Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-06-25
My Strangest Case
BY GUY BOOTHBY.
Author Of "Dr. KikoIa.'' THE Beautiful
White Devil" Pharos, The
Egyptian" Etc.
CHAPTER VIII.-CoNrrNuEp.
Copyrighted. 1901, by ward, Loci, g Col

OnAI / Elk NIll.-( CONTINUED
This is a somewhat remarkable
CASE he said. Il Will mention no
names, but doubtless YOU can read
between the lines. There was a man
who murdered his wife i'm order that
ne might marry another woman. III"
thought which lac gave to it, and the
clever manner ia which he laid his
plans, not only for the murder but
also for The disposal Of the body.
marked him as criminal in the pos
session Of siugularlv brilliant in
leIIet'. lie gave no hint to anybody.
but left the country without leaving
the iaintest clcw concerning his
destination behind him. was called
IN to talk over the case. but after
some consideration could make moth
ing OF 1t. | have no objection to adj
uniting that | was completely baf-
fed. Now il so happened that dis
covered that the mans mother was
OF Irish extraction. He. believing
that he would be safe on that island.
engaged passage on board a steam
er from llavrc to Belfast. She was
70 pick up at Southampton, Ply
mouth ana bristol, en- route. My
man, who. by the way. was a very
prescntable person, and could be dis
tlnctly sociablc when he pleased. en-
deavored 10 make himself agreeable
TO the passengers on board. On the
first evening out OF port. the con
Nersaiion turned upon the value of
diamonds, and one Of the ladies on
board produced some costly stones
she happened to have in her posses
sion. The murderer, who. YOU must
understand, was quite safe, was un
happily eaten up with vanity. He
could not forego the boast that he
was the possesSor Of a magnificent
ring, which had been given him bv
e1 Emperor Napoleon III. Need
less 10 say this information excited
considerable interest. and he was
asked to produce it for the general
edfication.
He declared that it was too late
TO do so that evening, but said that
he would do so on the morrow. or. at
any rate, before he left the vessel
In the excitement of reaching South
ampton, the matter was for the mo-
mcnt forgotten, but on the dov that
they arrived in Plymouth one Of the
lady passengers reminded him of his
promise. This was followed by an
other application. Thus surrounded
the unhappy man found himself in
the unpleasant position OF being dis
covered in the preparation Of an nm
truth, or Of being compelled to in
vent some feasible tale i'm order IN
account for his not being able TO Dro-
duce the ring. II was al this iunc-
ture that he made his great mistake.
ANXIOUS doubtless to attract attcn-
tlon, ne returned from his cabin with
the astounding declaration that the
lock had been forced, and the famous
ring stolen from his trunk i'm which
IL had lain concealed He certainly
Bced his part well, but he did nat
realize 10 what consequence il would
lead. The matter was rcported 10
tn police, and search was made
through the vessel. The PASSENGERS
were naturally indignant at such
treatment. and for the rest Of the
voyage the man found himself tax
ing what YOU English call the cold
shoulder He reached Belfast made
his way into the country. and pres-
emily settled down. Later ON. when
the pursuit had died down IL wa. bi.
intention 10 ship for America. where
he was 90 be joined by the woman.
10 obtain whom he had in the first
place committed the crime. Now oh
serve the result. Photographs of the
missing man and OF the murdered
woman were circulated an through
France. whiC not few we're sent
10 England. One Of these pictures
reached Plymouth. where IL was
shown 10 he officer who had invesfi-
rated the case ON the boat on its
way 10 Ireland He immediately
recognized the man who had made
the charge against his fellow passen-
gers. After that b. was easy 10 trace
him 70 Belfast and his hidmg-pIace
on land. Extradition was of course
granted, and he left the place. Had
he not imagined that in his safety
he could indulge his vanities. ! conf
IDENTIFY believe should never have
souDG him. When you come TO think