The Irish standard., 1897-05-15


Wildly, nervously. I'm what way? ]
don't understand"
TIE lawyer drew hin chair nearer to
the young man, who was seated on the
lounge, and laid his hand on his knee.
"of course II IL absurd to think Of
your being concerned In Strong death,
Alfred" he began; "but am obliged,
through the force Of habit, to look at
such affairs from a professional stand
point. I know you are innocent; but
innocent men have been hanged before
this, and have seen men put on trial
for murder with less circumstantial
evidence against them than there is
against you"
WILDLY brushed back his. disheveled
hair with q ~quivering hand, and stared
at his friend.
-'You mean that may yet be &C.
cused?"
1T all depends on Hendricks" the
colonel interrupted. HE is the bright
est man in his line in the world. If he
gets on tho track of the real criminal,
you are all right, and not q soul will
accuse you; but II his Investigations
should be confined to this house it might
grow very unpleasant for you. 1t
struck me that this view of the case
might not occur to you. and that is the
reason I am here. You see, it is we'll
that I came of my own accord. for ii
you had sent for me it might have an
ugly look"
The young man rose and began to
walk to and fro across the room. lam
very much Obliged" he sighed. II
never dreamed of being suspected. Mat
thews said that after I left the room
during the inquest something was
brought up about the blood stain on my
hand and uncle's will; but that did not
trouble me-"
Col. Warrenton's glance followed his
friends form back and forth for mo.
ment; then he said:
Pardon me, my boy, but do you real.
~ know if you got the blood on your
there? Is your memory clear on that
point?"
mo; I did, not notice it till started
to wash my hands. In fact, the dctec-
tive called my attention to it. Unjust
have been very much excited, or would
have noticed o thing like that; but, old
man, my head is in such a whirl that
I do not know what 1 am saying. /
oversight, and feel as if had been
drugged. Besides''-Whidby stopped
at the colonel's side and put his hand on
his OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to tell the truth,
something has come into my mind since
I have been in this room-something
did not remember at the inquest. Per-
haps ought to tell the police about it,
since I did not think of it when testi-
flying. As was lying down just be-
fore you came up, something flashed
into my mind like dream. 1 seemed to
recall walking about my room and be-
ing half walked by stumbling over q
choir near my bed. caught the chair
to steady myself, and half remember
that my shirt, which had thrown on
the chair when / went to bed, fell on the
floor. 1t seems to me that picked up
the shirt and replaced it, and then went
back to bed. / know the shirt was on
the chair when walked this morning,
but / can't imagine what was doing UP
an the night ~ -: :; s@s 80. -
"Ah, that is indeed curious" said the
lawyer. thoughtfully. "Can you re-
member passing the portiere, or touch
ing it with your hand?''
''No; have told you all remember
''Was the chair between the portiere
and your bed?"
"Yes."
"Was the back or the front part Of
the chair towards the portiere?"
''The back
"You are sure of that?"
eyes; it is quite clear to me, though
can't explain why, that ! ran against
tile back of the chair"
'"Then you were undoubtedly coming
from the direction of the portiere and
going towards your bed?"
ut seems 500
"Do you walk in your slcep?"
"Not now; at least, not to my knowl-
edge. used to do it when was boy"
"At that time were You ever con-
scious afterwards of having done SOP"
Eyes; would sometimes get lost in
my room and be unable to find my way
back to bed till walked"
"Tllat showed you had a habit of
walking about and unconsciously re-
turning to bed. 1t. was only when
something half reused you that you
were unable to act for yourself" Col.
Warrenton reflected for moment;
then he said: "Lool< here, Alfred;
want to give you some advice. You have
truthfully testified on oath as to what
happened last night to the best of your
memory at the time you were ques-
toned. This little circumstance has
since come into your mind. Now. my
advice to you is to keep this to your
self, unless, of course, you should be
called to testify again."
"Why?" asked WILDLY. :.
"For the sake Of your personal safety.
Innocent men have been executed for
crime too often for one to deliberately
put his head into halter
"Pooh!" said the young man. I'M
eaeily: ut seems like confesAng to
guilt to keep back anything bearing
OH the case."
"You are not capable of seeing what
Is best for you to-day, my boy. Don't
say anything about it for awhile, any
way, at least, not till see you again."
GAIL right; l can promise that said
WILDLY, as he shook hands with the
lawyer.
WILDLY continued to pace the floor
of the room until Matthews raped at