Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-07-11
CHAPTER XVI,


1t was l o'clock In the morning. and
was In my study alone. My last search
for Samuel Flcctwood's sealed letter had
proved fruitlcss. l was In despair, and
yet ! knew not what had to fear. Alb
sorbed In distrcssful meditation. l did
not hear n soft knocking at my study
door. which was locked, and 1t was not
till II was repeated several times that
II reached my ears. ut Is my wife,"
thought; "she Is uneasy that I am not
abed." opened the door and saw
Mile. Resale!
Without asking permission, she glidcd
into the room.
"IIow dare YOU" I cried. "intrude up.
on me ut such an houri"
"Speak low" she said, "fOr your own
sake. l have knocked at your door sew
eral times: you must have been busily
engaged not to have heard me-"
There was an insolcnt calmness In her
voice; butt troubled NJ l was, l shook OFF
the dread which It inspired.
III you do not instantly leave the
roOn,," I said. II will call my wife,
and your shameless character shall be ex.
pc sed.
"Call her" said Mile. Rosalie, "and
=,
charged with the murder Of Mr.. Wilmot,"
sank speeches. into my chair. Mile.
Resale stepped softly to the door and
"Speak plainly" l managed to gasp.
II have come here to do 80. and have
chosen this hour In order that We shall
not be disturbed. After your treatment
Of me l do not know why I should wish
% h,A I<. Ia
my while. Besides, my nature IL merci.
full I would return good for evil.
gave you n packet this evening which I
received from u clergyman"
"YOu did" ! said, and feared to add
that from this packet there was docu-
ment missing which might be Of impOr.
lance to me.
"When I received IT," she continued,
with the injunction to deliver 1t into
your hands directly YOU came home,
thought l would first see what 1t con-
tained."
you infamous woman!'
~ advise you to be polite. Therefore.
I went to my room and opened 1t. Shall
l tell You what 1t cOntainedT'
II am listening to yOu."
| 1T IL most considerable of you seeing
that your life hangs upon thread which
1t Is In my power to cut. 1t contained a
letter addressed to you by the clergyman.
! read 1t with great interest. 1t contain.
ed also a copy of Samuel Fleetwood's
false confession. l read that with great
or 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 II, theny"
IF you choose to put It In those words
| | am agreeable. ! stole It. Mr.. Par
don, You are not a young man; you must
have had experiences and adventures;
you must know something Of men and
life. am younger than you-much,
very much younger--but have had my
experiences and adventures, and l know
something, too, of men and life. just
now, judging from your agitation. am
the clearer-headed of the two, and tell
you that never did man stand In such
fearful danger as You do at this moment.
A disgraceful, an infamous grave Is
yawning wide for you, and ! alone can
lead you from 1t 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.
~ know why you are looking about.
You are strong man, ! am weak
woman. Have you any intention of com.
hitting second murder? DO not enter.
tain It. beg; weak az am, l shall be
able to defend myself till ! alarm the
house. Then no power on earth can
save you from your fate. ! was speak.
Ing Of Samuel FleetwOod's private letter,
and told you that I retained It. What
10 more, made a copy Of It. The orig
inal 10 put safely away; It 10 In the hands
Of one who will use II II the need occuss