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

to her letter, Stanmore was also setting
out TO secretly call upon the janitor's
sister.
Stanmore was approaching Garrison's
office from one direction, while Paxton
was coming toward it from an exactly
opposite way.
The former had almost arrived at his
destination, when he discovered the de-
tective, and believing that Paxton had
not seen him he crossed the street and
hurried Ground the next corner. He
fancied that the detective would not APP
prove of the plan he had in mind, and
which prompted him to clandestinely
visit judith Kredge.
Peering around the corner of the
building, at the streets junction, which
he had gained, StanmOre saw Paxton
enter Judth's abode, and he resolved
to remain where he was until the de-
tective took his departure.
The note which Paxton had received
from Judith Kredge stated that she had
Just discovered letter which Marion
Oakburn had left behind her, and that
she wished him to see it at ence, as 1t
contained a terrible disclosure.
When Paxton entered the Garrison
building he was admitted by judith, and
almost Immediately the woman produced
q letter, which she declared she had just
found in Maron's room, where she
thought the detective must have over
looked It when he searched the apart
ment.
Paxton had previously obtained q
specimen of Marions handwriting. and
he saw that either the letter gwen him
by Judith Kredge was a genuine dOcu.
ment or a clever forgery, such as only
an expert in photographic Identification
could dete;t.
The substance of the letter signed by
Marion Oakburn, with her name in full.
was terrible confession.
We will not reproduce the letter in
full; suffice it to say that it plainly
stated that Marion murdered her father.
When he had mastered the contents
of this letter, Paxton reflected for some
time in silence, and his good judgment
WHISPERED that it must be forgery.
a criminal flying from justice never
vet left such confession behind him,
thought tie detective.
judith watched the detectives face as
he read the letter, as though she was
StehluR w Itdu ulS UiOuShtoI pup i"SS
was now as immOvable as a mask, and il
told her nothing.
If this letter is not a forgery, then
the secret of John OakbuTn's fate is re-
vealed. I shall find way to decide
that question soon" said Paxton; and
taking the letter with him, he soon after
left Judiths abode.
Although he mad not betrayed the
fact. Paxton saw Stanmore as he was
approaching the Garrison building, and
he saw the latter dodge across the
street to avoid him.
There is something strange in Stan
more's conduct" thought Paxton, glanc-
ing about as he came out OF the Garrison
building.
A moment later he saw Stanmore at
the corner, but he passed on as though
he had not seen. him, and entered a
shop.
Then Stanmore FASTENED 10 the door
OF the Garrison building.
Through the shop window Paxton saw
Stanmore leave his post at the corner,
and the detective followed him, and saw
him enter the house which he had him.
self just left.
Wondering what Stanmore's business
with Judith Kredge could be, the detec-
tive left the vicinity, and took his way
hOmeward.
He passed the office of Pratt & Weeks,
and although al was darkness tn re,
could he have seen within the private
office Of the firm, he would have OBJ
served Pratt and his partner going over
their accounts, ard striving to find
way out of the financial difficulties in
which they had become involved.
The railway stocks, upon the rise of
which all their hopes depended, were
steadily declining i'll value, and the ras-
cally brokers felt that they were ruined,
unless they could use the marked
money.
Il will tell you, Weeks, there's no use
of concealng it from ourselves any
longer. We're Goored. The marked
money must be used!" cried Pratt, dash
ing down his pen savagely.
1T has about come to the worst, that
Is sure" assented Weeks.
Pratt paced the floor, and said:
Il mean to take the risk, and attempt
to realize on the marked money. I'm
fortunately, all our attempts to remove
the marks so that they might not betray
us, have failed. They could not be OBJ
liberated without defacing the tote so as
to attract suspicion.
But while Paxton passed onward by
the swindling brokers' office, there were
come startling reflections in his mind,
founded upon the discovery he had made
when he examined the locket belonging
to Marion. which Judith kredge had
pawned, and also relating to his discOv-
ery of Stanmole's secret interviews with
Judith.
The discovery which the sight of the
portrait in the locket caused Paxton to
make, and the suspicious and theories
which the detective founded upon that
discovery, will presently be made clear
to the reader.
But what was the motive for STAN
more's visit to Judith Kredge?
He believed the woman knew where
Marion was, and he meant to bride her
10 save the cashiers daughter, to liber-
ate her.
The interview between Stanmore and
Judith need not be recorded in full, but
we NAV as we'll state that the former
assured the woman that he was con.
WINGED she knew where Marion was, and
he offered any price if she would accom-
plish her rescue.
But Judith still protested that she was
entirely innocent on the subject, and
Stanmore was obliged to leave without