San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-08

DO you mean the bridge between
Riverside and Wadley's Falls?''
Eyes, sir. / crossed the river again,
as that is the shortest way from my
house to the Epping road"
Mr.. Upper now sought information
ON another point.
''Mr. Marvel, did you ever sea me-
dallion looket owned by Miss Lewis
which contains her portrait2''
Marvel colored considerably at this
question and seemed confused. After q
moment, however, he stammered out:
Yes, sir, have seen it."
When was the last time that you
saw it?''
Marvel seemed more than ever trou-
bled, and even Virginia changed her
position and, raising her eyes from the
floor, seemed all anxiety. Marvel re-
manned silent SO long that Mr.. Upper
at length repeated his question. Marvel
hesitatingly asked:
"Why do you wish to know?"
Gone, come, Mr.. Maxwell That Is
not to the point. Answer my question
Is it not simple one?''
"Well, then, desperately, eff must
/ must. confess that did what many
men have done. I stole the medallion
and"-
Virginia uttered cry and started up
as though about to speak, but the squire
quickly said:
"Sit down, Miss Lewis. You must
not interfere now" And she obeyed
with groan. Mr.. Upper turned to the
witness, who was evidently amazed at
this little episode, and resumed:
You had your name engraved ON
the medallion, did you not?''
81 had my initials put on. ;"
Precisely. Now let us return to the
question. When did you last see this
locket?"
II cannot say exactly. have it about
me at all times"
Have you it now?"
Virginia made another movement as
though to interrupt, but the squire
again stopped her. Marvel promptly re-
piled:
why, certainly.
.'Please let me see il. -
Marvel at once put his hand in an in
ner pocket of his vest, but after mo-
ment's search he drew it out again with
cry of surprise and exclaimed:
81 have lost itr' There was silence
for moment, and Marvel rapidly
searched his other pockets, but in vain.
At last it seemed that an idea occurred
to him suddenly, and he said:
II am a fool and have been very
careless. | remember now that when l
changed my clothes at home, after leav.
ing the fam, l did not think of the
locket, so it must be at this moment at
the bottom of the river"
"Ahl Then you admit that you had
it with you that night?"
'Did / not tell you that / have al
ways had it with me since it has been
in my possession?"
"Would you recognize it again if you
could see it?"
Certainly"
SIS this it?'' He handed Marvel the
locket given to him by Virginia. Mar
vel took it and after looking at it re-
piled:
"Yes, this is the same Where could
you have found it?"
Can you not surmise?"
"Nor'
"Well, then, 1 will tell you. 1t was
found in the closed fist of the murdered
mani"
"Great Godl 1t is impossiblep'
''It is truel At least it is true if we
can believe Miss Lewis, for it was she
who found it..
Miss Lewis found it? This is terri
bleI"
The silence which ensued was most
profound. Every one could plainly see
the Importance of this latest develop
ment and how, by accidental ciroum-
stances, the net was being drawn
around the witness. Mr.. Barnes him
self was considering how strange it was
that this young girl, who had not hest
tated to destroy evidence which might
implicate some one, presumably her
lover, should, by the merest chance,
have been the very one to produce the
most eliminating proof against him.
The thoughts of all were suddenly dis
turbed by the voice of Virginia herself,
who stood up defiantly and with the
mark Of strong resolve stamped upon
her features. She spoke in measured
words, and her voice seemed dead to all
sense of feeling. Indeed it sounded
only like an echo of her natural tones.
"Stopl" said she. "This has gone far
enoughr"
what do you mean?" asked the
squire quickly, foreseeing that some
startling development was at hand.
81 mean that you are wrongfully
weaving a web around an innocent
mani"
''Ah, then you know who is guilty."
81 dol killed my uncle myselfp'
This statement naturally caused the
widest excitement. Only two men
present seemed not to be surprised.
These were Marvel himself and Mr.
Barnes. The former dropped into seat
and buried his face in his hands, giving