Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-11-01

columns chess diagram caught his
eye, the usual weekly problem, "White
to play and mate in two moves. In an
instant Darrent's mind was alert on a
new scent.
So easy had been the trail that he had
followed, 80 clearly had it pointed to
the guilt Of Astray Marsden. that he
had quite overlooked the robbery Of the
chessmen. They had seemed to have no
real connection with the actual murder.
and they had slipped from his memory
Now. and it came forcibly back to him.
he had better try to trace them and find
what bearing they had upon the case.
He recalled how he had built up
theory that if he could only find those
chessmen he would be very near achiev-
ing mate upon the murderer's. game.
What step should he take nowf He
somehow could not disabuse his mind
of the uneasy feeling that had possessed
it-that perhaps he had put the hemp
round an innocent mans neck, and in
few weeks time, unless he proved
himself to have been wrong, to have
followed a bad theory to a false end,
the moose might be drawn and Astray
Marsden gone beyond recall
He went up stairs to his room and
took from his bag the odd pawn and
the piece of tissue paper containing the
chip of ivory, his new clews.
It was big. manly task Darrent was
going to enter upon, because If he
proved that the conclusions he had al
ready arrived at were false and that all
along he had followed q false scent he
wrote for himself and his Landed ability
an awful denunciation. If, on the other
hand, he only confirmed his first theory,
there was nothing further to go on
working for beyond self satisfaction
and contentment Was it worth while,
after ALT he pondered. Why not Lot
things take their course1
He stepped out into the street and
paused, irresolute, for few moments.
Then, suddenly making up his mind,
he walked rapidly to the railway sta
ton and took the train for Bideford
He had decided that the first new
step he must pursue was to ascertain
from Ethel Kingston anything he could
as to the real relationship between
Astray Marsden and the murdered man
and. further. what were the grounds
upon which old Marsden had forbidden
the marriage of Astray with her. Per-
haps in that very refusal of consent to
the alliance there might be something
that would lead him on fresh scent,
something that would dull or satisfy
that aching that had taken possession
of his mind. that would allay the
haunting fear that perhaps. after all,
he was wrong
When Darrent reached Bideford, he
experienced but little trouble in finding
the abode of Ethel Kingston, for upon
tiny FURNISHED plate on door in
High street he read the name and I'M
derneath the word "Milliner.
How, wondered Darrent as he stood
awaiting an answer to his knock,
would he find the woman who had tax
en- that unrehearsed part in: the dra.
matte scene at the trial2 Would she be
Frustrated with grief and refuse to see
him. or would she upbraid and assail
him for having SO steadfastly pursued
and convicted the man she loved, the
man whom she believed to be innocent
and whom. if he were but free. she had
sworn before all men she would marry
While Darrent turned these possibili-
ties over in his mind the door was
opened by the girl herself. who could
i'll conceal start of astonishment as he
raised his hat
You have come from hint" she
queried.
Eyes, answered Darrent as he ac-
cepted her invitation to enter 81 have
come. Miss Kingston. he continued
"because today do not feel quite 90
satisfied as have been all along about
the guilt of Astray Marsden.' -
"And yet it is due to You. and you
alone, that he is condemned %
81 only did what was my duty. !
only pieced together facts, and the Jury
decided upon those facts Today come
to you because feel that one Of those
very facts is weakened. and Its weak.
ness weakens the whole chain
"Pray go on 1t is life and death to
him-to me
AaAASAt SpOA q SCdS OSSAoO tCA oA1u
drew from his pocket the paper that he
had been reading that morning and said
"Miss Kingston when Astray Mars
den asked you in court if you believed
him guilty and you answered No:
when he asked you if you would marry
him if he were free and you answered
yes. it for the moment lessened my
belief in his guilt. but when again re
viewed all the facts that shadowy feel
ing of doubt vanished. and was as
sure as ever of that guilt slept well
last night. q sleep undisturbed by any
dreams torturing me that might have
helped to condemn an innocent man
6-gD g. g.