Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-10-27

He took from hts bag the odd pa,pn.
but this morning felt depressed. and
when opened this paper. out Of your
very words Of yesterday, out Of the very
episode that had momentarily shakgG
my confidence In his guilt. had grown
another incident that. unsuperstit tious
as L am. seemed nothing short Of a mi
raculous coincidence, II you had not
spoken yesterday. these words that am
going to show you now would never
have been written. the mistake could
not have occurred. and 1t might never
have entered my mind that justice had
perhaps miscarried.
He placed the paper on the table and
pointed to the editorial with the mis-
placed space, ''Astra niger scene 1t has
never been our lot to witness
For some moments Ethel Kingston
could scarcely fifaster her emotion as
she gazed at the printed lines and.
sinking back into her seat. she covered
her face with her hands
Darrent waited until she had in some
measure regained her composure and
then. speaking very quietly. said.
Miss Kingston. have already told
you I'm not superstitious man. and
don't believe In signs and omens. but
this accident or coincidence-call It
what you will-has weakened my belief
in myself and has determined me to re-
test this case in every detail. TO follow
again every clew. and see IL l can find
any where where the chain IL faulty.
any single instance where have erred.
where ! have assumed too much or
have allowed too little -
A thankful look lightened her face
for moment az she answered:
"Oh. IL it only Is so--if you, who
have 10 painstakingly followed the clews
to this awful end. should find some 9th.
er evidence that should prove him inno-
cent? Oh. merciful heaven. 1t must he
proved He is innocent-he is inno-
cent?
Again Darrent waited until she had
become calmer.
.'Can you. he asked as be took his
notebook from his pocket, "give me
any reason why old Marsden WAS 80 bit
ter against tue marriage Of yourself and
Astrayf"
81 only know that many years ago
while was away at school, my father,
q widower, quarreled with Josiah Mars
den-what about / never learned. but
from that day until my father died the
two were deadly enemies, and old Mr..
Marsden forbade Astray to ever see or
speak to me. !"
"Do you know anything OF the real
relationship between Astray ard the old
man9"
II only know what Astray told me-
and that was that Mr.. Marsden adopted
him when he was quite child and that
he had no recollection Of his parents 4"
lyon do not think that Josiah might
have been his fatherf''
II do not know. Mr. Darrent indeed
do not know
"Eever mind" answered Darrcnt
soothingly. Now. tell me. did you see
Astray Marsden between hi. return 70
NorcorDbe from Africa and the murder
at The Grangef Remember, ! am ask
Ing now 10 try to save him. Tell me all
you know.
mo; had not seen him for two
years until saw him after the murder. f"
..Bnt ne had written 10 your
"Repea:edly.
Darrent paused again He seemed to
be able TO get no further In this prob
lem Nothing was different from what
he had built up all along. This woman
could give him no further information,
and yet there was still the aching doubt
that had been with him all day His
mind reviewed the elews from which he
had put together the evidence. Those
clews had all passed ont of his posses
sion now into the hands Of the district
attorney. all except the chessman and
the broken piece Of ivory. They had
seemed Subsidiary TO the main crime
that had fitted 80 well Ia Asirav Mars