The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-24
CHAPTER AHI.

This man Is Spyl he must nOG eS-
cape US! cried Pratt, as his confeder-
ates hurled themselves upon the de-
tective.
The latter e1erted all his surprising
strength in making a determined strug-
gle to liberate himself from the clutches
Of his foes.
In the encounter the table was over
turned, and the bottle which Weeks had
said contained compound for remov-
ing ink stains was dashed down upon
the floor at the feet Of the struggling
men.
An explosion followed.
The great stone bottle burst into a
thousand fragments, and sheet OF
fame flashed upward into the faces OF
the combatants, who involuntarily leaped
away in every direction.
Weeks learned afterwards that through
q mistake on the part Of an assistant Of
the old chemist Of whom he had pur-
chased the compound, he had been given
an explosive mixture instead Of the COM
pound for removing ink marks.
Paxton was released by the frightened
villains at the instant Of the explosion,
as they leaped away to escape the flying
missile and the sheet of flame from the
wreck Of the bottle.
It was as though a supreme power
had decreed that the detective should
escape.
The table had fallen on the marked
money, and to pause to attempt to Sc
cure it then would have been suicidal,
as Paxton well knew, and with one
bound he shot through the office door,
gained the passage beyond and reached
the street In safety.
Paxton did not remain In the neigh
borhood q moment.
OF course the men from whom he had
escaped did not pursue him, for they
more than suspected his true character.
The detective regretted the result Of
his venture, but he congratulated him
self that his disguise had not been re-
moved, and that consequently his
identity was unknown to the brokers
and Levi Kredge.
"As it has resulted, perhaps the bet
ter course would have been to have
made no attempt to secure the marked
money, for now Pratt & Weeks are
doubly on their guard. But at all
events my venture has not been with
out q valuable result. I have learned
that the name of the supposed assassin
the man who carried the skeleton
keys-is 'Garnar,' reflected Paxton.
From the discoveries Of the night ne
had formed certain theories, and he
sought to account for various circum-
stances which required explanation.
How comes it that the photograph OF
the suspected man is in the hands OF
Marion Oakburn, and why does she
treasure it? I put the objection Of my
friend Stanmore aside, and ! will sup
pose that the original Of the photograph
is secretly her lover. She Is either ig-
norant that he is suspected Of her
fathers murder or she believes he is in
nocent. So far, SO good, Now for the
meaning Of the scene I witnessed be-
tween Marion Oakburn and Judith
Kredge.
Marion present, enter Judith Kredge.
She tells Marion something. and the girl
becomes excited. Therefore the news
she hears statles her. Then she reads
! note which she receives from Judith,
and is still more surprised. After this
the picture OF the supposed assassin is
and Marion shows it to Judith.
infer, therefore, that the communica-
lion made by Judith related to the
original Of the photograph. Perhaps the
note was from Garnar. Then Marion
and Judith Kredge leave the house.
This looks as though the communica-
ton Marion received called her to meet
the writer. I follow the two women, am
discovered by Levi Kredge, who warns
them Of the fact. They thereupon rel
turn to the house. From the last move
It is clear that they wished to conceal
where they were going, and they would,
not care to keep this movement secret
unless there was some powerful motive
for doing So"
Thus Paxton reviewed the events Of
the evening and drew his deduction.
Perhaps Mr.. Stanmore would not ad-
wise it, but I shall look after Marion
Oakburn and see what comes Of 1t, he
said, mentally.
He had repaired to his home immedi-
ately after his escape from the Office OF
Pratt j. Weeks.
Meanwhile, Stanmore, after parting
from the detective, confessed to himself
that he was deeply troubled by the de-
velopments of the night.
Gaining his own apartment at the
hotel, he seated himself and remained
buried in profound meditation for long
time, while the expression of his fea-
lures revealed that his thoughts were
far from pleasant.
Stanmore was aroused from the reverie
into which he had fallen by knock at
the door, and he admitted Mr.. Marks, Of
the firm Of Marks & Book, accommo-
dation loan brokers, of whom mention
has been made.
The two men exchanged cordial greet
inss, and became seated.
\ confidential conversation relating
to business subjects ensued, in the course
OF which Mr.. Marks said
Yes, Pratt T. Weeks have fallen upon
evil times. Dupes have been wary.
The pigeons flee at sight Of the hawks,
and luck in the stock market has taken
q strong turn against the cunning swim
dlers. They have met with many losses
and they now owe considerable sum"
Good Excellent! We shall accom-
plish our purpose, Marks.
1T is but question Of time, sir,
answered the other.
Mr.. Marks remained with Stanmore
but a short time, and he had scarcely
departed when Mr.. Judson, Of the firm
of Judson, Kirk & Co., brokers, called.
In the most friendly way Stanmore
received the representative OF this well.