Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-06-27
JRMONT FREDERICK COUNTY. MD. THURSDAY 1907.

| KOSalle stepped softly 10 the uOOr aHu
turned the key.
"For your sake" she said; "your life
| Is in my hands,"
| gazed at her in silence; she inclined
hel head as though l had asked
question and she was answering 1t.
"Yes," she said, at depends upon me
whether you meet your fate upon the
gallows. Not ut all pleasant idea"
"Speak plainly" I managed to gasp.
IT have come here to do so, and have
! chosen this hour in order that we shall
not be disturbed. After your treat
ment Of me do not know why
should wish to save you; but it may be
worth my while. Besides, my nature
| Is merclful. I would return good for
evil"
"Gu on" I said. straight to the
point"
ut is my intention. Will you not in
.vite me to be scated?'
II will not"
"Ah! you will soon change your tune.
gave you packet this evening which
! received from clergyman"
"You did," said and feared to add
that from this packet there was a
document missing which might be of
importance to me.
"When received it." she continued,
with the injunction to deliver it into
your hands directly you came home,
thought l would first see what it
contained"
| "You infamous wOman!
II advise you to be polite. There
fore, l went to my room and opened
it. Shall tell you what it contained"
II am listening to YOU"
ut is most considcrate Of you, seeing
, that your life hangs upon thread
which it Is in my power to cut. 1t
contained letter addressed to you by
the clergyman. l read 1t with great
interest. 1t contained also copy Of
Samuel Flcetwood's false confession
l read that with greater interest. 1t
contained also 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 l am agreeable. l stole it. Mr.
Pardon, you arc not a young man;
you must have experiences and ad-
ventures; you must know something Of
men and life. am younger than YOU
much, very much youngcr-but l have
had my experiences and adventures,
J and know something, too, OF men and
life. Just now, judging from your agi-
tation, am the clearer-headed of the
two, and tell you that never did man
stand in such fearful danger as you do
at this moment. A disgraceful an in.
famous grave Is yawning wide for
you, and I alone can lead you from it
to safe ground. But you shall buy
your safety upon my terms"
looked helplcssly around; her words
carried conviction with them. She
wilfully misconstrued my distracted
gaze.
II know why you are looking about.
You are strong man: l am weak
woman. Have you any intention or
committing second murder? Do not
entertain it, beg; weak as l am, |
shall be ablo to defend myself till |
alarm the house. Then no power on
earth can save you from your fate.
I was speaking of Samuel Flcetwocd's
private letter, and I told you that l
retained it. What Is more, l made a
| aF rtfrtn 10
away; 1t Is in the hands of one who
will use 1t If the need occurs. Samuel
Fleetwood did not murder Mr.. Wilmot,
but he saw the deed done"
"Hc saw 1t donet' l gasped. "Who,
then, Is the murderer"
what question! Who is the muir
dcrcr? You! You, and no other man"
"YOu lie"' I cried "You lier'
81 speak the truth, and you know it.
Samuel Fleetwoods confession Is Il
false confession, made not so much to
save you as to save your wife ana
daughter from indclible infamy. l
told you | had read the confession
which, of course, you have also done.
What do you think Of that part Of it
which speaks of the cord with
which the unfortunate gentleman was
strangled? Do you know anything of
that cord? Could you produce 1t IL
you were forced to do sof'
1t did not seem TO me that a human
oeing was speaking. The words I heard
seemed to be uttered by some remorsc-
less devil.
$50 much for the cord" she said.
"There is another part of the confess
sion which must have puzzled yOu-the
ring, with its remarkable diamond.
What do you think of the description
Samuel Fleetwood gives In his confess
sion Of having taken it Off the dead
mans finger? What do you think OF
the description he gives? Shall haz-
ard a guess, and declare that you, and
no other man, knows where that ring
Is ut this moment? Shall hazard q
guess, and declare that, If you were
at this moment seized and searched,
the ring which proclaims you thief and
murderer would be discovered? Oblige
me with an answer to that"
She paused, obviously with the inten-
ton of giving me time to reflect. But
all power of logical thought had passed
from me. All could say was:
II must know more. Have you with
you the copy of the private letter you
say you made?"
81 have 1t with me-"
"Will you let me read it?"
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