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

Darrent waited until she had in some
measure regained her composure and
then, speaking very quietly, said
Miss Kingston, have already told
you I'm not a superstitious man. and
don't believe in signs and omens, but
this accident or coincidence-call it
what you will-has weakened my belief
in myself and has determined me to re-
test this case in every detail, to follow
again every clew, and see if l can find
anywhere where the chain is faulty.
any single instance where have erred.
where / have assumed too much or
have allowed too little.
A thankful look lightened her face
for moment as she answered:
"Oh. if it only is so-if you, who
have so painstakingly followed the clews
to this awful end, should find some 9TH
er evidence that should prove him inno-
cent? Oh, merciful heaven, it must be
proved He is innocent-he is inno-
cent?"
Again Darrent waited until she had
become calmer.
"Can you, he asked as he took his
notebook from his pocket, "give mo
any reason why old Marsden was SO bit
ter against the marriage of yourself and
Axtrayf"
81 only know that many years ago,
while was away at school, my father,
q widower. quarreled with Josiah Mars
den-what about l never learned, but
from that day until my father died the
two were deadly enemies, and old Mr..
Marsden forbade Astray to ever see or
speak to me. "
''Do you know anything of the real
relationship between Astray and the old
mani"
81 only know what Astray told me,
and that was that Mr. Marsden adopted
him when he was quite child and that
he had no recollection of his parents
lyon do not think that Josiah might
have been his father2"
81 do not know. Mr.. Darrent; indeed
do not know"
Never mind" answered Darrent
soothingly. 'Now, tell me, did you see
Astray Marsden between his return to
Norcombe from Africa and the murder
at The Granger Remember. am ask
ing now to try to save him. Tell me all
you know.
s'No: I had not seen him for two
years until I saw him after the murder. T"
"But he had written to your"
Repeatedly
Darrent paused again. He seemed to
be able to get no further in this prob
lem Nothing was different from what
he had built up all along. This woman
could give him no further information,
and yet there was still the aching doubt
that had been with him all day. His
mind reviewed the clews from which he
had put together the evidence. Those
clews had all passed ont Of his posses
sion now into the hands of the district
attorney. all except the chessman and
the broken piece of ivory. They had
seemed subsidiary to the main crime
that had fitted SO well to Astray Mars
den that he had kept them to himself,
kept them with perhaps the idea that
one Of these days he might run across
the remainder of the set and find out
what part if any, they played in the
drama upon which the curtain would
then have long since been rung down.
He recollected that he had placed the
pawn in his pocket before he left Nor
combe that morning. and almost uncon
sciously he took the little carved piece
out and gazed at it.
Rising suddenly from the table, tn,
girl crossed the room and, taking from
the sideboard sandalwood box inlait
with mother Of pearl and ivory. opened
it and displayed to Darrent's astonishet
gaze set of chessmen of which tina
pawn evidently formed part.
''These," she said, "look exactly ik
the one you have in your hand, Mr.
Darrent. Do you think that they ma.
help you; that there may be some clev
in themP"
Darrent. almost too overcome witt
surprise to answer, slowly took tn
pieces out and arranged them on tn
table There were 81. A red pawn wa