Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-07-25
CHAPTER NX.


lie continued to laugh for some time.
CHAPTER XX.
II struck me on the following morn.
ing that he cast strange. compassionate
glances ut me.
IL have received two letters" he said:
zone from my charming wife. the other
from my detective. My wife will be
here this evening. Both the letters are
addressed to me at the postofIice; she
does not know where am stopping. She
herself will put up at little inn. the
name of which she gives me In her letter
1t Is called the Bull and Mouth. I am
going to rcconnoiter it,"
We walked together to the street In
which 1t was situated. fingered 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 II 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, am going to
show you something; but you must first
give me n PROMISE"
"What promiseT' I asked.
"That when you see what I have to
show you, and when you hear the ex.
PLANTATION I shall give. you will not run
away from me-"
II give you the PROMISE" I said; "but
I cannot stay with you over tomorrow
night"
"wherc are you going to, then3'
II do not know"
"well, WELL" he said. fearing that I
might retract my promise: II must be
content. But hope we shall meet again.
There Is n singular attraction In you,
Gaskell. for which cannot account.
You promise me honorably, Us gentle.
manY'
l made pitiful motion with my hands:
I could not help Il. There was 30 much
true sincerity and feclin: In his voice
that Ii touched my heart. ! could not.
I could not restrain the little sob Of
thankfulness which burst from me. Was
1t possible that !. n murderer, n thief,
could still win the respect of men?
turned from him. ashamed that he should
witness my agitation.
Then he took his skctchbook from his
pocket. and. dctaching n leaf. handed II
to me. ! stared at the drawing In dumb
amazement.
1t represented n bedroom. the bedroom
he and l had occupied on the preceding
night. On the table was lighted can.
die. and near 1t stood n man. apparently
just risen from his bed. In his right
hand were two articles. upon which he
! was gazing with an expression of unut.
tprablc woe and despair upon his face.
The man was myself. The articles I was
gazing on were the ring and the cord.
ut Is yourself, sou See" said Stan.
more. "Do you rcmember?"
NO"
ut occurred last night, at 3 o'clock
by my watch. ! was awake. thinking Of
my wife. amused at the surprise I had
| In store for her. \ 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 yo,,
were unwell; you did not answer. You
searched your pockets, and produced
therefroni u diamond ring and piece
of string. You approached the candle.
nnd looked down upon them, with Just
that expression upon your face I have
caught so faithfully. I called to you
igain, and again you did not answer.
Then ] rose, got my sketch book and
made the drawing. 1t struck me as a
good subject for a picture. 1t Is seldom
an artist has the chance Of catching such
an expression as that. When the sketch
was finished ! came quite close to you
and looked ut 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
brilliancy. 1t Is strange thinks I, that
Friend Gaskell works as a hOp-picker,
and lives on bread and water'-I know
that, you see-'when he owns a ring
which he could sell or pledge for a good
many pounds You were fast asleep,
Gaskell, and was more than ever con.
WINGED that you are the hero of some
strange story. For ut least 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 IL ALL"
1t was sufficient. Was It fated that
I myself should be compelled by mex,
orable justice to supply evidence of my
guilt2 Not for my life did l care. but
the honor and good name of my wife and
daughter were In my keeping, and those
l must protect so long as 1t lay In my
power.
"stanmore," l said, ~ must go away
at Once--at once"
"You are afraid of me-"
II am. Better for me never to speak
to mortal man again."
Look again ut the sketch, Gaskell
Examine it WELL"
l 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 ! am, | claim TO be subtle In my
art. There is despair in the face of thi,
! drawing; but, Gaskell, 1t Is not the de
spair of guilt; It Is the despair of limo
cence. decline to release you from
your promise. You remain with me al
least till tomorrow night. What do vol
wanti"
This question was addressed to wait
er, who had entered the room without
knocking.
"A gentleman wishes to see you i'm
mediately, SIR"
Let him come in"
The waiter, departing. returned usher
Ing In man, respectfully dressed. Thu
blood rushed to my head. and my hear
beat violently; for ! recognized the de
tective who, with two other officers, hat
come to my house upon the morning af
7 ter the murder Of Mr.. Wilmot. For
} moment ! thought that trap had beef