The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-08-26

out.
acted upon his suggestion. and no
sooner had | cot the camera in posi-
ton than flash of lightning, so vivid
and brilliant in its intensity rs to mo-
mcntarilv blind us and ring from us a
fearS"me and terrified OH imprinted
the scene on the sensitive plate.
lin glad that's the last plate" said
Donald. when the deaftning peal OF
thunder allowed him to make himself
heard, 'for | should not care to stand
at the window during another such
flash rs that. Shall we develop the
plates to-night?'
Not if know it," | replied. BE
OF to bed now, and we'll do them the
first thing in the morning"
| But we didn't; tor we were awakened
early by Il violent ringing of the bell,
and upon going down in my dressing
gown and opening the door | heheld
the village constable. with white, hag-
gard face. on which fear was strongly
marked in every line.
"Oh, sir" he gasped, ''will YOU come
over on the common with me? There S
the corpse Of man lying there, and |
| fear he's been murdered. for there's Il
knife stuck in his breast. want you
to come as a witness before touch the
| body"
"Lying on the common. Murdered.
| Impossible" | said But wait Il mo-
mcnt till | have dressed and I'll come
with YOU
The constahle's tale WAS only too
true. for there. lying on the damp grass
his hair and clothes sod,lcn with last
night 5 rain: with upturncd face, and
with the blade of large knife buried
deep in his art-lay the corpse Of
IVAN t|pifIiSNi, iIIt ialhlN'ilit NpuHS
tenant of The HERMITAGE. and suitor
| for the heart and hand Of the lovely
Marie DcvcrcuN. of "Forr>t Hall"
| While the constable guarded the body
| | hurried for the doctor. who upon his
arrival declared that life had been cx-
tinct for some hours.
"Good IIraven>.' he calculated, this
knife belongs To Gerald Mcrrilres.
See. here are his initals! and there.
on the silvcr-mountel handle. were the
letters "G NJ
That evening Gerald Mcrrilccs, the
handsome, wciIbuIt Young owner OF
THE Home Farm. ard Solcnski 5
rival for the affections of the hcautcous
| Marie DrvcrruN, WAS arrested on Il
charge o! murder, upon the sworn i'll
formation of the butler of Forest
Hall who drpoScd that on The pre-
vious evening McrrileeS had had 4
stormy interview with Miss DcvcreuX
in which SolenSki'S name WAS men
toned several times, and that Mcrriiccs
had suddenly dashed out of the house
muttering: III kill him!" "Ill kill
him. Upon this evidence and that OF
the knife found in the dead man 5 breas st
Mcrriircs WAS committed for trial at
the orthcuming aSsiZ"S about to he
held ut Guil,ihall, Winchester
nouhtlrSS the reader remembers the
account of the trial, which was pub,
liShrl :" fully in the dali y papers OF
the time, but in ease h" may not recall
it to mind | might here briefly give
MerrilcrS' defense. In spite of the
strong proofs of his guilt he persistent
ly declared himself innocent an,
pleaded not guilty. He fully al
mitlrh the truth ui lhe evidence of til,
butler of "Furcst Hall AMI the roun
sci explained hat he had that evening
proposed for The hand of Miss Deve-
reuN. but had been rejected, upon whicl
he had :l,'t.II~C, ltf ui ii iyorinL he sui
OF :Iuiri~li, an when She admitted
that >iI" had { hat day accepted Solensh
his jealousy and rage overpowerc,
him-bring very hpt-tcmprrrd fellow
causing him to rush from the house
muttcriny the terribly discriminating
threats now used rs evidence against
him. After leaving Forest IIall'' Chi.
counsel romtinucd) reason gradual,
prevailed. and he proceeded to go home
his path lying across the common il
front of my hoU-r
Being anxious To arrive there belor,
the threatened storm broke, and partl,
T. cool his fiery temper, he ran; but
jtj~ foot catching in the stump of F.:
urI' bush. causrI him to fall heavily
10 t'i' ground. and with such force as
Ii rrnd / him unc nllS,.iulIS.
He declare that his pockets mus
have been rlled hy some maiiciou:
laSS"r-hy. while he lay in that state
for whereas he ir,I on his fac, whc,
he recovered consciousness he wa
lying ON his back. He reached home
too weak anl laz 1t to think or observe
but @rra' w.,S his sarpri>r the mex
morning t" linl hi- packets empty
watch, rhajn purse. l'',, cash, hunt
, ng Nnil,' which he aIw-y, t.,rriedy
; .n! every thin. ali zone.
, t,"HIs' 'iNrIl ,'rpn,jy upon lhi
;;,t. anI inI.ntti;,"i tAat til" arrusr'