The National tribune., 1901-10-31

hNlr T. L ENoJIISI Il nv
bronze figure caused me to make q more
critical examination of it. As my eyes
wandered over the dust-covered armour,
something upon the breast-plate caused me
to draw closer with n strange feeling of
expectancy and amaZement. This spot,
| discovered as / examined it with a
closer scrutiny, was a stain OF blood.
This discovery, as you may well be
| lieve, sent strange thrill through me. II
| flashed upon me III a moment that | had
at last, and by the merest chance, hit upon
the solution of the mystery had dis
covered the murderer of Vincent Erroli A
closer examination showed spot of blood
upon the uplifted hand. l now took hold
| of the arm of the bronze figure, and by
| pulling it downward, ! found that it
yielded to my pressure, and as the arm
| was bent lower, | was startled to see o
| blood-stained knife project from the mailed
handl The whole dreadful business was
plain to me now. The figure was sort Of
automaton, doubtless provided with power
/ full springs, and placed in guard over the
cabinet. / waited to see no more, but
went at once to Lord Durham, whom
| knew TO have been a warm friend of Sir
Arthur. | laid the whole matter before
him, showing him the melted watch the
cuff button, and giving a full account of
all my discoveries and my convictions.
HE listened to me with amazed silence,
and when | was through told me to keen
my discoveries secret from the public
till an investigation could be made. We
went directly to the Expresses, where, IN
disturbed by the presence OF any one, we
made a careful examination of the room
and the bronze figure. We found, as |
expected we would, that the aIInored
knight was an automatOn, inside of which
were powerful springs which set it in
motion when the drawers or doors of the
cabinet were molested. 1t was so con.
structed that when an attempt was made
to open the cabinet the arm would de-
scend with quick powerful blow, the
knife in the grasp of the mailed hand COM
ing at the same time from a socket in the
arm. The arm would then return to its
former position, while the knife would be
drawn into the hidden recess. 1t was a
cleverly- constructed piece of machinery,
and was doubtless the result of some of
the eccentric Sir Arthur's experiments.
That he had placed it there as a guard
over his valuable papers there could be no
doubt.
Removing the figure from its place, the
cabinet was opened, and inside was found
codicil of the will of Sir Arthur in
which he willed everything TO his wife in
America. With this was written ac-
count of his marriage with Mary Hard
ing in Denver, in the United States, and
of their subsequent separation, the result
of the SANDER of his wife by former
lover of hers, certain Paul Bigsby, the
owner of 4 rich silver mine in Colorado.
With these documents was found death
bed confession of Bigsby in which a full
statement was made relative TO the duplici-
ty and falsehood resorted to regarding
the wife Of Sir Arthur, with whom he was
in love and upon whom he wished to take
revenge. Letters were also found which
showed that Sir Arthur had been CORE
spending with attorneys in Denver regard
ing the whereabouts of his wife, and from
these it was evident that he intended soon
to make trip to America for the purpose
of searching for her and atoning for the
great wrong his unjust suspicious had
done her.
:. 1t was in view of this trip, doubtless,
and the revelation which the confession
Bigsby had made, that induced him TO
make the codicfl to his will in favor of his
deserted wife. So you see we have es-
tablished very clear case in favor of
the accused woman, and Lord Durham
has sent to London for his attorneys, who
will take charge of the case. There is no
doubt that Lady Penrose-for such the
prisoner clearly is-will be speedily ac-
quilted, and will at once be placed in pos
session of the Expresses and all of Sir
Arthur's estate, which is rightfully hers
l have paid visit to the jail, as L before
said, and given the prisoner an account of
all that had been accomplished in her be-
half, and she was almost overcome with
gratitude and joy, though she has been
greatly depressed in spirit over her arrest
and the sad death of her husband when
Ii reconciliation was so near at hand Lord
Durham also called ca her and assured her
of his friendship, and acquainted her with
the plans he had made for bringing her
speedy release"
When Ruggy Darke had finished his
story | grasped his hand and thanked him
feryently, feeling deep joy mt the happy
| turn the decidedly strange affair had
| taken.
The next morning paid long visit to
Mrs. Harding, and in the evening 1 re-
| turned TO London. ! found Ruth much
better on my return, and the good news
which L was able to communicate brought
happy glow TO her palld face.
1t is hardly necessary to add that Mrs.
Harding, or Lady Penrose, as / shall now
call her, was discharged at the preliminary