The Sauk Centre herald., 1899-03-09

ment. "You believe him to be the mur-
derer?" she repeated.
"What else could I think? ] found
him there bending over her with the
broken dagger in his hands-his own
Venetian dagger which used to hang
over the mantelpiece in his room. Look
for yourself The dagger is not there
now." af
''You found him there! Were you
not found there. too, with her watch in
your hands? Did I take You to be "a
thief? You found him there indeed!'
81 think you must admit began.
admit Duncan! I admit nothing.
leave that to you. I"
Suddenly thought seemed to flash
across her.
$50, Duncan, it is owing to your ad-
missions that George is now being hunt
ed. 70 free yourself you have cast sus.
picion upon him-upon my brotheri
This is the way you show your love for
me? Love! Do you call this love?''
The fly still crawled on the wall, but
it had hopelessly lost its track.
I was quite calm now. The worst
had come, and more than the worst !;
but, at any rate, could speak quite
openly.
Mabel said, twill you listen to
me for one moment? l am absolutely
innocent Of casting any suspicion upon
George. His name has never passed my
lips in connection with the case. I said
nothing about the murderer at the po-
lice station, save that should know
him again if / saw him. You must see
from that paper that George has brought
all the suspicion upon himself by run
ming away and by trying to get rid of
the dagger. Even now none but you
and I have the faintest suspicion who
the man described is. He may still
escape. & f1i@S1 %
Escape! What do you mean? OF
course he will come forward and ex-
plain why he was there. You were ar
rested for the crime and released, and
George will have as good reason as
you had for being there. -
AS she said this Mabel grew calmer,
for she saw her cruel suspicious of me
were unjust and .unfounded. 8:
"Mabel, I continued, "can It you inn
agine my feelings and understand the
agony I have suffered since saw George
there and my desire not to be the
bearer of this horrible news to you?
Why, just now your father has left me
with suspicion because I would not
( speak openly of the man. could not
have believed you ever could have
doubted me SO or said such cruel
things"
Duncan, forgive me-" said Mabel,
now white and trembling from the ter
rible tension of the past few minutes.
knelt at her side and kissed her cold
hands, calling her by every endearing
name.
Forgive me, darling" she said
again, for moment touching my fore
head with her lips II must have been
mad for the moment to suspect you
you Of all men-of such madness. But
it was all SO horrible-so horribleP'
And at the recollection tremor after
tremor passed over her Frame
/ drew her gently to me. and in my
arms tried to make her forget all but
our love. ~
"Oh, Duncan, where do you think
George is now? Cannot you find outf'. !.
Together we read the account which
traced him to Manchester.
Manchester che reflected. "We
know no one there. He could have had
no motive in going there. Why did he
90, do you think?'
To get them off the scent, I sup
pose. Poor kchap,, he'll have fearful
task to keep out Of their hands," 2
Duncan, You must go and find him
cut. Tellshim to come back and answer
this'dreadfui charge -this calumny. /" q
''It would be madness, Mabel. His
only chance.is to get out Of the country
/; as fast as he can. "t 't - "a i, -
r t"Leave the country without clearing
himself?''
As.s.ssTo solear himself eI'm afraid would.
be impossible
"Whatl Dare you still believe him
sent)9
Ras e1lent 4 i BeIi@ 81
George was psf k3s ~ ~
any rate. Mate Ne hath sanl
one an9thef.s h9 George is g&yI
or not you u)a3a hi4s =se8, NESs
r 1.NoprQried Mat{e eprin E1ng up1 VT
George is guilty, Ican never bs you&a
'wifei You shall n6tanArxy sh4 sistesof
a s1urda7,ar tss f4t ~ sss<< Sf*ss