The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-27
(Continued)

The inquest was hurried. for certain
local reasons which weighed with the
coroner and the town authorities. II was
held on the afternoon OF the next day.
| was, necessarily. one among the wit
nesses summoned TO assist the objects
Of the investigation.
My first proceeding I'm the morning was
10 60 to the postoffice and inquire for the
letter which | expected from Marian. No
change Of circumstance. however extra p
ordinary. could affect the one great anx-
iety which weighed on my mind while I
was away from London The morning $
letter which was the only assurance /
could receive that no misfortune had hap
pened In my absence was still the alb
sorhing interest with which my day be-
gan.
To my relief the letter from Marian
was AZ the office waiting for me.
Nothing had happened-they were both
as safe and as we'll as when I had left
them Laura sent her love, and begged
that | would let her know of my return
day beforehand. Her. sister added in
explanation Of this message, that she
had saved nearly q sovereign" out of
her own private purse, and that she Ind
claimed the privilege Of ordering the din
ner which was 10 celebrate the day Of
n.
condolences I'm the bright morning. with
the terrible recollection of what had hap
pened the evening before vivid In my
memory. The necs ssity OF sparing Laura
any sudden knowledge OF the truth was
tho FIRST consideration which the letter
suggested To me.
wrote at once TO Marian. 10 tell her
what I have told in these pages; present
ing the tidings as gradually and gently as
I could and warning her not To Jet any
such thing as n newspaper fall in T.aura's
way while ! was absent In the case of
any other woman less courageous and
less reliable / might have hesitsted be
fore I ventured on unreservedly disclos-
ing the whole truth. But owed II 10
Marian 10 be faithful 10 my past expert.
ence OF her. and 90 trust her as I trusted
myself
NV letter was necessarily long one
II occupied me until the time came for
proceeding 20 the inquest.
The objects Of the legal inquiry were
necessarily beset by peculiar complica-
tions and difficulties Besides the investi-
IA lion into tho manner in which tho de-
ceased had met his death. there were So
rious questions 10 be settled re.ating %
the cause of tho fre. To- the abstraction ~
the KEYS. and 10 tho presence Of a
stranger I'm tho vestrv az tho time when
the flames broke out Even the identinca-
tion Of the dead man had not yet been ac-
complished The helpless condition of the
servant had made the police dlstrustfIl
% his asserted recognition OF his master.
They had sent 90 Knowleshury overnight
90 secure the attendance Of witnesses
who were we'll acquainted with the per-
sonal appearance of sir Perciyal CLYDE.
and they had eommunicsted.-the first
thing In the morning. with Blackwatcr
Park. These precautions enabled the cor
oner ard fury to settle the question 90
identity. and 20 confirm the correctness
~ the servants assertion. the evidence
offered bv competent witnesses. and by
tho discovery OF certain facts being sub
-equently strengthened by an examina-
tlon of the dead mans watch. The crest
and the name Of Sir Percival Clyde were