The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-13

"You did" ] said, and feared to add
that from this packet there was
document missing which might be OF
Importance to me.
when l received it," she continued,
with the Injunction to deliver it into
your hands directly you came home,
/ thought 1 would first see what 1t
contained"
"You infamous woman!'
ct advise you to be polite. There
fore, l went to my room and opened
it. Shall tell you what it contained"
II am listening 10 you"
1T is most considerate Of you, seeing
that your life hangs upon a thread
which it is in my power to cut. 1t
contained letter addressed to you by
the clergyman. read it with great
interest. 1t contained also a copy OF
Samuel Fleetwood's false confession.
read that with greater interest. IL
contained also a private letter to you
from Samuel Fleetwood. l read that
with even greater interest-indeed,
with so much interest that retained
it."
You stole it, then?'
IF YOU choose to put it in those
words ! am agreeable. ] stole it. Mr..
Pardon, you are not a young man;
you must have experiences and ad-
ventures; you must know something Oh
men and life. am younger than you
much, very much younger-but l have
had my experiences and adventures,
and know something, too, of men ana
life. Just now, Judging from your agl-
tation, I am the clearer-headed of the
two, and tell you that never did man
stand in such fearful danger as'you 90
ut this moment. A disgraceful, an in
famous grave is yawning wide Tor
YOU, and l alone can lead you from II
to safe ground. But you snail pug
your safety upon my terms"
I looked helplessly around; her words
carried conviction with them. she
wilfully misconstrued my distracted
gaze.
II know why you are. looking about
You are a strong man; / am a weak
woman. Have you any intention OF
committing a second murder? Do not
entertain it, I beg; weak as l am, l
shall be able to defend myself till
alarm the house. Then no power on
earth can save you from your fate.
1 was speaking of Samuel Fleetwoods
private letter, and I told you that L
retained it. What is more, made
CODY of it. The original is put safely
away; it is in the hands of one VINO
will use it if the need occurs. Samuei
Fleetwood did not murder Mr.. W1lmot,
but he saw the deed done"
"He saw it done?" l gasped. "Who'
then, is the murderer"
What question:! Who is the mur.
derer? You! You, and no other NAL"
You lier' cried. you lie!'
II speak the truth, and you know II.
Samuel Fleetwood's confession is
false confession. made not so much to
save you as to save your wife ano
daughter from indelible infamy. l
told YOU I had read the confession
which, of course, you have also done.
What do YOU think of that part OF II
which speaks of the cord Wild
which the unfortunate gentleman was
strangled? Do you know anything OF
that cord? Could you produce 1t II
YOU were forced to do so?'
It did not seem to me that human
being was speaking. The words 1 heard
seemed to be uttered by some remorse'
less devil.
$50 much for the cord" she said
"There is another part of the confes'
sion which must have puzzled you-the
ring. with its remarkable diamond
What do you think of the description
Samuel Fleetwood gives in his confes'
sion of having taken it off the dead
mans finger? What do you think OF
!he description he gives? Shall l haD
ard q guess, and declare that you, and
70 other man, knows where that ring
is at this moment? Shall I hazard q
guess, and declare that, if you were
at this moment seized and searcheG
the ring which proclaims you thief ane
murderer would be discovered? Obl1ge
me with an answer to that"
She paused, obviously with the inten
ton of giving me time to reflect. Bui
all power of logical thought had passeo
from me. All could say was:
II must know more. Have you with
you the copy of the private letter YOU
say you made?"
II have it with me-"
will you let me read itT'
II brought it for you to read. Invite
me to be seated"
"Be seated"
She laughed, and made me a mocking
obeisance; then, seating herself, handed
me the following document:
From Samuel Fleetwood, dead, te
Richard Pardon, Esq, living: 49,
To be continued.
=. Reported on the Cow.
y.