Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-08-04
CHAPTER Xxx

II have received two letters" he said
zone from my charming wife, the other
from my detective. Ny wife viii be
here this evening. Both the letters are
addressed TO me at the postoffice; she
does not know where I am stopping. She
herself will put up at a little inn, the
name of which she gives me in her letter
1t is called the Bull and Mouth. / am
going to reconnoiter it."
We walked together to the street In
which 1t was situated, fingered a moment
or two outside, and then returned to our
own hotel. We should have remained
in the open had a storm of rain not come
on, which rendered it advisable that we
should take shelter under roof. Then
said Stanmore, with another of those
compassionate glances which / had al
ready observed:
"Gaskell, old man, 1 am going to
show you something; but you must first
give me a promise"
What promise?'' / asked
THAT when you see what l have to
show you, and when you hear the ex-
PLANTATION | shall give, you will not run
away from me-"
Il give you the promise 1 said but
cannot stay with you over tomorrow
night"
Where are you going to, then?'
Il do not know"
well, WELL he said, fearing that l
might retract my promise II must be
content. But l hope we shall meet again.
There is a singular attraction in you,
Gaskell. for which / cannot account
You promise me honorably, as a gentle
MANI"
/ made pitiful motion with my hands;
1 could not help it, There was so much
true sincerity and feeling in his voice
that it touched my heart. l could not,
could not restrain the little sob of
thankfulness which burst from me- Was
it possible that /. murderer a thief.
could still win the respect of men? l
turned from him. ashamed that he should
witness my agitation.
Then he took his sketchbook from his
pocket. and, detaching leaf handed it
to me. / stared at the drawing in dumb
anazement.
1t represented O bedroom, the bedroom
he and | had occupied On the preceding
night On the table was a lighted can
die. and near it stood man, apparently
just risen from his bed. In his right
hand were two articles, upon which he
was gazing with an expression of unut-
terable woe and despair upon his face
The man was myself, The articles l was
gazing on were the ring and the cord
1T occurred last night, at 5 o'clock
by my watch. | was awake, thinking of
my wife, amused at the surprise | had
in store for her. A movement from the
part of the room in which you slept
attracted my attention. You rose from
your bed, struck a match and lit the can
die. | called, and asked you whether you
were unwell; you did not answer. You
searched your pockets, and produced
therefrom diamond ring and a piece
of string. You approached the candle,
and looked down upon them, with Just
that expression upon your face l have
caught so faithfully. / called to you
sgain, and again you did not answer.
Then / rose, got my sketch book and
made the drawing 1t struck me as q
good subject for a picture. 1t is seldom
ar artist has the chance of catching such
an expression as that. When the sketch
was finished / came quite close to you
and looked at the ring and the piece of
string. 1t was a common strong piece
of cord. but the ring startled me, the
diamond in it being of such extraordinary
brilhancy. 1t is strange thinks |, that
Friend Gaskel works as & hop-picker
and lives on bread and water'-I know
that, you see-'when he owns ring
which he could sell or pledge for a good
many pounds You were fast asleep,
Gaskell. and l was more than ever con-
WINGED that you are the hero of some
strange story. For at least a quarter
of an hour you stood in the attitude in
which you are depicted; then you put out
the candle; in the dark you replaced the
articles in your pocket, and l heard you
creep into bed That is all"
1t was sufficient. Was it fated that
[ myself should be compelled by mex
orable justice to supply evidence of my
guilt? Net for my life did / care, but
the honor and good name of my wife and
daughter were in my keeping, and those
l must protect so long as it lay in my
power.
'stanmore," I said, 81 must so away
at once-at once"
You are afraid of me-
Il am. Better for me never TO speak
to mortal man again"
Look again at the sketch, Gaskell.
Examine il we'll"
| obeyed. but saw nothing in it that
had not seen before.
II am skilled in the phases of ex
preston" he continued. Frivolous per-
son as | en-, | claim TO be subtle in my
art There is despair in the face of this
drawing: but. Gaskell, it is not the de
SPAR of guilt: it is the despair of inno-
cence. l decline to release you from
in OF
least till tomorrow night. What do you
want"
This question was addressed to a wait
er. who had entered the room without
knocking.
"A gentleman wishes to see you inn
mediately, sir.
Let him come in"
The waiter. departing. returned usher
ing in a man. respectfully dressed. The
blood rushed to my head, and my heart
beat violently; for | recognized the de-
tecfive who. with two other officers, had
come TO my house upon the morning af-
ter the murder Of Mr.. Wilmot. For a
moment ! thought that q trap had been
set for me by Stanmore, and that,
through him. Justice had overtaken me.
Bur one glance at. his face convinced
me l was in error Evidently the detec-
tive was a stranger TO him.
My name is Stanmore," he said
What is your business with me?"
Il am a detective officer" replied the
man. He had looked at me when he en-
tered and had turned away, apparently
not recognizing me-my appearance was
SO changed.
II do not know you. said Stanmore.
.rYou are not the detective l employed"
NO. but / am working with him in
this affair Your wife has arrived and
is now safely lodged at the Bull and
Mouth. My partner IS watching her and
the man with her. She cannot escape.
But why should she want 10 escapes
INQUIRED Stanmore, who. l saw, was
somewhat puzzled.
That" said the detective, is what
have come TO explain.
shall leave you. Stanmore?" 1 ask
ed.