Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-01-05

out Of the office with paper in one
hand, and something from which the
light gllnted as though it might have
been reflected from polished metallic
| surface in the other.
He also told how frightened Marion
looked, and how she had fled UP the rear
stairs, :
In9conclus.on he said:
After ALL have so much confidence
in Marion, as 1 have said, that be-
lieve there is some explanation Of her
conduct yet TO be made which will
leave us all without doubt of her inno-
| cence."
AS Stanmore listened to Stuart Har-
lands story he uttered groan and
buried his face in his hands.
Both Stuart and Paxton regarded
him wonderingly, and they asked them
selves:
What is Marion Oakburn to Mr.. STAN
more2'
AS Stuart concluded, Stanmore arose
| and he looked as though the room was
sitting him, as though he could not
breathe, and he went out Keeling like
drunken man.
Have done right in telling all this?"
asked Stuart of Paxton.
"You have. Justice demands that all
| possible light should be cast upon this
case" answered the detective.
| Judith Kredge seemed delighted at
| Stuarts unexpected confirmation of her
| statement.
Now you will believe met" she cried.
Yes, we believe your statement that
| you saw Marion Oakburn as described,
| bat we do not vet admit her gull as
proven, answered Paxton.
IF more evidence is wanted, it is fur
nished by her flight. She ran away be-
| cause she became alarmed and feared
she would be arrested" continued ju-
! dith.
And so you are guilty of compound
ing felony, Miss Judith" said Paxton
suddenly.
IL don't comprehend
| II presume not. Let me refresh your
memory. Marion Oakburn bribed you
to keep it a secret that you saw her
leave the office on the night of the MUIR
| der"
NO MOI"
II know it is true. You wrung the
last dollar she possessed from that poor
girl, and I also suspect you compelled
her to give you her jewelry."
1T is false"
I'VE have faculty for making discov-
| cries. I know all about your bank ac-
| count, and I have seen Marion Oak
| burns locket which was pawned by
you.
Il deny it,"
1T will do you no good to deny what
we can prove. 1t is criminal Offense
to compound felony, or in other words
| to conceal crime. If you expect any
mercy at my hands, truthfully answer
my questions. Do you know where
| Levi was at the time of the MURDER
mo, sir" answered judith.
DO you know where Marion Oak
burn is?"
no"
Paxton reflected for q moment in this
| wise:
"Since she has powerful motive in
| seeking TO place the crime on some one
besides her brother, were it not that
| Stuart Harland has confirmed her story,
l should not credit it. And yet if Ma
rion Oakburn is innocent, why did she
| bride Judith to keep her secret?"
Presently he said to Judith:
I'VE will accompany you home. L
want to see the pistol you say is con-
cealed in Marion Oakburn's trunk.
Judith assented
AS they were leaving the office, STAN
more re-entered, and being informed OF
their contemplated visit to Oakburn's
apartment, he accompanied them.
Upon their arrival at the house, Judith
led the way directly to MariOns room,
and the others followed her.
Entering Marion's apartment, judith
said pointing to trunk:
Search for yourselves"
The trunk was locked, but Paxton
forced the lid, and in moment he dis
covered strengthening pistol of large
caliber at the bottom of the trunk.
1t was indeed the very weapon that
Marion Oakburn concealed there on the
night Of the murder.
Eagerly Paxton examined it,
1T is an ar pistol" he said in mo-
ment.
Then producing the large peculiar
shaped bullet which had caused John
Oakburn's death he added:
Now for the supreme test. III this is
the pistol from which the shot that killed
Oakburn was discharged, this bullet
will fit it,"
Then he tried the bullet in the pistol.
There was no longer doubt.
The bullet fitted the pistol perfectly.
I'VE have found the weapon with which
Oakburn was killed." said Paxton, now
fully convinced on this point.
Il told you so, said Judith, triumph
antly.
This is all conspiracy. If Marion
Oakburn was guilty, common prudence
would have told her not to leave the
pistol behind when she left her home
said S:anmOre.
Assuming that she was abducted, she
had no opportunity to secure the pistol
and take it with her." said Paxton. 49,
The detective made further search
of the room.
He hoped to make further discoveries.
But his quest was not rewarded.s
On the hearth, however, he noticed a
heap of ashes, where it seemed mass
of letters had recently been consumed.
There was nothing further to be ac-
complished in the apartment, it seemed,
and so the detective and his companions
withdrew.
Before he left the house Paxton said |
to Judith:
Mark me, woman, you are at my |
mercy, and if you attempt to interfere |
with my effort to get at the truth OF this |
murder mystery, you will be called to
answer to the charge of compromising q |
felony. Who knows but you might be |
suspected Of being Marion Oakburn's
accomplice, il she is guilty.
On the street without the house the |
three men separated.