The Portland daily press., 1898-11-16
Chapter XIX.
THE MINIATURE.

/ hatra5 tbsp with a gesture of impatiencs
after a few quick words turned TO make
his exit. AS he did so, however, he founu
himself face to face with man VINO!
standing in the doorway, resolutely barred
his passage.
fed. Yhe man was Max Richards.
| i'm. - the latter said. Now that YOU
! have chosen to call here unlimited it is al
| least polite to remain at the invitation
1 of your hostess.
| fI,et me pass. - he cried Overwhelmingly. q
~ shall not" Richards answered with
| firmness, his back to the half-closed door
while Brooker stood watching the scene,
| himself full of fear and dismay.
sThis conspiracy ~ Zeitho exclaimed
his trembling hands clenched, his fac,
livid.
''Idsten,'' Mariette cried, her cheek,
flushed with excitement as she stepped
boldly forward and faced him. This i!
a counterpart only to combat your das
tardly intrigue. The innocent shall N;
longer suffer for the sins Of tine guilty.
~, The guilty T. he echoed, with =, an inso
81 am not without blame, ! admit,
she answered, quickly. her flashing sy'
darting him an angry look. 'Neverthe
atonement: to end forever this conspiracy
of silence. % Then, turning to Lians
who was standing whits-faced and
aghast, she said. First, before speak
it Will be necessary for you to make CON
fession. Explain to George OF what
nature is this bond which holds you te
lyonder man.
"No. I'll cannot" she protested, GOV
ering her face with her hands.
But 1t Is necessary, she urged
l"Speak Fear nothing Then the truth
shall be made known.
The slim. fair-faced girl stood with benz
head. painting and irresolnte, while al
waited for the words to fall from her dry,
white lips. At last. with eyes doWncast
he summoned courage, and in a low
hoarse voice said
ssZertho compelled me to accept him be-
cause-because he can prove that my
father murdered Charles Holroyde.
s'Your father a murdererl her lover
echoed. Impossible. =
list me speak, Marietta interrupted.
hastily. sTwo winters ago l met IN
Nice wealthy young Englishman named
Bolroyde We saw one another often at
Monte Carlo, and our acquaintance rip
lened into love. He offered me marriage,
and I accepted; but one night, after
winning considerable sum, he returned
to Moe about eleven O'Clock, was waylaid
in a narrow lane running from the
Promenade des Anglais into the hue dc
France, robbed and murdered. Thus was
the man loved cruelty snatched from me
Just at the moment when happiness was
In my reach; Just within few weeks OF
making me his wife. This villa, which
/ have since bought, he designated as our
home, and this ring upon my finger Is
/ the one he gave me. The crime, en-
shrouded in mystery, has not yet been
forgotten either by the police, or the PEG
pie of Nice. 1t seemed amazing that such
q dastardly ASSASSINATION could take place
SO swiftly without single person hearing
any cry, yet the police had mo clue. The
murderer. who no doubt accompanied OF
followed his victim from Monte Carlo,
must have struck him down with uner-
ring blow, and escaped leaving no trace
behind Yet there was nevertheless q
witness of the deed-a witness who il
present"
GA witnessl'' gasped Liane.
eyes" Marietta said, Max Richards
will tell you what he saw. /"
The man indicated, still standing with
his back to the door, smiled triumphantly
at Zertho, then said:
Eyes, it is true I witnessed the muir
| der of Charles Hclroyde On that night
had left the Cafe de la Regence, and
crossing the road overlook in the Avenue
de la Care Nelly Bridson, Captain Brook.
er's adopted daughter. We had met be-
fore on several occasions, and after she
had told me that she had been to chem
lists to obtain something for Liane who
u was not well, offered, as it WAS late, tC
n accompany her as far as her house in the
Rue Dalpozzo. To this she made no OBJ
lection, and we walked together along the
Rue de France as far as the corner of tbs
street wherein she lived. The moon
however, was bright upon the sea, and
at my suggestion she consented TO accom-
pany me for stroll along the Promenade
70 reach the latter we had to pass through
a narrow lane, which we had just entered
when we saw straight before us figures Of
men struggling together. Instantly
dragged Nelly back into the deep shadow
served. Suddenly heard one of the men
cry in English, My God I'm stabbed
and he staggered back and fell. Then.
discerning for the first time that the mar
had been attacked by two assailants,
rushed forward, but already they had
/ bent and secured the contents of theil
| victim pocket, and as l approached on.
1 Of them threw the knife away. That mar
/ recognized in the moonlight as Captain
| Brookeri"
| A low groan escaped the lips of the palt
faced agitate3 man who had been thus
denou need, and he stood paralyzed by
fear, clutching the back of a chair fol-
support. +.uo ,u.,
the murderer Richards continued, in {
clear. calm VOICE both Nelly and my
self were afterwards in complete ACCORD
that it was his companion who had, II
the melee, struck the fatal blow. The
murderer was the man tnere-Zertht
ld'Auzac. -
Tits lie,'' cried the man indicated
"a foul. abominabIe falsebood. Brooke
crept up behind him and tried to gag hin
with a scarf, when, finding that he wa
too powerful for him, he struck him full
in the breast. In an instant he wa
dead.
L Your story is an entire fabrication,
Richards answered in a deprecatory tone
HWe were both quite close to you, an.
saw your murderous fare in the moon
light at the moment when you killed
your victim, To us, it seemed as though
you alone had acted with generalization
and that instf ad of assisting you, Brooke
LII. FL