The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-16

tnero was sChrCeIy Sleam OF fec0Rnl-
I tion on his face He seemed utterly
l crushed, and l felt the man was on the
l highroad to madness.
He listened to the messages brought
from home without replying and sat
with his face in his hands, staring fixed
ly at the stone floor of his cell. told
, him of the further developments Of the
, case, but he made no comment, and !
despaired Of being able to rouse him.
However, when mentioned Hinton he
seemed to interest himself little, and
then l told him Of my recent visit there.
George, old man." I said, "I've
come here for information, and don't
want to go away without it. Last time
Twas here you told me Of your meeting
the lady at the inn, but you said she
was alone. have learned that though
she was alone when you met her there
had been two friends Of hers staying in
the village before you came. Did you
know this?'
This question seemed to rouse him
from his lethargy. He started up almost
fiercely and said
"What business is it of yours to 20
ferreting in the matter?"
"My dear fellow, we are not doing it
out of mere curiosity. Each piece of in
formation we get hold Of we hope to be
one step toward your innocence being
proved"
George paced the cell with feverish
unrest.
"Don't you think I would rather die
than have any evidence raked up which
may lead to nothing, and only serve to
show up tho unhappiness Of her life?"
"Then you knew of these men:"
~ did,
"Did you ever ask her about them?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"She told who ono of them was, but
would say nothing more about them.
She asked me not to refer to the matter
again, and said if I cared for her I
should respect her wishes in the matter,
aud did,"
groaned inwardly. Georges infatu-
alton for the woman was too sublime.
"Then can you tell Us nothing about
them?"
Nothing, except that if l believe
anything in the world I believe that
her connection with them was every
thing l could have wished, and if you
are my friend you will respect her
wishes as l have DONE"
Nonsense, George. l can do nothing
of the sort, and it is absurd your asking
me. Besides, if Lady Florence Mostyn
was what you believe her to be, no
harm could come to her good name by
these Investigations, and unless we get
some further evidence Oh this particular
incident che runs the risk of being con-
sidered friendly with two very indiffer.
ent characters
/ said this with brutal frankness.
could not stop to think Of Georges feel
ings; it was his life l was trying to
save.
l think his first impulse was to strike
me. He made step toward me with
clinched fist, then he hesitated aud
said, with unnatural quieiness:
"You seem to forget you are speak
ing Of dead woman and one whom I
wished to make my wife,"
"No, do not George and it is that
very reason which forces me to do what
! can to unravel this mystery. Only by
doing 80 can we know her as she really
vas"
George sat down YEARLY.
"For God s sake, Duncan, let US fin
ish this talk What do you want me to
ell your"
"You just now said you learned who
,ne of these men was. Who was he?''
He was her brother" |
"Her brotherr'
"Yes. A man who had gone under !
and whom she was trying to Keep
straight. That is all know"
This was certainly news and very
plausible piece of deception Oh the wo-
mans part. Here she was ccnsorting
with a couple Of thieves. Her lover
asks, "Who are these mem" "One Of
them is my brother,' she replies-"a
man who has gone astray and from the
paths Of virtue and whom ! am trying
to reform" And the robbery, reflect
ed, grimly, was the first fruit of this
reformation; but, of course, kept my
thoughts to myself.
"Well, George, this is surprising in
said, "and it may be of
the greatest use to us. This brother of
hers must be found. Which of the men
was he?"
II don't know. have told you all
more than had any right to-
II don't think so, old fellow. II any
information you can give helps to save
you, you may be sure she would not
have wished you to withhold it,"
George made no reply. His excite.
ment had died away, and he was now
gazing stolidly at the floor, seemingly
unconscious of my presence.
left him with horrible forebodings
In my heart. Even if he saved his life,
his mind threatened to become I'M
hinged.
My next step was to find out IL there
was any truth in the existence of
brother of Lady Florence Mostyn. The
Peerage" would give me this informa-
tion. Iopened the bulky "Englishman's
Bible" as it is most appropriately
termed, and found the ducal list of
Lundys. The present owner of the title
was given as Francis Guibert Mostyn,
sixth duke, Marquis of Lamford, Wis
count Dartrey, Baron Coulton, X. G.,
F. R. S., etc. He married Lucy, widow
Of the late Robert King of Warra-
Warra, N. s. W., aud had issue son,
The present Marquis Of Lamford, and a
daughter, Florence.
That was all. No other child was
mentioned. The Marquis Of Lamford
was a we'll known mana devout
Dhurohman, a pillar Of the state-and
he was the only son. But stop! The
duke had married widow. She might
have child by her former husband. I
wired off ut once on this point to Wray,
and had his reply by the next post.
EYES,, he wrote. "There was child
"a boy Robert. He was about years
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