The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-02-23

mo, don't mean that, !" said the
superintendent. "What was wanting
to know was, did you hear any sounds
of quarrel or scuffie as you came
down Back Saville street?'
"No," answered, "and IT there had
been any such sounds don't think /
should have heard them. My mind was
very fully occupied with something else.
Indeed if it had not been l should not
have come that way at all To be pre-
else. had lost my road.
every well, Captain Brett. I think
we have nothing more to say to one an
other, but if were you would write
to some friends to appear here tomorrow
to give evidence both as to your move
ments this evening and to bear testi-
mony to your reputation. Your solicitor
would probably be very useful to you.
I'm afraid I shall only be able to give
YOU poor accommodation for the night,
but you must blame our regulations for
it and not me"
I thanked the worthy official for his
courtesy, and, acting on his advice,
wrote to Butterton, my legal man, and
to half dozen friends knew / could
rely upon if they were in town. I was
then conducted to cherries cell. On
my way thither passed the body of the
murdered woman, now lying upon a
stretcher and covered with sheet. This
sight completed the unstringjng Of my
nerves, and passed the night feverish-
" pacing my room, never even trying
to court sleep.
As walked to and fro between the
cold, bleak walls on that horrible night
my feelings might indeed be better i'm
agined than described. Event had fol-
lowed event with sickening rapidity,
and now, to crown all, was the neigh
Dor of thieves and rogues. under lock
and key at police station. The papers
of the morning would tell the whole
world of my arrest. The news would
carry CONSERVATION to the hearts of my
relatives, and my friends would be
aghast at the tidings. Some there were
who would be ready to believe the
worst, but there were others I knew
who could not doubt my innocence. One
dear heart would bleed for me. That
such an event should happen at all was
bad enough, but that it should occur on
the night when world Of bliss had
seemingly opened for us both was hor-
rible indeed. And the awfulness lay in
the fact that my innocence could alone
be proved by evidence of George Fem
toms guilt.
George Fenton a murderer The
thought was terrible. What in heavens
name could have impelled him to such
q deed Of blackness? And who was the
woman? Stopl OF course it must be.
Why had not guessed it before? She
was in all probability the one who had
caused go much heartburning in the Fen
ton family. The unfortunate fellow had
fallen in love with girl much below
him in station-one who was, in fact, in
domestic service. His infatuation had
been discovered at home, but all the
protests and entseaties of his family had
failed to induce him to take sane view
of matters. He loved her and would not
give her up. Then why had he murder
ed her? Indeed what grounds had for
thinking this was the woman? My
thoughts were in hopeless tumble.
They crowded one on the other in des-
perate confusion, and felt as if I were
going mad. At last, and not too soon,
relief came. AS the dawn was breaking
nature could no longer hold out under
the strain. and sank on the coarse mat
tress in fitful sleep.
The first to greet me in the morning
was Butterton. He had hurried to me
directly he had read the news in the
papers, and before my letter had reached
him. A few words were enough to ex-
plain my position to him, and he left
me to do what he could to procure my
release
The police had been active overnight.
The result of their inquiries at De We're
Gardens bore out my statement; but,
above all, traces of the murderer were
not wanting 1t appears that the un-
happy man only left me to be puSsued.
He tried to get rid of the broken hilt,
but it was picked up on the pavement.
He managed to outdistance his pursuers;
he was heard of afterward in Oxford
street, and there, for the nonce, the
trace was lost. These incidents were
oircumstantial evidence of my inno-
cence. Indeed all against me was the
word of questionable character who
had disappeared. The testimony Of my
old chief, Admiral Yeo, and the other
influential friends who hurried to my
call was hardly necessary to complete
the evidence in my favor.
So before noon left the station free
man, but l returned to my hotel with
the terrible consciousness that the MUIR
derer of this as yet unknown woman
was George Fenton, the brother of the
girl who, only few hours before, had
promised to be my wife.
CHAPTER III.