The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-20
CHAPTER XIV.
COMMANDER BRETT CONCLUDES.

CHAPTER XIV.
COMMANDER BRETT CONCLUDES.
remem bered nothing after the blow
from Mr.. Keighley Gates life preserver
struck me senseless to the floor in the
dining room at De We're Gardens, and for
whole fortnight lay unconscious, and
then, in spite of the DOCTORS fears. I
came round.
was co weak I could not move a
limb. / heard o low voioe-a voice
I knew 60 we'll opened my eyes,
but the light Of the darkened room was
too strong for them, and / quickly closed
them again. But had seen, and / lay
there in semistupor, dimly wondering If
1t were not all dream. There by the
bedside was Mabel, my darling, and at
the foot was George, her brother. Had
1t all been dream, terrible night
mare? Had there been murder? Had
George really been imprisoned-suspeot-
ed of the crime? Had Mabel ever been
decoyed? Had there been a burglary3
Yes, that last was true at any rate, for
there was I in bed, weak as kitten,
with head throbbing with painful in.
tensity. I could not even speak llay
there wondering how much had really
happened and how much was simply the
distorted imagination Of a sick brain.
At last summoned up my strength
and murmured one word.
In an instant my dearest was bending
over me- opened my eyes and they
rested on the sweetest, the gladdest and
the happiest facs in England.
"Thank God, darling" she whisper
ed-"thank God you have come back to
mer' And she bent over me and kissed
me.
"Don't speak, dearest" she said as
the words strove to come. 1.-THE doctor
orders it, Try to sleep, and remember
that Mabel says all is we'll"
Ny recovery was only a question Of
time, with my dear one for my nurse,
and with nothing but good news to
learn l rapidly gained ground.
Bit by bit all wac told me. How Fitz.
gerald had informed against Gates, had
asserted his identity with Daore and
Durant, and had charged him with the
murder. How Fitzgerald at his instiga.
ton had deooyed Mabel, and how she
had eventually escaped, after meeting
with Dick Lambert in her prison, and
finally how Keighley Gates had been
run to earth, and was now awaiting his
trial.
1t was a tangled web Of villainy they
told me, but it threw in bright relief
the joyous facts that Mabel was safe and
that George was again a free man,
proved guiltless Of the terrible charge
that had been made against him.
Happiness reigned again in that
house. which had but lately been the
abode Of terrible agony and distress
Only one thought Swallowed our joy
the thought Of the poor girl whose one
false step in life had brought upon her
such awful retribution.
The trial of Keighley Gates, on &C.
count Of all the circumstances attend
ing the crime aroused an enormous
amount of public excitement, and the
evidence of Fitzgerald was eagerly
awaited. He stated that on the evening
in question he had met Gates by ap-
pointment, and after they had finished
their business he had the curiosity to
follow him. He said he saw him watt
ing in South Audley street, saw the
woman and George Featon walk up to-
gether and finally part, saw Gates stop
the woman and saw her fall to the
ground with the dagger in her breast.
Jealousy was presumably the motive Of
the crime. Gates knew Of Georges at
tentions to his wife and Of their meet.
!ngs. That he loved the woman cannot
be doubted. 1t is probable he did not
believe she did what she could to dis
courage her admirer. 1t was evident he
had planned the murder beforehand,
for he had gone to Georges rooms and
stolen the Venetian glass dagger 60 that
suspicion should fall upon its owner,
and fortune had favored his plans. Had
not Fitzgerald informed, George Fsnton
would have been hanged on what SEEM
ed absolutely convincing ciroumstantial
evidence.
George gave his evidence that on the
night in question he had parted from
the woman after high words. He had
again implored her to marry him, and
she had refused, again entreating him
to leave her forever He had reproaohed
her for her heartlessness, and his heated
words had been heard by passersby, Civ.
ing u terrible Interpretation to the trag.
edy that followed.
Other evidence as to Mr. Keighley
Gates was forthcoming. Among tho
great scoundrels of modern times this
consummate villain is worthy of high
place.
1t seems he had made small fortune
in the African diamond fields and had
returned to England to add to it by less
creditable exertions.
Under the namc of Arthur Durant h
had taken shooting box in tho country
for the purpose of robbery. and this
scheme was carried to successful issue
after his runaway marriage with Lady |
Florence Mostyn. After some months
passed in carrying ont various robberies
up and down the country, he appeared
in London as man of leisure under the
name Of Keighley Gates.
By getting rid of his beard and wear,
ing false teeth, he effected complete |
disguise, and his wealth and pleasant
manners gained him both friends and
popularity
One mistake he made in clumsily
tamporins with the photograph in the |
Scotland Yard album. As we have seen.
the police fixed the abstraction of the
photograph upon him, and it may be
that this would have led to his ultimate
apprehension even II Fitzgerald had not
Informed upoD hinA-