The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-11
where are you going to. thenE'
al do NOT kn0MN

to press me, fearing that l might re-
tract my promise; II must be content
But hope we shall meet again. There
is singular attraction in you, Gaskell,
for which I cannot account. You
promise me honorably?"
Yes, honorably."
"As a gentleman"
l made a pitiful motion with Ey
hands; could not help it. There was
so much true sincerity and feeling in
his voice that it touched my heart. l
could not, ! could not restrain the little
sob of thankfulness which burst from
me. Was it possible that I, a murderer,
q thief. could still win the resepct of
men? / turned from him, ashamed
that he should witness my agitation
and partly afraid that it might betray
me.
"As a gentleman:" he repeated.
! "If YOU will have it So" said, "as
a gentleman
Il hold you to it," he said.
Then he took his sketchbook from
his pocket, and, detaching leaf, hand
ed it to me. l stared at the drawing
in dumb amaZement.
| 1t represented a bedroom, the bed
room he and had occupied on the pre-
ceding night. On the table was a
lighted candle, and near it stood a
man, apparently just risen from his
bed. In his right hand were two ar
ticles, upon which he was gazing with
an expression of unutterable 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, you see," said Stan
| more.
81 see," muttered.
do you remember" he asked.
mo"
1T occurred last night, at 8 o'clock
by my watch. was awake, thinking
of my wife, amused at the surprise /
had in store for her. A movement from
the part of the room in which you slept
attracted my attention. You rose from
your bed, struck match and lit the
candle. I called, and asked you
whether you were unwell; you did not
answer. You searched your pockets:
and produced therefrom a diamond
ring and q piece of string. You ap-
preached the candle, and looked down
upon them, with just that expression
upon your face have caught so faith
fully. I called to you again, and again
you did not answer. Then rose, got
my sketchbook and made the drawing.
1t struck me as a good subject for a
picture. It is seldom an artist has the
chance Of catching such an expression
as that. When the sketch was finished,
I came quite close to'you' and: looked at
the ring and the piece Of string. 1t was
common, strong piece of cord, but the
ring startled me, the diamond in it
being of such extraordinary brilliancy.
1T is strange thinks !, that Friend
Gaske!l works as a hop-picker, and
lives on bread and water'-I know that,
you see-'when he owns a ring which
pounds You were fast asleep, Gas
| kell, and l was more than ever con-
vinced that you are the hero Of some
strange story. For at least a quarter
of an hour you stood in the same atti-
tude in which you are depicted; then
you put out the candle; in the dark
/ you replaced the articles in your pocket
and I heard y0u creep into bed. That
! is ALL"
1t was sufficient Was it fated that
I myself should be compelled by mex
orable justice to supply evidence of
my guilt? Not for my life did l care,
but the honor and good name Of my
wife and daughter were in my keeping,
and those must protect so long as it
lay in my power.
| "Stanmore," said, release me from
my promise. must go away at once
at once"
You are afraid Of me-
II am. Better for me never to speak
to mortal mar again"
Look again at the sketch, Gaskell.
Examine it Well.''
I obeyed him, but saw nothing in it
that had not seen before.
| II am skilled in the nuances Of eX-
| prcssion," he continued. "FrivOlous
person rs ! am, claim to be subtle in
my art. There is despair in the face Of
this drawing; but, Gaskell, it is not
the despair CT guilt; it is TIE despair of
innocence. I decline to release you
from your promise. You remain with
me al least till tomorrow night. What
do you want?"
This question was addressed tc q
waiter, who had entered the room with
out knocking.
A gentleman wishes to sec you imme-
diately, sir"
Let him come in"
The waiter, departing, returned, ash
ering i'll man, respectfully dressed.
The blood rushed to my head, and my
heart beat violently; for 1 recognized
the detective who, with two other Of
ticers, had come to my house upon the
morning after the murder of Mr.. Will
mot For moment thought that q
trap had been set for me by Stanmore,
and that, through him, justice had
overtaken me. But one glance ut his
face convinced me was in error. Evi-
IDENTITY the detective was stranger to
him.
"My name is Stanmore," lie said.
What is your business with me?"
II am detective officer" replied the