Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-06
A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE.
BY RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI.
Author of IAN Artist In Crime"


Finally she turned her attention to the
hand and examined ring on one fin-
ger. This seemed to satisfy her. In ris.
ing she stepped on the hem Of her dress
and fell to her knees, striking against
the corpse, which was thus slightly
turned over. This action brought into
view the other hand, which before had
been under the body. She shuddered as
she jumped up, and then, noticing that
the fist was doubled up tight, her curl
osity was aroused, and she determined
to investigate further. She endeavored
to open the fingers, and, though they
were tightly clinched, she at length
succeeded in relaxing two. This enabled
her not only to see that there was some
thing within the dead mans grasp, but
also to withdraw it. This done, she evil
IDENTIFY had enough of the company OF
the corpse, for she hurried to the next
room and hastily closed the door after
her.
She then examined the article which
she had Just obtained and found it to be
a small gold locket. Opening it, she saw
that itcontained miniature Of herself
which had been made when she was yet
child.
She was evidently disturbed at the
discovery, for she gazed at it long and
earnestly. Perhaps her conscience
troubled her, and the thought came to
her that even at the moment when he
was killed her uncle had just been look
ing at this picture Of herself, thinking
of the time when, young and attract
i've child, she had been his idol, and
then of the past week, when, before all
their friends, they had antagonized
their wills. She threw herself on the
btd, buried her face in her hands, and
for some minutes she sobbed like one in
dire distress. Presently, rising from her
recumbent position, controlling her
emotions by an effort Of will, she first
hid the locket in her dress, as she had
done with the letters, and then bathed
her face and went to the window. She
looked toward the summer house, but
saw nothing Of the detectives Turning.
she hurriedly-put on her hat, arranged
her toilet and started out from the house
in the direction of the postoffice.
She thought that she had avoided the
observation of the detectives, but in
this, as she herself subsequently sus-
pected, she was mistaken. Reaching
the bridge, she noticed the boat, and as
she had last seen the two men entering
it she concluded that they were now in
the vicinity, though she did not yet
guess that they had followed her. AS
she passed the saloon, however, she
caught a glimpse of Burrows, and as he
Immediately withdrew, so as to hide
himself from her view, she at once de-
cided that he was there to watch her
movements. Thus she was compelled to
abandon her project of mailing the let
ter herself, which had been her object
in coming out. She went on to the
house of the Marvels.
Being on terms of closest intimacy
with the inmates, she unceremonlously
entered without knocking and went in
to the parlor. Here, seated in front Of a
rousing log fire, she found Mrs. Mar
vel, busily engaged with some knitting
and evidently ignorant of the fact that
at that very time grave suspicious were
entertained against her son. The old
lady politely rose and welcomed her
visitor, but Virginia, without accept
ing her invitation to be seated, at once
inquired for her daughter Alice.
"Alice is not out of bed yet" said
the mother "She sent me a message at
breakfast time that she had headache
and preferred to sleep. But you can 90
up to her room if you wish. guess she
is not seriously ill.," She smiled, we'll
knowing that her daughter was fond of
her morning nap, and that "a head
ache" was often convenient excuse.
Virginia at once went in search Of her
friend. Ascending one flight of stairs,
che entered Alice Marvel's bedroom.
Alice was in bed, but not asleep. On
the contrary, she seemed very wide
awake, although completely absorbed
with her thoughts.
A moments description of this young
lady may not be amiss. Though, like
Virginia, brunette, she was neverthe-
less totally different in appearance.
Her friends called her pretty, and the
term was applicable, for though she
possessed a charming face she could be
called neither handsome nor beautiful.
Small, we'll chiseled features, rosy,
pert little mouth, piercing black eyes,
chestnut brown hair and clear COM
plexion with considerable color, these
were the salient points in her favor. In
stature she was petite. But it was her
manner more than her physical charms
that was her chief attraction. Viva
cious, impetuous, with powerful emo
tions, loving and hating with degree
of intensity foreign to the American
born, it was easy to detect that Alice
Marvel had French blood IN her veins.
Her father had chosen his bride in
Paris and continued his residence in
that city until Alice was ID. Then he
returned to America with his family,
which included Walter, who was two
years older than his sister, and immedi-
ately thereafter settled in Lee. Thus
Alice was now in her twenty fifth year.
Startled from her meditations by the
ahrunt entrance of her friend Alice