The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-01
Something to Think About.

Fatality" exclaimed Alfred. And,
raising his head, he strobe impetuously
towards Miss Meredith. you have en-
Joined confession of guilt and forbidden
US 20 assert our il nocence," he cried
But l shall assert mine now and always
whatever happens and whoever suffers. I
should not be worthy of the happiness
l aim at, if did not declare my gultless-
ness in the face of facts which seem to
initiate against me-
Il believe volt she began, her hand
trembling towards his. But the confid
ing impulse was stayed-by what thought ?
by what dread? and her hand fell and her
lips closed before she had completed the
sentence.
Il am innocent he repeated, draw
ing himself up in proud assertion, nobly
borne out by the clear regard of the eye
which now turned alternately on George
and Leighton who were standing upon
either side of him. ..~
What is the use Of repeating a phrase
you cannot back % with proof?' called
out George, VINO was still gnaWing his
own special grievance. II am as inno-
cent as you are. but I scorn to take ad-
vantage Of each and every opportunity to
assert it.
Leighton neither spoke nor moved.
The melancholy in which he was now COM
pletely lost repealed all attempts to break
it. Nor did this expression Of complete
Indebtedness alter during the hubbub that
followed. When it did-but I must make
! clear the circumstances of this change.
I was engaged in making my adieux to
Miss Meredith when Sweetwater, after a
marked effort to meet my eye, motioned
me to join him in the doorway of the den
where Mr.. Gillespie's body still lay. Not
enjoying the summons, yet feeling it i'm
possible to slight them, l ventured, for
the last time, or so I hoped. down the
hall.
The young detective was looking into
the room which had played so conspicuous
a part in the events Of the night, and as
! drew up beside him, perceived that his
| eyes were fixed not upon the outstretched
| figure Of it's late cc,rant, but on the face
and form Of Leighton Gillespie, who was
| bending above it..
| For all the humiliation l felt at thus
sharing the professional surveillance en-
| tered into by this able young detective.
could rot resist following his glance
| which seemed to find something remarka-
able in the attitude or expression of the
man before ne. ~.
The result was similar interest or
my part and score OF new surmises
! The melancholy which up till now had
been the predominating characteristic Of
| this nscrutable face had yielded to what
| could not be called smile and yet was
! strangely like one: and this smile or shad-
ow of a smile had in it just that tinge OF
sarcasm which made it the one look Of
| all others least to be expect
ed from a, sor who in common
with his brothers latored under a suspi
cion of having been the direct cause of mis-
fathers death. go. e..
With the memory of it indelibly fixed il
my mind. l moved away, and in another
moment was cult of the house in which
had spent four hours Of extraordinary sus
pense and exciting adventure. AS passet
down the stoco, l met young man com
ing up. He was the first Of the army o
reporters destined to besiege that hous
before daybreak. ...s..