.
ing the contents Of an ash barrel stand.
Ing in a passage, leading to the rear Of
the house. Prompted by a new idea;
Paxton paused for o moment,