Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-17
CHAPTER XVI.
An Interesting Story.


An Interesting Story.
The man leaped to his feet, with an in
articulate cry. and then sank back to
uEknow-me!" he half gasped. Then
Yes" said Blanton. quietly; 81 know
and Sawyer. under arrest. 1t will be USE
less to make any defense--save to tell the
truth and the whole truth regarding this
Harry Blake had stood there, in silence,
staring at the inmate OF the room, and
tome ns nV OF Wonder and amazement: Su' ~
This is Gordon Weatherby? He was
not murdered, after alp
This is Gordon Weatherby, and he was
not murdered" replied the detective. Then
he turned toward the man, and said:
Mr.. weatherby tell me why you MUIR
dered your twin brother.
Again the man started. How did you
know ne was my twin brother" he asked.
II deduced it. But tell us; tell . us your your
may do you a good deal Of good"
Gordon Weatherby was silent a few mo-
ments, and then said:
Very wen; / will do so. I did kill my
twin brother, and am not sorry. I would
do the same thing over again. Listen; 1
II am English by birth. Was born and
reared in the south of England. had a.
twin brother. Morton, and while was
scarum, and was continually getting into
scrapes. used to shield him from our
fathers wrath. and got him out OF scrapes
youths. and when we grew to be men 1t
was the same. Whenever he got into a
he came to me. and always helped him
out.
when we were twenty-five. however.
We both fell in love with the same girl.
This is the one thing of all things that
is sufficient to part the best of friends, and
we gradually grew to dislike each other.
/ say that most Of the iii feeling was on
my brothers side felt that 1t was
fair race, and that whichever won. 1t
would not be right for the other to harbor
malice
well, won. The young lady chose me,
and my brother was wild with rage. He
me rue the day that I won the girl away
from him. talked to him as calmly as
and aa not
lice. but he burst forth in torrent of
abuse and revilings. ending by uttering
threats to be reyenged. and l left him
Gordon weatherby was silent and
thoughtful few moments during which
dent that he was going over again in his
mind the scenes he was describing. Blan-
ton and Blake had taken seats. and the
detective had lighted a cigar and was puff
ing away at 1t with a satisfied air He was
feeling contented and happy. indeed, for
he had solved one of the deepest and most
been engaged upon.
Il did not see my brother for several
fered to make e up. He aeknowie lee au that
should not have borne malice. Let us be
thought a great deal OF each other. and I
cannot endure the thought of our being
well. / thought he was sincere. and
was only too glad to meet him half way.
We shook hands and made up: and things
Sss a elena ssrn for s r aIS
and our happiness was complete. The
child was a girl. and we named her Ger
sweetest and best daughter that any man
ever had, and 1t Is Tor her sake that
have grieved over this terrible affair, for
she thinks me dead, and is grieving for
You are mistaken" broke in Blanton,
quietly. as he blew ring of smoke toward
and that you murdered your twin brother
and are hiding from the officers Of the
Gordon weatherby stared in amusement.
How can that be possible?" he asked:
who could have told her this? But Of
course. 1t was you who told her. I wish
You are mistaken; Mordaunt told her."
said the detective.
..Mordaunt?"
but why did ne tell her?''
He told her the story Of the murder,
and then used 1t as lever with which
to force her to promise to become his
wife"
Gordon Weatherby stared for few mo-
ments. and then exclaimed. fiercely: "The
villain!'
He Ia all that. and more" quietly; "but
go on with your story"
II will do 80. but first am going to ask
you to promise to foil the scheme OF that
villain. Mordaunt. VIII you do it?''
II will; he shall not force your daughter
into q marriage with him."
THANK you; now will go on with my
story: For two years after the birth Of
our daughter my wife and / were very
happy. but trouble was brewing. One day
my brother came to me in great distress
He had gotten into a scrape that would
sum of money was forthcoming at once.
He was In disgrace with our father. but
he knew ! was well thought OF, and he