Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-08-13
CHAPTER XvIII.-(Continued !,

Iold it calmly and dispassionately. but
with fullness of detail that struck a
chill to Stuart's heart
Il had been but a few days in London, y
he said, when I learnt by Walters own
hand-in the letter you have seen-that
he was also there, and that I was to 90
and see him. / was eager to do so. and
on the very night he was murdered, on
that fatal Monday night, set out to visit
him. He had told me to come late, and
knowing that he was a man much in the
world, and also that from living in Hon
duras, where the nights alone are cool,
one rarely learns to go to bed early. 1
did go late; so late that the clocks were
striking midnight as ached his house.
But, when 1 stood outside it, there was
no light Of any kind to be seen, only a
faint glimmer from lamp in the hall.
He has gone to his bed,' I said to my
self, and the house is closed for the
night. Well, it is indeed late, I will come
again And so turned away, and, know
ing that there was a road through your
park, though l had not gone by it, l de-
termined to return that way
Through the park-where he was muir
dered?" Stuart asked
Eyes, by that way. But before reach
ed the gates, and when I was outside the
palace of your queen, Buckingham Pal
ace, the storm that had been threatening
broke over me. Caramba! it was storm
to drown man, a storm such as we see
sometimes in the tropics, but which had
never thought to see here. 1t descerde
In vast sheets Of water, it was impossih.
to stir without being instantaneously
drenched to the skin, and so / sought shell
ter In porch close at hand. There, see
ing no one pass me but some poor half
drowned creature who looked as though
the rain could make his misery no greater
than it was, l waited and waited had
no protection, no umbrella-and heard the
quarters and half-hours, and the hours
tolled by the clock. At last, as it was
striking two, the storm almost ceased.
and, leaving my shelter, crossed the road
and entered the park
Yes" Stuart said in whisper.
Yes, l entered the park, and went on
round the bend, and 50, under the drip
ping trees, through what I have since
learned is called the MALI"
Go on!' Stuart exclaimed.
II had passed some short distance on
my road meeting no living creature, when
but little distance ahead of me l saw
two figures struggling, the figures Of two
men. Then l saw one fall, and the other
not seeing Inc, there were trees between
us-passed swiftly by. But / saw him
and his face, the face of young man
dressed as peasant, or, as you say here,
q workman; young man with brown
mustache."
For moment Senior Guffanta paused,
and then he continued:
st RON IN tho fal man G
Walter-dead! Stabbed to the heart. l
called him by name, 1 kissed him, and
felt his breast; bat he was lead! And
then, in moment, it came to my mind
that it was not with him l had to do; it
was with the murderer. I sprang to my
feet, I left him there-there, dead in the
mud and the water with which his blood
now mingled-and, as quickly as I could
go, [ retraced my steps after that MUIR
derer And heaven is good: | had vast
ed but two or three moments with my
Door dead friend and ere | again reached
the gates of the park I saw before me the
figure of the man who had passed me I'M
der the trees He was still walking
swiftly, and once or twice he looked
round, as though fearing he was followed.
But /. who have tracked savage beasts
to their lairs, and Indians to their haunts,
knew how to track him. Keeping we'll
behind him at q fair distance, sometimes
screening myself behind the pillar on a
doorstep, and sometimes crossing the
road. sometimes even letting myself fall
back still farther, l followed him. At
one time, when / brought him into my
sight again, it had been in my thoughts to
spring upon him, and there at once to kill
him or take him prisoner. And then |
thought it best not to do so. We had
moved far from the scene; who was to
prove, how was to prove that 1t was he
who had done this deed, AND not I? And
there was blood upon my clothes and
hands-it was plainly visible! l could
see it myself! blood that had flown from
Walters dead heart on to me as took
him in my arms upon the ground. No, l
said. / must follow him, | must know
where he lives, then I will take fresh
counsel with myself as to what l shall
do. So I went on, still following him.
Aud bv this time the dawn was breaking
He went on and on, walking. perhaps, for
half an hour or so, though it seemed far
more TO me: but at last he stopped, and I
had now some difficulty in preventing him
from seeing me- He had stopped at gate
IN a wall. and with key had quickly
opened it.
.The gate of the garden Of Occleve
Honsev' Stuart exclaimed, quiyering with
excitement.
eyes" the Senior answered. the gate
Of the garden of Occleve House. And
now had to be careful. was determin-
ad to see where he had gone to through
that gate, what he was doing in that gar
don. but how to do it /? If l looked through
+ba ratings he would see me, he would
tnow he was discovered-he might even
+hen be able to escape me! II had had
NV nistol with me, would have stood
Nv the gate and looked at him through it,
and then, If necessary, would have shot
him dead. But had it not; had thought
.nf no need for it when l left the hotel
that night. did not know what was be,
snro me when I went out. But l knew 1
.roust do something at once, and SO, see
no that the street was empty and no
nreature stirring, advanced near to che
cate ' stretched myself fiat upon the psve.
end with my head upon the ground iookss
u ud the lowest part Of the ratings ard
saw" ,..orn.;,.
.Uhat?" Stuart asked, intcrraptlag