The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-26

man of eccentric habits, as no refuses to
have any servants in his lsDuse. "
The suspicion which had been darken-
ing in my mind grew darker as he spoke
these words. In moment i had risen
from tho chair, and, walking quickly to
the doctors side, | said
Doctor, there has boen some foul play
in this business. sir Douglas Renwood
lies dead and have just seen certificate
of his decease bearing your name at the
foot.
The doctor looked astonished.
Then it Is forgery, he cried. II
have never signed "a certificate of this
mans death. More than that L did not
know even that he was i'll. -
/ thought for moment and then said
"Our way Is clear. We must go at
once to the police station and get n war
rant for the arrest OF the man who pro-
duced that certificate rs coming from
you. That man Is Mark Renwood. Sir
Douglas nephew and-heir.
Tho doctor gave mo quick glance.
ellis heir, ehg' he said. Come per-
haps we are on the brink Of a discovery.
1t seems To me that thsre is moro in this
business than meets the eye"
i thought so, too.
An hour later. Dr. Holmes, couple OF
plain clothed policemen and myself en-
TO be close at hand in case Of need the
doctor and / went straight upstairs In
| search Of Mark Renwood.
He did not seem in the least astounded
| at the appearance of the doctor Evil
| IDENTIFY he imagined that he was tho
illegal friend" on whom he fancied had
| gone TO call. for he held out his hand
! with "A smile
Amy friend of yours Mr. Geary," no
| said, lis welcome here. Introduce me,
| please
Wondering whether ne was merely play
| ing part or was sincere, i formally In
| troduced the two men.
"Dr. Holmes-Mark Renwood
A terrible change came over Renwood' s
| face, and he clung TO the table for sup
port. He tried To speak, but words failed
him. The look on his features told what
l had already guessed.
| There was no time for idle thought or
conjecture. l touched the bell and tho
two constablos appeared in moment
II give this man Ia custody, i said In
loud voice, for utterlDg "a forged death
certificate. Whether further charge
and more serious one. will be added, re-
| mains TO bc seem
Renwood uttered not a word. With a
white, scared look he suffered himself 20
be led from the house, and thence into n
conveyance Our way lay in the direction
of the police station.
A coroner's inquest was held on the
| bouy Of Sir Douglas Renwood, and the
|
| tors post-mortem examination, was
"WiIful murder against Mark Renwood.
He was accordingly committed for trial
at the next assiZes
The incident which served to convict
him was the forged certificate. He could
assign no reason for the forgery and there
fore the jury had no option but TO con.
clude that the man who had administered
to the deceased the subtle poison which
caused his death was his nephew, the
mar who stood in the dock.
Sentence was passed accordingly, and
on the night before his execution he sent
for the chaplain and made a full confes-
sion.
Il killed my uncle by means OF drug
which the natives use in certain parts OF
India for medical purposes, and which
leaves the features calm and composed
after death. My uncle was about TO marry
and in the event of his doing so. and hav-
ing issue, / knew that my chance of a
great estate was gone. so l brought him
down to Staines. and kept him under lock
and key in the cottage
Having killed him, i knew tnat no
physician would certify the death without
some sort of inquiry, and / therefore
forged a certificate of the death myself.
/ sent for the solicitor, Geary, in order
that he might see for himself that all was
fair and square; otherwise, L appreciated
the fact that there might be some awk
| wardness about the transferring TO me ol
the property. How Geary discovered that
the instrument was not genuine passes my
understanding. 1t is that discovery which
has put the rope around my neck.
How did L discover the fcrgeryg BY the
fact that | knew DR.. Holmes handwriting
and detected the diiferencey Not bit o
it. Tho doctors handwriting was a'
unknown to me as the first Pharaoh. No
Ii was simply on account Of the fact thai
! tho death certificate bore tho Gauss O
death, inflammation being spoiled witt
one IN. -
In the letter from Mark Renwood will
which this history begins the word oc
Cured with the letter omitted, and II
struck mo as being very curious that two
men should make mistake over tho sam,
word. SO curious was this apparent coin
cidence tnat l pursued the inquiries
which ended rs l have described. III MARI
Renwood had been better speller hs
would in all probability be alive at this
hour