Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-10

Il know it. David Sarby."
mot at all. He accused himself to
shield the real person"
ITO shield the assassin" gasped
Jen, thunderstruck. And who is the
assassin"
Cant you guess from his self-accu-
sation? Why, the woman he loved"
'Isabella?"
Exactly. Isabella Dallas, and none
other, killed your boy, Maurice
CHAPTER XXIv.-A FINAL SUR
PRISE.
Isabella killed Maurice!" said Jen,
pushing back his chair. Impossible,
doctor. You must be mistaken"
Il don't think So" replied Etwald.
dryly Il saw her do it. So did
David
You must be mistaken" insisted
the Major once more. David was in
London on the night when the crime
was committed"
by his own confession in court,
David was in the grounds of Mrs. Dali
las on that night
Yes, yes. You are right" said Jen,
IN bewildered tone. still, l cannot
believe that Isabella killed Maurice.
She loved him dearly and had no rea-
son to murder him.
None in the world. Yet she GER
tainly took his life
why not? said Etwald coolly
Mrs. Dallas had no reason to steal the
devil-stick, yet"
Without reason! I don't believe
it,"
All, but she was hypnotized. She
did not act of her own free will"
precisely the case with Isabella"
said the doctor, nodding. Come, Ma
Jor, L won't worry you any longer
with inquiries. Dido hypnotized the
daughter to commit the crime, as she
mad Wllled the mother to steal the
deVll-stlck. Isabella is absolutely ig-
norant OF what she did, and firmly be-
lleves that | was the guilty person.
NOW, OF course, she thinks David-bv
MS own confession-is the assassin
But David confessed himself guilty.
to save herr"
of course; but Isabella does not
know that. She thinks-and, on the
face of it, with reason-that David
Killed Maurice out of jealousy"
How was it David saw the crime
committed?"
Il shall EXPLAIN said Etwald.
David found out that Maurice was
going to meet Isabella that night Sc
cretly, in the grounds of Mrs. Dallas
near the gate. Determined to see the
meeting and to learn If there was anv
-"Pe Tor htna, he feisned journey to
London in order to lull any suspicious
which Maurice might have that he was
pelng watched. Instead of going, how
ever, he concealed himself at a snot
Whefe he could see the gates which
opened onto the highway. Now" add.
ca EtWald, with side glance at the
MAJOR, 1T so happened that l also
wished to see that meeting"
How did you know it was about TO
take placer"
Il learned the fact from Dido who
advised me of all which went ont in
the Dallas household, as you may
guess. Well, | saw David in his place
OF concealment and guessed his rea
son for coming. Maurice appeared at
the rendezvous, and shortly afterwards
Isabella, under the hypnotic influence,
came down the avenue. In her hand
she held the devil-stick, and came
swiftly toward Maurice. He, not I'M
derstanding the deadly weapon with
which she was armed, came to meet
her with outstretched arms. She
thrust the devil-stick before her, and
wounded him in the palm of the
hand. With cry he fell-dead!"
within the gates?" asked the Ma
jor, much agitated.
Yes, within the gates,' responded
Etwald. when Isabella had struck
the blow she dropped the devil-stick
in the grass, where, if you remember,
1t was found afterwards by Battersea.
Then she returned to the house by the
little path which leads thereto through
tie surrounding trees. The body lay in
the bright moonlight, full in the center
of the path, not a stonethrow from
the high road David and | rushed
simultaneously from our hiding places
and explained hurriedly that the body
must not be found in the grounds. He
understood and we carried the body on
to the road. Before we had time to
deliberate what was to be done. we
heard the noise of approaching foot
steps, and afraid-bOth of us-of being
accused of the crime, we fed. Then you
came down the road and discovered the
corpse"
Yes, I heard the poor lads cry"
said Jen, simply, and l ran down at
once. You must have been very quick
in your movements"
There was ample necessity for
prompt action" replied Etwald with
some dryness, ''as neither David nor
| wished to be arrested But now you
can understand how it was that David
refused to reply to your questions and
agreed to defend me-"
Il understand. He said. poor lad.
that l would approve of his reasons
when | knew them; and now that you
have explained his motives l quite
agree with his saying. To protect that
poor girl, to save you from suffering
from crime which you did not COM
init, he could have acted in no other
fashion. Still, l wish both of you had
been more open with me-
Il am afraid that would have been
imnossible,' replied Etwald, rising.
"lfu were so distracted over the death
OF Maurice, and so unjust in your
hatred of me, that it would have been
dangerous to trust you"
Am l unjust in my hatred of Won ."
demanded Jen, getting on his feet. 81
think not, DR.. Etwald. Your desire to
marry Isabella, or rather her fortune.