The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-06
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
"Caughtw I echoed, my voice scarcely
rising above whisper. At that mo-
ment felt my fate was hanging in the
balance.
mot exactly caught, SIR" said the
detective, in a tone Of vexation, as
though not the matter but the manner
of the incident displeased him. HE
has given himself up"
How did 1t happen?"
II was in the police station with the
inspector when a man came in, or
rather staggered in. We had to catch
him to prevent him from falling, and
we thought, Of course, that he was
drunk. Not bit Of it. Nearer dead
than drunk. With face like the face
of a ghost, and worn to skeleton.
When he could speak he said, in a
voice we could hardly hear, it was
SO faint: My name is Samuel Fleet
wood. I have come. to give myself
up for the murder of Mr.. Wilmot at
Bascombe Lodge With that he
swooned, and we called in the doctor,
who gave it as his opinion that the
man was dying. We restored him to
his senses, and the inspector asked him
if he knew what he had said. Yes he
| answered. I murdered Mr.. Wilmot.'
BE careful said the inspector; what
ever you say may be brought in evi-
| dence against you I am aware Of
it, said Fleetwood, and repeated, I
murdered him. He tried to say more,
| but he hadn't the strength; SO, acting
upon the doctors advice, we removed
him to a room, where he could be at
tended to. There be signed his bare
statement, which the inspector had
taken down, and then We left him to
the Doctor"
How long ago did this occur" I
asked, drawing a deep breath Of relief,
feeling that I was now safe from
suspicion.
1.-TWO hours by my watch as I left
the. station to come to you"
did the unhappy man send for me"
'No, sir; it was my own idea. You
see, there's that reward you Of
fered-" He paused.
1T shall be paid,' I said, although
the criminal gave himself up Of his
own free will instead of being appre-
! hended"
Spoken like q gentleman-begging
your pardon, sir"
When 1 saw you this morning with
Mr.. Mortlock," / said-and then I also
paused in the middle of a speech: the
question I was about to ask was inju-
dicious.
"Well, sir" said the detective, taking
| up the cue, 81 don't mind admitting
that I was then on another track"
prompted by Mr.. Mortlock?'
'In a manner of speaking, sir. He
first put the idea into my head. You
would never guess it, and mustn't
say what it was"
But 1 had guessed it. Mr.. Mortlock,
| hating me and nine, would have in
| criminated me; it was he whose malig-
| nant whisperings had caused me to be
received as I had been on that morning.
But the danger was now removed. In
the light of Samuel Fleetwood's admis-
sion, he was powerless to work out his
wicked spite against me.
How was Fleetwood" I asked,
when you left the station? Better?'
Worse, sir Sinking fast. Very
| little time to live. the doctor said. A
clergyman was called in and was with
him when I left"
And you thought might like to see
him"
! II thought as much, sir, though /
don't know whether the inspector will
allow it,"
Il am obliged to you. I should wisk
to see he,unhappy man; he might con-
fess to me the motive for his crime"
Its my opinion, sir, he's confessing
it to the clergyman. Thank you, sir"
had slipped a couple Of sovereigns
into his hand. There's something
that ought to be got at, if the man is
really dying"
What is that?''
'The money, sir. the five thousand
pounds that was taken out Of the box.
He was asked about it. and all the
answer he gave was strange smile.
He could hardly have spent it in the
| time"
| WAS there none found on him."
There wasn't brass farthing found
on him; and, what is more. his clothes
were in rags, and the doctor said he
must have been without food for more
than two days"
1T is indeed strange!" 1 remarked.
Il will go with you to the station"
saw my wife before I left the house.
You look better, Richard" she said.
II am better.' I replied. Terrible
as the incident is, it has removed a
weight from my heart. When the last
scene of this awful tragedy is enacted
we will seek another home. Much as 1
love this place, it has now become hate
full to me-"
This, knew, was in accordance with
the wishes of my wife, who never