Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-21
CHAPTER WI

CHAPTER XVI.
1t was l o'clock in the morning, and
was in my study alone. My last search
for Samuel Fleetwood's sealed letter had
proved fruitless. | was in despair, and
yet l knew not what l had to fear. Alb
Sorbed in distressful meditation, | did
not hear a soft knocking at my study
| door, which was locked, and it was not
| till it was repeated several times that
| it reached my ears. 1T is my wife,
! thought; 'she is uneasy that | am not
abed." l opened the door and saw
Mile. Rosalie!
Without asking permission, she glided
| into the room
How dare YOU l cried, ''intrude up
| on me at such an hour?'
Speak low" she said, "for your own
sake. have knocked at your door sew
eral times; you must have been busily
engaged not to have heard me-"
There was an insolent calmness in her
voice; but troubled as 1 was, l shook off
the dread which it inspired
IF you do not instantly leave The
room,' l said, Il will call my wife.
and your shameless character shall be ex-
I posed.
Call her." said Mile Rosalie. "and
find yourself in prison within an hour,
charged with the murder of Mr.. Wilmot."
l sank speechless into my chair Mile.
Rosalie stepped softly to the door and
turned the key. l gazed at her in silence
Speak plainly" l managed to gasp
Il have come here to do so, and have
chosen this hour in order that we shall
not be disturbed. After your treatment
of me l do not know why l should wish
to save you; but it may be made worth
my while. Besides, my nature is merci-
full. l would return good for evil. l
gave you packet this evening which l
receiy ed from clergyman"
You did" l said, and feared to add
that from this packet there was a docu-
ment missing which might be of impor-
lance 10 me.
! when | received it." she continued,
with the injunction to deliver it into
your hands directly you came home, l
| thought l would first see what it con-
tanned"
You infamous woman"
IL advise you to be polite. Therefore,
l went TO my room and opened it. Shall
| tell you what it contained?'
II am listening to you"
1T is most considerable of you. seeing
that your life hangs upon a thread which
it is in my power to cut. 1t contained a
letter addressed to you by the clergyman.
l read it with great interest. 1t contain
ed also a copy of Samuel Fleetwood's
false confession. 1 read that with great
er interest. 1t contained also a private
letter to you from Samuel Fleetwood |
read that with even greater interest-in-
deed with so much interest that l re-
tanned it,"
You stole it, then?'
| IF you choose TO put it in those words
| l am agreeable. l stole it. Mr.. Par
/ don, You are not a young man; you must
I have had experiences and adventures
/ you must know something of men and
/ life. L am younger than you-much
very much younger-but l have had my
/ experiences and adventures. and | know
something. too, of men and life. Just
now, judging from your agitation. l am
| the clearer-headed of the two, and l tell
I YOU that never did man stand in such
fearful danger as you do at this moment
4 disgraceful an infamous grave is
/ yawning wide for you. and | alone can
/ lead you from it TO safe ground. But
you shall buy your safety upon my
/ terms"
/ / looked helplessly around: her words
carried conviction with them. She will
( fully misconstrued my distracted gaze.
Il know why you are looking about
/ You are a strong man. l am a weak
woman. Have you any intention of COM
hitting a second murder? Do not enter
/ tain ii. | beg: weak as l am, / shall be
able to defend myself till / alarm the
house. Then no power on earth can
save you from your fate. 1 was speak
/ ing of Samuel Fleetwood's private letter.
and l told you that l retained it. What
I is more. l made a copy of it. The orig
inal is put safely away; it is in the hands
/ of one whp viii use il If the need occurs.
7 Samuel fleetwood did not murder Mr.
/ Wilmot but he saw the deed done"
HE saw it doneT' | gasped. Who,
! then. is The murderer
what a question: Who the murder
err You, You. and no other man.
/ You he,'' l cried. You lie,"
Il speak the truth. and you know il.
I Samuel Fleetwoed IDS confession is false
confession. made not so much 10 save
YOU as to save your wife and daughter
1 from iudelible infamy. l told you l had
read the confession which. of course,
you have also done What do you think
/ of that part of il which speaks of the
cord with which the unfortunate gentle
msn was strangled? Do you know any
thing of that cord? Could You produce
J il if you were forced 10 do soF
/ Ii did not seem TO me that human
being was speaking. The words l heard
/ seemed 70 be uttered by some remorse-
/ less demon.
so much for the cord" che said.
There is another part of thu confession
which must hare puzzled ycu--the ring
with its remarkable diamOrd. What 90
you think Of the description Samuel
/ Fleetwood gives sn his confession of hav-
7 ing taken it off the dead mans finger
What do you thiuk the description he
gives? shah iazard guess. and de-
clare that you. and no other man. knows
where that ring is NJ this mcmentg Shall
l hazard guess. and declare thar, If you
were at this D9ment ssixed and searched.