Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-04
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had watched tenderly, having in his
youth loved her mother, the grandpar-
ent OF the child before him. His suit
had not been successful, and for love Of
that woman he had remained bachelor
all. his days. Now he could SEQ chang
ing expressions in this young face,
which reminded him Of both those WON
en- who had been dear to him. Without
word he drew her toward him, and
kissed her once. Then he arose, still
holding her hand, and led her toward
the door Of the next room; there he
| kissed her once more, this time on the
forehead, and then babe her wait, shut
| ting the door after she left him. Then,
turning with fury i'll his heart and re-
pressed passion in his voice, he exclaim-
ed:
"Mr. Mitchell, either yen ere tie
| most contemplate villain On the face Of
this earth, or else there is some hideous
| mistake here. Explain it, man! must
know at once!''
Must, MIR. Neuilly, is word that
seldom obey. But know how you have
suffered, and have no desire to prolong
| this interview moment more than is
absolutely necessary. First, however,
| must understand the situation. What do
you and Mr.. Barnes here think it to be-"
81 will explain briefly" said tho de-
tective, provided your wife will with
draw
"My wife is now a part of myself, {"
said Mr.. Mitchell, proudly placing an
arm around her as she stood beside
| him. "You need not hesitate to speak.
She has promised to share my life with
me, to take me as l am. She will begin
tho task at once. Go on"
| $50 be it. I know now that Rose
| Mitchell, who was murdered, was known
in New Orleans as Rose Montalbon,
and that she was your wife. have also
discovered that you deceived young
creole, the mother of that child who has
just left us; that when You deserted
her she died broken hearted, while you
allowed the Montalbon woman to take
the girl and pass it off as her own,
though later she was kidnapped by yOu.
The woman suspected that you would
wish to marry again and swore to pre-
vent it. Her appearance upon the scene
| just rs yen We're to become q husband
must have been n menace to you. Do
yen sec the point? Murders have been
committed with less motive. I think,
therefore, that have sufficient evidence
upon which to arrest you"
| lyon might arrest me upon less evil
dence," said Mr. Mitchell. "It is done
every day. But TO convict me you would
have to prove all this.
Glow do you know that I cannot
provo it:''
'For the very simple reason that your
facts are all wrong
VERY good. Mr.. Mitchell, but you
will have to prove that"
II am fully prepared to do so. To
begin with, according to your story,
abducted this child. There you are only
partly right. did take her away from
the Montalhon, and / did it, rs you
might say, by stealth and force. But I
had the fullest right 10 do So
You admit, then, that you arc her
fa,hcr?''
con the contrary, deny it, and
there is the weak point in your story.
Your argument all depends upon ny
having been guilty Of wrongiiig that
girls mother and the Montalbcn's hav-
ing mo IL her power. In point CT fact,
/ am not her father, and the Montalbon
had bat slim chance to b!ackna:l ne -
bat you admitted to me that yen al
lowed her to 10 so; that you gave her
q large amount II Jewels
''That is true, yet did not submit
to blackmail.
Mr.. Mitchell. I seldom forget a
mans words. You told me that day in
tho vaults that you were III the woman S
power; that she could veutilate certain
scandals which might break your en-
gagenent. Yet now you say You We're
not i'll her power ard that you did not
submit TO bl.ckInail. How can you e1-
plain such conflicting statemcc;s:'
1.-Two conflicting statements mag both
be true, provided q lapse Of time occurs
between them. When l admitted that I
had been i'll the power of that woman,
/ thought SO; therefore I spoke the truth.
When l say now that was not, also
speak truly. In the interval l have
learned TO appreciate the character of
the woman who is now my wife. That
is all. know now that the Montalbon S
story, biazoned forth to tho world,
would not have affected her faith in
Ire if had told her my own version"
Fer heavens sake, gentlemen in
terrupted Mr. Neuiily, ''stop this argu-
nent and get down TO tie facts. am
impatient TO know TIE truth. -
Eyes, Roy said Emily. "Why not
simply tell the story as narrative, and
let the whole truth be kuown:"
THAT is what / mean to 90. have
only been enjoying little sparring
with Mr.. Barnes. But it is cruel 10 Mr.
Neuilly. who. hope. will pardon me-
To begin at the beginning, must go
back to my youth in New Orleans. l
was i'll love with a beautiful young girl. -
Here he pressed his wife's hand, and she
returned it, as though to say that she
understood. II think need not uen-
ton tie name Of Roses mother. Mr..
Neuilly, unless you have already done
so.''
Heaven forbid tha. should have
betrayed the secret" said the old man.
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