Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-01-12
CHAPTER XAIX.

| mISnU nave DeeH duIlclpdttds
| TO his men he said:
Not word about this"
That same evening Paxton again Wis
tied the pawnbroker. and. secured the
| locket containing the picture Of Donald
Wayburn which had belonged to Marion
| Oakburn.
The next day when Stanmore dr5pped
| in at the detectives office as usual, the
latter slyly opened the locket in his
hand, and glanced frequently from the
| portrait it contained to Stanmore' 8 face,
as though he was comparing the two.
When StanmOre had gone, Paxton
said in monologue.
Il vas not mistaken when thought
made discovery when l first saw the
picture. The portrait in Marion Oak
burns locket is that of Mr. Stanmore,
taken years ago, and though he has
since changed greatly he cannot change
his eyes. The name of the original Of
the portrait is written under It, That
name is Donald Wayburn, and there
fore | know that Richard Stanmore's
real name is Donald Wayburn. He is
the author Of the threatening letter
which l found among John Oakburn s
correspondence. Here is mystery. Has
the Chief of Police who sent this man
to me been deceived in him? Can it be
that this man whom have trusted, and
who has employed me, is really guard
ing the secret Of the great crime l am
trying to unearth?"
Thus reflected Paxton, and he added:
Il believe have the gertrude that he
ic Marion Oakhurn' q lover"
Paxton considered the startling and
enigmatica developments which were
now presented to his consideration, and
at length he said, mentally:
II will see the Chief Of Police from
whom Stanmore brought his letter Of
recommendation and introduction. The
thought has just occurred to me that it is
possible he may have forged the letter. y
The detective acted upon this resolu-
ton forthwith.
He repaired at once to the Office Of the
chief of the Metropolitan police force,
and he was closeted with that gentleman
for more than an hour.
When at the expiration Of that time
Paxton left the Office Of the chief, he
said to himself:
Il begin to comprehend the matter at
last.
He must have obtained some, informa-
ton regarding the man who called HIM
self Richard Stanmore.
Meanwhile Marion, on the second
night following the day when Stanmore
received her letter, paced narrow
apartment in dilapidated building in
the suburbs of Harlem.
To this place she had been removed
by her captors, after their suspicious
we're aroused that detective had dis
covered her original prison place.
Marion's thoughts were troubled, for
shc was rejecting upon the circum-
stances which had united to place her in
her present unprecedented situation CT
peril and perplexity.
The reflection that the truth unsup-
ported by evidence would not be credited
distracted her.
Before her mind arose vision OF her
arrest, trial, and conviction OF a crime
which she had not committed, and the
cheers of the public as they received her
explanation with cruel dcrision, rang in
her ears.
mo, no; my story will not be credited.
must not be arrested, now that have
lost the paper took from the office on
that fatal night. That paper would have
proved my truth and innocence, but now
am doomed if captured.
Then Marion knelt and breathed a
prayer which began with these words:
Father in Heaven, Thou knowest am
innocent.
Fervently she duplicated, humbly she
implored divine help to lead her out OF
the fatal quicksands Of danger and doubt
into which she had unwittingly strayed.
Little did Marion Oakburn suspect
that human ears heard her prayer, or
the soliloquy which preceded it. but
such was the fact. -.
Every word Marion uttered was heard
by Stuart Harland, who was at that
very moment a prisoner in the cellar
under the room in which Marion was
captive.
An explanation as to how Harland
became prisoner in the POWER OF the
wretches who were acting as Marion's
iailers must be given, and we will con-
slider the events which led to his capture.
Stuart was not discouraged by his
failure to capture the mysterious man
who had exchanged coats with him. On
| the contrary, he was encouraged by the
| fact that he had sighted him once, and
| he believed he should sight him again.
/ Thus it was that after his encounter
J with the unknown, where Levi Kredge
| had struck him down with cowardly
! blow. Stuart still continued his still
| Gar
Pratt and Weeks.
On the evening when Marion's secret
! friend had delivered her letter to Stan
| more, Stuart Harland CHANGED to enter
| a lodging house on West street.
While ne was in the Office of this es-
Adjustment, Stuart heard a clerk say to
| The proprietor, as he took valise from
under the counter:
This travelling bag is in the way here
behind the counter. l hardly think the
| man who left here will ever call for it.
What shall / do with til"
AS he spoke, the clerk placed the trav-
cling bag on the counter, and Stuart
read the name "J. G.. Garnar," which
| was stamped on the side of the valise.
The young man started as he read the
name of the supposed assassin, and step
ping to the counter, he said.
Il think 1 know the party TO whom
that bag belongs" and speaking rapidly,
he described the man who had taken
his coat.
OF course Stuart knew that there
might be large number Of men by the
name of "Garnar" in the city, but he
had kind of presentiment that he had
found clue to the supposed murderer.
You certainly must know the man
who left the valise. You have told just
l.. - l.o1-aI Il, q dot On Id tho olark