The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-08-30

and allow events 10 take their course
without assistance or Intervention from
me. To debate with myself I must be
alone. / entered my bedchamber and
locked the door. 1t was my usual habit
when ! was mentally troubled to walk
slowly this way and that; the physical
action assisted thought; but on this oc-
casion ! recognized the necessity OF
keeping still. After arguing with my
self for some time finally arrived at
the conclusion that there was no course
open to me but that of absolute secrecy
with respect to the ring. Just then my
eyes fell upon the piece Of thin whip
cord, Of which / have already made
mention, hanging from beneath the pill
low of the couch on which had slept.
Tremblingly drew it forth, and ex-
amined it, There We're marks on 1t
which, in the light Of what had oc-
CURED, proved the fell purpose to which
it had been applied. 1t was just such
a cord, and, indeed, It could hardly be
doubted that it was the cord, with
which my uncle had been strangled.
Then knew that was in deadly
peril.
What the detective had said with ref
erence to it REQUIRED to me word for
word: Third, the cord with which de-
ceased was strangled. That's a tri1e,
you'll say. Not at all. Keep it about
you, and it may be found. Burn it, and
the act may excite attention. Throw
it away, say in garden or a street.
and it may be picked up. Throw it into
the water, and it will float. 1t must be
strong piece of cordwith which it was
done. 1t must be thin piece. Con-
clusion-whipcord." In the silence ]
seemed to hear the damning words.
And the fatal cord itself was in my
hands, and dared not rid myself OF IT.
My mind was agitated by whirling
thoughts. All kinds of horrifying pos
sibilities presented themselves. What
if the door were suddenly burst open
by the officers of justice, and / was
found with the ring and the cord in
nv possession? What if my wife were
to call to me, urgently desiring to see
me? Outside my bed room window
was a tree, from the branches of which
person could see into the room.
What if Mr.. Mortlock, my enemy, were
to climb this tree and peer in? l thrust
the cord hastily into my pocket ana
looked in fear at the window and the
door, and listened with the terror OF a
man who is being hunted to death. All
was still and silent. Thank God!
There was but one sanctuary for me-
secrecy. There was but one escape for
me-that Samuel Fleetwood should be
arrested and proved guilty of the crime
One comforting suggestion presented
itself-the missing money. l had II
not, and knew not where it was. de.
termined to convince myself that had
not unconsciously secreted 1t in my
room. Careful and laborious was the
search I made. left not drawer un'
opened; looked in every possible nook
and corner; I examined every article
Of furniture; and I brea thed prayer
of thankfulness that l searched in
vain. Then I finally decided upon my
course Of action. I would keep the
ring and the cord about me; not even
to nv wife would I utter one word
concerning them. When Samuel Fleet
wood was caught I should be safe.
Until then I must play my part and
pursue my usual way, with dead
weight Of terror in my heart. Making
everything straight in the room, re-
joined my family.
Upon the events Of the few follow.
ing days I need not dwell at length.
An inquest was held, at which l and
all in my house were examined. The
Jury returned q verdict Of wilful muir
der against Samuel Fleetwood-aSalnst
the man 1 would have trusted not only
with untold gold, but with my honor
and the honor of those most dear to
me.
Sad were the days. There was no
talk of the marriage of Eunice and
Harry. Mr.. Mortlock left my house.
but remained in the neighborhood. The
police hunted in vain for Samuel Fleet
wood. In conversation with my wife
we strove to discover a motive for his
crime. He was a man whom we had
always thought absolutely careless, al
most scornful, of money. l owed him,
indeed, q sum of more than fifty
pounds for wages, which, when I had
spoken to him about it, he had begged
me to retain until he had use for it.
He had no one dependent upon him.
He. bore no grudge against the muir
dered man. What, then, could have
been his motive?
(To be Continued)