Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-01-19

now. =" said the inspector dryly. HAD
you wished to damn yourself, you could
not have gone to work in q more mig
headed fashion"
Are you going to arrest me:"
NO. There is not sufficient evidence
against you Besides I quite believe
your story. Still, added he, with some
hesitation. ''yor have to face the coro-
ner tomorrow. He may not believe Won
SO easily as l."
What do you think is best to be
done:" ] asked dtsmally.
well, judging from what you have
told me, I should think the best thing
would be to find Strent." said the in
spector. He is the only man to solve
the mystery. Failing him, you d better
get Rose Gernon down. Her evidence
may go to prove that Mr. Briarfield was
in bed at the time Felix was in the
house"
I'm wire for her to come down at
once" said. jumping up.
1T will be rs well. I'll send a man
over to STARRY and find out il Strent
delivered the horse to the livery stable
keeper. I wish to heaven, Denham, :"
said the inspector, raging at me, "that
You had told me all about this at first. "
II acted for the best''
I've no doubt you did," he replied
ill temporarily. ''but hate your anna
teur detectives. They simply muddle
things. I'd have Strengthened ont this
coil long ago had l taken it in hand"
Il have my doubts of that" said l
dryly ard went of to the telegraph Of
flee. There sent telegram to Rose
Gernon asking her to come down BY
the early train next morning and also
informed the detective that l wished
her to come. knew quite well she
would not dare to refuse, and, more
over, that my detective would send a
man to watch her, while he waited
round her house for the possible ap-
pearance of Strent
When got back to the inspectors
room, l found that his i'll temper had
vanished, and lie was doing his best to
console Francis
I've seen q man in q worse plight
Than is yours, Mr.. Briarfield," he was
saying when l entered, land yet he
came out all right in the end. The
cause of his predicament was similar. +"
What's that" said Francis, looking
up.
Lack of moral courage Had you
told Denham at the time and then both
of you had told me, we might have laid
our hands ON Rose Gernon and Strent.
AS it was, you gave them time to make
up their plans and get away"
Rose hasn't got away" said I grim
~. "She's safe enough and will be here
tomorrow
II wish we could say the same about
Strent," said the inspector.
do you think he is guilty." asked
Francis.
Upon my word, sir, after all my ex-
perience of the law, l am afraid to say
who is guilty and who isn't That the
DRY of DR.. Merrick's regarding Rose
Gernon is feasible enough. She certain
ly seems to have had more motive for
killing your brother than had Strent. ;"
Its my opinion, E" said /, THAT there
is relationship between Strent and
Rose. In such relationship lies the Sc
cret of the crime and her silence"
"Humph! There's something in
that, said the inspector. They might
be man and wife,"
''Or brother and sister," suggested
Francis
"Or even lovers" said, nodding
my head. Jealousy ON the part Of
Strcnt might have spurred him ON to
killing Felix"
These, however, were all theories,
and we parted for the night without
coming to any decision rs to who was
the guilty party In the morning re-
ceived a telegram from Merrick and
went OF with IL ut once to the inspect
or. 1t ran thus:
''Have secured Strent. Am bringing
him down with Rose. Arrive at noon.
Hold over inquest If possible.
''By Jove, SIR" said the inspector,
''that mar is lost as doctor. He ought
to be detective.