Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-01-05

Francis"
"What do you mean. Miss Gernou:"
I asked rapidly.
Il mean that this man whom Miss
Bellin thinks is her lover Francis is Fee
lix Briarield, and Felix Briarfield,"
she continued. lis my lover
mo" said Felix hurriedly. 1T is
not truer'
l expected to see Olivia grow angry,
but in place Of this bright smile IRA
dated her face ~ she looked at Felix
/ could not conjecture the meaning Of
her action and began to grow uneasy
Rose also looked anything but comfort
able. Evidently she had met with her
match in Olivia
Il overheard part Of your converse
ton, q" said Olivia, addressing her point
eddy.
very honorable, l am sure" retort-
ed Rose, with a sheer
Honor is thrown away on women
like you, answered Olivia scornfully
II am glad l listened, for it enables me
to protect the man l love against your
arts. !"
That is not the man you love, =" said
Rose spitefully HE lies in the marshes
surrounding the Fen inn, slain by the
hand of his brother"
THAT is not true-I swear it is not
true" cried Felix, approaching nearer
to Olivia.
BE quiet, Francis" she said quick
". Let us hear what she has to say"
Il have to say that Felix Briarfield
loved me-" cried Rose angrily. He
loved me long before he ever saw you,
but when You crossed my path he want.
ed to leave me. He impersonated his
brother Francis, who was at that time
in America, and you, poor fool. did not
discover the deception"
You are quite right. Ibid not, " re.
piled Olivia calmly. 60 on"
when his brother Francis came back
this month. he thought all would be
discovered and implored me to save
him. He told me of plan whereby he
intended to decoy his brother to the Fen
inn OIL pretext Of explanation. There he
intended to kill him."
Olivia made no remark, but placed
her hand within that of Felix. Won
dered she could do 60, seeing that he
was accused by his accomplice Of hid
eous crime, and made no denial.
Il went down to the Fen inn with q
man called Strent'-
THAT was not his real name" in
terrupted.
How do you know that:' she said
sharply
Never mind. know that it is so. ="
Il decline to tell his real NAME" said
Rose. darting furious look at me II
call him Strent. and by that name you
knew him and knew me at the Fen
inn"
II certainly did not expect Rose
Strent. waiting maid. to change to Rose
Gernon. actress"
"You are too meddlesome. Mr.. Dem
ham," she said coolly, land would do
better to mind your own business.
Scarcely when l have discovered so
vile crime"
1T was he who committed il, 3" said
Rose Indignantly, pointing to Felix,
He came to the inn and killed his
brother.
1T is n lier' cried Felix in despair.
II laid no hand on my brother. did
not even see him."
wait one moment, Miss Gernon, be-
fore you make this accusation" said
Olivia? "You say that Felix is your
lover
81 do
"And you promised to assist him in
removing Francis if he married you?"
II did"
"For what reason when the removal
of Francis would enable Felix to marry
me under his false name?"
He promised not to do SO. and l
thought if ! helped him to kill Francis
I could force him to marry me-"
"You love him greatly
II love him better than any one else
in the world"
II am sorry for that" said Olivia,
with touch Of pity, because Felix is
dead"
Felix deadr' said Rose incredulous-
". Then who is the man,
This man is my lover, Francis Bri-
arfield, who returned from Chile on the
9Th of June