The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-08
THE MARK OF CAIN.
BY W. CRAWFORD SHERLOCK.

BY W. CRAWFORD SHERLOCK.
 Copyright, 1905. by Daily Story Pub. Col
 Several years ago I summoned to serve as a juror and being very busy ct the time. tried in every possible way to escape from the duty. My efforts. how ever. were intellectual and I was assigned to the court which had jurisdiction over all violators of criminal law. Despite my Naturalization to serve. I became very much interested in the different phases of human nature that I there encountered.
 Even the spectators were not devoid of interest to me. One of these. in particu- lar. excited my curiosity greatly. He was a man shabbily dressed. yet scrupulousy neat and clean. Judging from his gray hair and wrinkisd face. he was about sixty years of axe. yet his quick. nimble step. as he entered and left the court room. indicated that he was much younger.
 He was as regular in his attendance as any of the court officials and invariably occupied the same seat. During the pro- gress of ordinary cases he appeared lan- gufd and indifferent. but whenever any me was on trial accused of either an actual or attempted murder. he would listen with rapt. eager attention to every word of the evidence and arguments
 My curiosity was aroused by such strange conduct and watched him closely during the remainder of my term. A few months later I was compelled to visit tho same court for several days as a witness and found him at his post as deeply en- grossed as before. This time had an op- portunity of speaking to him. He was very rsticent at first. but his reserve xrad- ually wore away. and we became quite friendly.
 One evening as I was seated alone in his library. I picked up 6 scrap-book which was lying on the table. and found to my surprise that 1t filled with newspaper clippings of murder trials. covering a ss- rfod of several years. Feeling that were sufficiently close to warrant the question. asked him if he had any objection to telling me why he was interested in so gruesome a subject.
 Gazing intently at me for q few mo- mnets. he said slowly and deliberately T am concerned about such matters be- cause I was once accused of murder and treid for the crime. r will tell you all My name Is Charles Darnall I had an only brother. John. who was two years older. When we reached majority. each received a small fortune which had been held in trust for us. My brother was careful and prudent. and increased his riches: was wild and extravagant and squandered nearly all my money"
 Darnali paused for a few moments and then resumed: "One day appealed to my brother for aid which he refused me with the remark that 1t was useless to trv to help one who would not help himself I retortsd angriiy and left the house. vow ing never to return. The next day hA was found dead in this room with an vsly wound in his head. Scme one had oyer heard my angry words and I was accused of the murder and taken into custody There was not sufficient evidence to con- vict me. and I was legally acquitted vet morally condemed The story of my wild reckless life was laid bare.and this. com bined with the fact that was my brothers heir. placed upon me the mark of Cain as indelibiy as as if I had been branded upon the forehead. Every one I knew even my gay companions. summed me as they would e plague. For fifteen years have sought to fled the perpetrator of the dastardly deed. I have read and re- read all the accounts of murders in the papers, and have listened to many trials in the hope that some idea suggestion may come to my mind that will reveal the man who slew my brother. give me some clew to his identity. Thus far have failed. but before die believe will discover the miscreant and relieve my name from the stain of crime which rests upon 1t now"
 He spoke with a force and earnestnesa assured him of my belief that he was Ruiltless.
 After this I did not allow anything to interfere with my regular visits to Dar- ed him. He was a very sensitive man. and felt keenly. even at this late date. the aversion of his former friends and ac- quaintances. One evening reached home. received message from him asking me to com. to him at once In a few momonts I arrived at his house. and found him in a state ot great excitement few old letters. faded by age and dlscol- ored by dust. lay on a table before him. and he urged me to read them.
 Before I did however. Darnall told me that he had found them that morning It had been necessary to remove an old desk. which had belonged to John Darnall and they were on the floor. having evident ly fallen from one of the drawers.
 The letters. six in number. were evident ly written by John Darnalps wife. although Charles had never known of the existence of such person They were signed 'Is- abel" and the first two were written before the marriage as the writer spoke frequently of the happiness she expected when they would longer he separated | The next two letters were written after the marriage, and referred only to ordinary in | cidents that had transpired during the h,is- bands absence upon a business trip. The | last letters were the most important, as | they indicated enhancement between husband and wife In them Mrs. Darnall sought for an interview assuring har h"s- | band that she would be able to explain | everything to his entire satisfaction if he | would only listen to her story.
 There was clue to the whereabouts of | the writer: the letters were dated hut no location was given. and the envelopes had | been destroyed. When I finished reading them I turned to Darnall and was surprised at the change that had come over him. He | looked twenty years younger. standing erect. with bright. eager face and eyes l cleaning with rekindled hope. He cried | ''Now I will find out the secret that has baffled me for fifteen years Mrs Darnall knows who killed her husband"'
 That is true" I replied. but she may | he dead for all we know"
 He had not thoght of such possibility and 1t staggered him for a moment. l did not wish to discourage him in the slightest but he was so excited that feSSed his mind would give way If he failed this time Nevertheless Hs H",'n .ns nH'ser very 1S | obtain some clue to the whereabouts of l John parnalTs wife. At last after much vain search, we discovered tne record oi l Pratt and from this information. after | rnarv fruitless efforts. finally located the wife living in e small town under the name
 "Good-Sye. mother dear; I'll come bAcE