The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-03
CHAPTER VIII.

the impression he had made.
Stuart was regarded in such manner
that he was sure Pratt was believed by
the majority.
True, none Of the stolen money had
been found In Stuart Harland's posses
sion, but this could not be regarded as
an evidence of his innocence, since he
had ample time to secrete the proceeds
Of the robbery.
Thus reflected the jurors.
There was little further evidence to
hear, and presently the Coroner SUBJ
mitted the matter to the jury, who
thereupon rendered a verdict without
leaving their seats, that John Oakburn
came to his death at the hands Of some
person, whose positive identity was un-
known, but that the evidence was such
as to fasten q strong suspicion upon
Stuart Harland." -.--s E--,-s-ss&-- s,a=---"
Thereip6n, the Coroner directed that
Stuart be held prisoner to await fur
ther developments. - -~ --~,
Stuart retained his composure admir-
ably, as he listened to the verdict OF
the coroner's jury, and heard the order
which condemned him to detention in
prison.
The officers were about to conduct the
unfortunate young man from the Office,
when Jason Garrison came forward and
grasped his hand in warm greeting.
You will tell Edna that am falsely
accused" said Stuart.
Yes, yes. She will never doubt you,'
J answered the broker.
| Harland was moving to the door, be-
tween the two officers, when Marion
Oakburn gained his side, and said to him
in tone Of the mostpositive conviction:
Take with you the assurance that you
will be saved
Stuart was conducted to Ludlow street
Jail forthwith, and his mind was in q
condition of doubt and trouble most
harassing. So many circumstances Of
surprising nature had crowded them
selves into his life within the last few
hours, that he was dazed and confused.
In the midst of the confusion in his
mind, he saw constantly, however, like
q portrait which had been stamped in
deliblysupon the camera Of memory, the
horror stricken face Of Marion Oakburn
as he had seen her when she left the
Office in which her father had been mur-
dered. Her face haunted him like q
ghost that would not be laid, and as he
reflected he thought:
When she came out Of the Office her
father must have been dead. Before
saw her steal out Of that apartment the
murder had been done.
Where was she when the awful crime
was consummated2"
There was horrible doubt in Stuart
Harland's mind then.
P,,f cnnh q fhinO Ia
tirely inconsistent with Marion's char
acter that the monstrous thought that
she may be implicated in the murder Of
her own father cannot find lodgment
in my mind. And yet what was she do
ing in the Office at that hour, and why
was she in such state Of terror when
she left it2"
These unanswerable questions natur-
ally suggested themselves to Stuart's
mind. .-'-z -------
Then he recollected how he had been
awakened by the loud noise, which he
could not account for, and he thought
poy that It must have been the detona-
ti61 Of the pistol shot ts9t bad killed
John Oakburn that he had heard, 2ET-'
He did not know that Paxton advanced
the theory that the assassin's weapon
was an air-pistol. But he had caught
enough Of the police sergeant's mutter-
ings to learn that the time Of the muir
der had been fixed ut twenty minutes OF
one, and 50 he knew that John Oakburn
must have been dead when Marion left
the office.
Despite all his suspicious and conjec-
lures, Harland had not mentioned the
incident of his having seen Marion leav-
ing the office, for he had always enter
tanned the most exalted opinions Of her
character, and he had reasoned:
There is mystery inexplicable in
Marion Oakburn's conduct, but l can
not believe her guilty. There is some
explanation which will yet be made that
will clear up all this dark affair, and
shall not regret my silence"
The ignoble thought that he might d.
rect suspicion from himself by revealing
to the Office never entered his mind.
Who can be the guilty one2" Stuart
asked himself, and although there was
no clue to guide his suspicious, by some
mental process which he could scarcely
have explained himself, his thoughts re-
verted to Levi kredge, the janitor.
ferndpS tue vague suspicious VI LlllS
man, which entered his mind unbidden,
were prompted by an opinion which he
had recently formed that Levi Kredge
was spy and sneak.
Stuart had twice caught the fellow
with his ear at the key-hole Of Jason
Garrison's S private office when confden-
tial transactions were taking place there.
The second time Stuart's anger gained
the ascendency, and he kicked Kredge
out of the office.
The young man had not forgotten that
Kredge had flashed upon him look Of
ferocious hate as he skunk away without
resenting the assault.
The fellow had not uttered word,
but Stuart had read murder in the fierce
burning light of his eyes, and from that
moment he knew that the seemingly in
offensive and servile cripple was dan
gerous man.
The thought now occurred to Stuart
that it might have been the fellows pur-
pose in listening at key-holes and in spy
ing about the Office to obtain knowledge
which would enable him to commit rob-
berry when there was money in the safe.
So deeply impressed did Stuart be-
come with the idea that Kredge was
corcerned in the murder that he deter