The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-27
CHAPTER XIV.
COMMANDER BRETT CONCLUDES.


remembered 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,
came round.
/ was go weak could not move q
limb l heard low voice-a voice
knew so we'll l opened my eyes,
but the light Of the darkened room was
too strong for them, and Iquickly closed
them again. But had seen, and lay
there in semistupor. dimly wondering il
it were not all dream There by the
bedside was Mabel. my darling, and at.
the foot was George. her brother Had
mare? Had there been murder? Had
George really been imprisoned suspect
ed Of the crime? Had Mabel ever been
decoyed? Had there been burglary?
Yes that last was true at any rate, for
there was in bed. weak as kitten,
with head throbbing with painful in.
tensity l could not even speak. I lay
there wondering how much had really
happened and how much was simply the
distorted imagination of sick brain.
At last l 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 face in England
'Thank God, darling" she whisper.
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 "The doctor
orders it, Try to sleep. and remember
that Mabel says all is we'll.
My recovery was only 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 was told me- How Fitz.
gerald had informed against Gates, had
asserted his identity with Dacre and
Durant. and had charged him with the
murder How Fitzgerald at his instiga-
ton had decoyed 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 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 bnt lately been the
abode Of terrible agony and distress.
Only one thought Swallowed our 10y
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 an
pointment, and after they had finished
their business he had the curiosity to
follow him. He said he saw him wait
ing in South Audley street, saw the
woman and George Fenton walk IN 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.
ings That he loved the woman canno.
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 so that