Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-11-08

AAoU @so StSnStto 0tN BoU hsoOWt
be recognized, and I'd only have an
idiot of policeman to deal with He
swore to me that he was innocent of
the murder. and believed him."
so you went over to Norcombe and
got the cheesment''
eyes"
"Well. you did it cleverly. MI.
Ridgeway. but 1t was not quite 30 clever
70 address the box in your own hand
writing to Miss Kingston at Bideford.
II sent 1t there because l refused to
keep them In my possession, and that
was the address Astray gave me. But
how the dickens you found it OUT
"Never mind how. did. Now, Mr..
Ridgeway. do you know anything fur
therf"
Nothing. upon my soul"
"Well. good night. shouldn't won
der if you hear from me again" And
Mr.. Darrent strolled down the narrow
picture gallery. with its fresh examples
of vice vanquished and virtue victo-
rious. leaving Mr.. Ridgeway to ponder
upon the position in which he had so
suddenly found himself placed and to
speculate what his misplaced generosity
on behalf of young Marsden might
lead to.
Early next morning Darrent went to
Norcombe. and. having obtained per-
mission from the authorities, he paid
visit to Astray Marsden in the Jail
The time that had elapsed since his
conviction had already had an effect
upon the prisoner. He had grown very
pale and sallow. his eyes were sunken,
and deep black circles showed round
them. telling Of sleepless nights Oar
rent gazed at him for few moments
without speaking. and Astray glared
sullenly back at him. and neither broke
the silence At last Astray found his
tongue.
"Well. what do you want7' he
growled. Haven't you done enough
alreadyf Do you want to gloat over my
miseryf You've hunted me down like
the bloodhound that you are, and now
you come to glory in your work. "
81 have come" Darrent answered
striving to keep calm in face of the tor
rent of words with which he was as
sailed. al have come for two reasons
the first. to bring you a message from
the girl who believes in you still
come to say that she believes you inno-
cent. will ever believe you innocent.
"Thank God for thatl"
"That is my first duty, and l have
discharged it, and now I have come to
help you if I can"
"Help mel Listen to him-help me
Haven't you done enough for me al
ready9 Haven't you put the rope round
my neckH What more can you do. eh p
perhaps l can help to take it of
again. il you are only reasonable and
will answer few plain questions.
"Well, go ahead There's one conso
lation-things can't be worse even il
you do take down what cay and ust
II in evidence against me. It won,
avail now"
"Why." calmly asked Darrent, "dii
you instigate Arthur Ridgeway t
steal that box Of chessmen from TIL
Grange and send them to Miss Kings
toni"
Astray gazed in establishment at Oar
rent. It was useless to attempt to den.
the fact since Darrent knew It.
"Because believed they were Of tn
utmost value to me-"
"WhyH"
"Old Marsden had always led me t
believe they were. He had always toll
ME that there was some secret connect
ed with them that must one day know
not In his lifetime, he said, but whe
he was gone, especially If he ever die
suddenly. When we were good friend
and used to play chess together in til
old days at The Grange. he would ofte
say as we set out the men, Don't fol
get, Astray. If anything ever happier
to me you will find secret hidden i
those pieces, in the ivory queen. >"
1.-THE ivory queenf"
1.-THE white ivory queen. When
am gone. Astray, and I may go suddel
ly. One never mowsr y"
"He said thatH''
eyes. Why should lie nowf 'Whe
am gone. you will find q secret In tt
ivory queen that will explain all that
!, dare not tell you now. That's what l
said many time. \"
"And 80. after the murder. you g
. Arthur Ridgeway to impersonate d
tective from Chicago and obtain tho
chessmen for you and then send the
to Bideford, where you thought thu
would be safef"
eyes"
"And you do not yet know the 9
cret3"
= "Nu HoS could II You tracked Il
Is down at once, arrested me In Chicag
and I've never been free an insta
q since"
"Why did you never mention it
:" your trislH"
Is "What good could 1t have dones
q had nothing to do with the murde
Leave me. leave me to myself L
!. sworn to you that I am innoce1
What's the good, You do not belle
70 it. I've told the parson here I'm inn
N cent. He does not believe it. All
y Gays Is. Repent, repent I am sick
l. 1t all I'm condemned. and I've got
suffer. For heavens sake, leave me
peace until the end comes"
a And. despite all Darrent's efforts
get him to talk, Astray Marsden wor
70 not open his lips again. would not ut
81 another word. but sat glum and ia
o. turn. staring into space with eyes Il
BIT saw nothing unless it was the ghas
I'd outlines of q scaffold with dangli
!" rope.
II Finding 1t useless to linger, Darr'
left the Jail and returned to his o
er room at the Palace hotel and, havi
locked the door. took out the two iv'
chessmen and carefully examined the
id The pawn was cut out Of one solid pi
TO Of ivory, with the exception Of the
II base, which, with dexterous twist
\. his strong fingers. Darrent unscrew
Il. There was no mystery about that.
- he laid 1t on one side and picked up
~ ivory queen. The little statue at
Abolt three end Q bali tnshss high.