Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-01-19
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CHAPTER XIV.
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before. Rose Gernon had told us 10th
ing new, comparatively speaking. Ger
tainly she declared herself to be limo
cent Of the crime and accused Strent,
but if we found Strent he might declare
himself innocent and accuse her. One
or the other of them must necessarily
be guilty. as they alone had seen Felix
ON that fatal night Rose was being
closely watched by detective, so that
VIC could obtain her evidence at any mo-
ment. 1t now remained for us to find
Strent and hear his story. Francis be-
lieved Strent had killed his brother. l
had my doubts. as conld see 10 motive
for his committing the crime, where
as Rose. in a fit of blind anger. might
have done SO. Merrick's theory as to her
guilt was more in accordance with my
belief.
Hitherto VIC kept the case from being
meddled with by the police, but now
they began to handle the matter. In
formed by Francis as to the wherea-
bouts of the body. they dragged the
pool near the Fen inn and recovered
the corpse Of the unhappy young man.
Then the inspector wrote peremptory
letter to Francis, requesting him to
come down and attend the inquest.
There was note Of suspicion in the
letter, and Francis could not very well
help obeying the summons.
He requested me to come with him,
which had every intention of doing.
We settled the time of our departure
and before going saw Olivia and Dr.
Merrick. Mrs. Bellin had not been in
formed Of the death of Felix, nor did
she suspect that anything wrong was
going on under her very nose. Thanks
to the wonderful resemblance between
the twins. she accepted Felix as Francis
and Francis as himself without the
slightest suspicion. At first she had OBJ
Jected to the engagement, but afterward,
learning that Brairfield possessed good
income, consented. To be sure, she would
have been better pleased had Olivia
married "a title, but as her daughter de-
clared she would marry no one but
Francis Mrs. Bellin gave way with a
good grace.
As to Olivia, she was terribly dismay-
cd when she heard Francis was going to
Westminster. and she dreaded lest he
should be accused of his brothers muir
der. Tho bottoms of Francis had been
SO very peculiar that was afraid to tell
them to the inspector lest he should
think the young man guilty At the
same time it was impossible to keep
them secret, rs Francis had thrown the
body of his brother into the pool and
would have to explain to the inspector
how it got there. Our only chance of
proving him to be innocent lay in find
ing Strent, and where he was to be dis
covered none of rs knew Merrick's
clever brain discovered clew to the
destination of the fugitive.
did you ride to the Fen inn from
Westminster" he asked Francis
mo. Had come by train to Marsh
minister would have gone to Bellin
Hall, where my brother was staying,
end seen him before Olivia"
Its a pity you did not go there"
said Merrick thoughtfully. ''All this
trouble might have then been avoided.
Well, how did you get to the Fen inn:"
Il took the train from London to
STARRY, hired horse there and rode to
the Fen inn"
''How far is it from STARRY to the
Fen inn:"
About l. miles"
And from the Fen inn to Marshmin-
ster?''
Ten miles"
Much about n muchness, said Mer-
rick. did you tell Strcnt you had rid
den from Stsrhy:'
Eyes. 1 bad no reason to conceal my
movements
''Quite So Well. according to Rose
Gernon, it was your horse Strcnt took
to oscapc:"
1T was wonder he did not take
the horse of Felix
For very simple reason. He knew
when the alarm was given that you
and Denham would go to Marshmin-
ster. Therefore, TO hide his trail the
better. he went back with your horse to
Starby'
do you think so:''
II am sure of ii. Go to the livery
stable at STARRY where you hired your
horse, and l am certain you will find
ii there. restored by Strent."
WELL" said /. in nowise satisfied.
suppose we trace him to STARRY. That
will be of no use. No doubt he took the
train there for London.
Every probably" said Merrick COOL
", land waited there for Rose Ger
nop."
But she has not seen him since he
fed from the inn"
so she says. but il is not true, for
all that When he killed Felix. and
the evidence seems TO point to him as
the murderer, he told Rose 10 take the
gig and go to Westminster. Then he
rode off to STARRY and rejoined her in
London"
But why should she conceal his
movements
Because he knows too much about
the crime" said Merrick decisively.
Either she did il herself and is afraid
of his speaking. CT he did ii, and she
wishes to screen him"
Why should she wish to screen q
man v-h., Gillcsl her lcver.-'