Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-02-09
'Pray go on, It is life. and death TO
him <o ,no - ''.---.'-

had been reading that morning and said
'Miss Kingston. when Astray Mars
den asked you in court if you believed
him guilty and you answered NO;
when he asked you if you would marry
him if he were free and you answered
Yes. it for the moment lessened my
belief in his guilt. but when l again re-
viewed all the facts that shadowy feel
ing of doubt vanished, and l was as
sure as ever of that guilt. slept well
last night, a sleep undisturbed by any
dreams torturing me that might have
helped to condemn an innocent man.
but this morning / felt depressed, and
when l opened this paper, out of your
very words of yesterday, out Of the very
episode that had momentarily shaken
ny confidence I'm his guilt, had grown
another incident that, interpretations
as am, seemed nothing short of mi
raculous coincidence If you had not
spoken yesterday. these words that l am
going to show you now would never
have been written. the mistake could
not have occurred, and it might never
have entered my mind that justice had
perhaps nliscarried.
He placed the paper on the table and
pointed to the editorial with the mis-
placed space. "Astra niger scene it has
never been our lot to witness
For some moments Ethel Kingston
could scarcely master her emotion as
she gazed at the printed lines. and,
sinking back into her seat. she covered
her face with her hands
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 superstitious man. and
don't believe in signs and omens, but
this accident or coincidence-cal 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 can tnd
anywhere where the chain is faulty.
any single instance where have erred.
where l have assumed too much or
have allowed too little
A thankful look ightened 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 is limo
cent?
} Again Darrent waited until she had
tecome calmer.
''Can you. he asked as he took his
notebook from his pocket ''give ne
any reason why old MarsIen was SO bit
ter against the marriage Of yourself and
Astray?'
81 only know that many years ago,
while was away 1t school, my father,
a widower, qua-To!cd with Josiah Mars
den-what about I never learned, but
from that day Until my father died the
two were deadl; enemies, and old Mr..
Marsden forbade Astray to ever see or
speak to me.
''Do you know any thing Of the rea,
relationship between Astral 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 reco;l':~i:>a' e his 1>a7en+S>
"You do not think that Josiah might
have been his father?'
Il do not know. Mr. Darrent; indeed
l do not know
''Never mind answered Da1r2nt
soothingly. Now. tell me, did you see
Astray Marsden between his return to
Norcoznbe from Africa and the murder
at The Grange? Remember, l am ask
ing now to try to save him. Tell me all
you know
mo; had not seen him for two
years until saw him after the murder ~
"But he had written to you?''
Repeatedly.
Darrent paused again. he seemed to
be able to get no further III this prob
lem. Nothing was different from what
he had built up all along. This woman
could give him no further i1,:n.1nstt5 ii m.
and yet there was still the I. ing ,:u;iot (
that had been with him 81 ~" us
mind reviewed the clevs from which :la
had put together the eviG!;--:r, Ti,,:;,
clews had all passed OF: O. IL; rcS."s-
sion now into the hands OF H. district
attorney. all except the c;,c s*nlan a.::i
the broken piece of ivory They had
seemed subsidiary to the main crime
that had fitted SO we'll 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, the
girl crossed the room and, taking from
the sideboard a sandalwood box inlaid
with mother of pearl and ivory. opened
1t and displayed to Darrent's astonished
gaze a set of chessmen of which that
pawn evidently formed a part
''These, she said, '.look exactly like
the one yon have in your hand. Mr.. j
~