Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-04-28

by his own confession in court
David was in the grounds of Mrs. Dali
las on that night"
! Yes, yes. You are right" said Jen.
/ in a bewiIdered tone. Still, 1 cannot
believe that Isabella killed Maurice.
! She loved him dearly, and had no rea-
son to murder him"
None in the world Yet she GER
tainly took his life. Come. Major, I
won't worry you any longer with n
| Quiries Dido hypnotized the daugh-
ter to commit the crime, as she had
willed the mother TO steal the devil
stick. Isabella is absolutely ignorant
| Of what she did, and firmly believed
that l was the guilty person. Now, Of
| course, she thinks David-by his own
! confession-is the assassin"
| But David confessed himself guilty
| to save herr"
"Of course; but Isabella does not
know that She thinks-and on the
| face of 1t. with reason-that David
killed Maurice out of jealousy"
How was it David saw the crime
! committed ?"
Il shall. explain" said EtwaId "Da-
vid found out that Maurice was going
to meet Isabella that night, secretly.
| in the grounds of Mrs. Dallas, near the
| gate. Determined to see the meeting
| and to learn II there was any hope for
him, he feigned a journey to New York
! in order to lull any suspicious which
| Maurice might have that he was be-
| ing watched. Instead of going, how
| ever, he concealed himself at a spot
| where he could see the gates, which
opened on to the highway. Now" add
| ed Etwald, with a side glance at the
| Major, ut so happened that l also
wished to see that meeting"
How did you know it was about to
take placer"
Il learned the fact from Dido. Well,
1 saw David in his place OF conceal
ment, and guessed his reason for COM
| ing. Maurice appeared at the rendez-
vous, and shortly afterwards Isabella,
under the hypnotic influence, came
| down the avenue. In her hand she
| held the devil-stick. and came swiftly
| towards Maurice. He, not understand
| ing the deadly weapon with which she
was armed, came to meet her with
outstretched arms. She thrust the
devil-stick before her, and wounded
him in the palm of the hand With a
cry he fell-dead."
within the gates ?" asked the Ma
| jor, much agitated.
Yes within the gates" responded
Etwald. When Isabella had struck
the blow, she dropped the devil stick in
the grass where, if you remember, it
was found by Battersea. Then she re-
| turned to the house by the little path
which leads thereto through the sur
rounding trees The body lay in the
| bright moonlight full in the center of
the path, not a stones throw from the
| high-road. David and I rushed sim
ultanecusly from our hiding-places
and 1 explained hurriedly that the BODY
must not be found in the grounds. He
| understood, and we carried the body On
| to the road. Before we had time TO
| deliberate what was to be done. we
| heard the noise of approaching foot
! steps, and afraid-both of us-of being
| accused of the crime, we fled Then
| you came down the road and discover
| ed the corpse"
Yes. l heard the poor lads cry"
| said Jen, simply, and I ran down at
| once. You must have been very quick
in your movements. I wish both Of
you had been more open with me-"
Il am afraid that would have been
| impossible, Major" said EtwaId, rising.
| You were so distracted over the death
: of Maurice and so unjust in your ha-
| tired of me, that it would have been
| dangerous to trust you"
Am l unjust in my hatred of your"
| demanded Jen, getting on his feet q
think not, DR.. Etwald Your desire to
marry Isabella, or, rather, her fortune,
has been the cause of all these ills.
| Dido was only your instrument, whom
| you compelled to work by means of the
Voodoo Stone. That she betrayed you
in the end was your punishment 1 10
not blame her so much as l do you
You alone are responsible for the death
of those two poor lads of mine"
We'll, have it your own way" SAID
Etwald, carelessly. Il am a scoundrel
in your eyes. 1 dare say; but if You
will permit me to see you tomorrow
at IL o'clock, I shall be able to prove
that I am not quite so black as you
/ have painted me-"
I never want to set eyes on you
| again." said Jen, bluntly.
Nor will you-after midday to-
morrow. But you will regret if you do
not grant me this interview If you
are wise you will arrange to let me
| come here tomorrow at Il, and meet
| Mrs. Dallas and her daughter"
Both of them will refuse to meet
you. You saw Mrs. Dallas to-day, how
she behaved"
Like the fool she is" said the doc
| tor, putting on his hat. We'll, 1 an
going. VIII you see me tomorrow
morning."
Yes. I don't know what possible
/ ThinCrS N nd RI 70 90
this interview but as you make such
a point of it, I'll see you"
And ask Mrs. Dallas and her daugh-
| ter to be present"
Yes. I'll try and get them to come"
Later on in the day Jen sent letter
to The Wigwam,' asking Mrs Dallas
| to come with her daughter the next
morning at II o'clock. He did not ex-
plain that DR.. Etwald would be pres
ent, as he knew the temper of Mrs
! Dallas. Whatever might be at stake
! even il it were to her own interest, she
| would refuse to meet the men towards
whom she bore so strong a hatred
| Therefore Jen decided to be diplomat
ic, and keep silent as to the visit Of
| Etwald. During the afternoon a note
was brought to Jen, in which Mrs Dali
| las promised to come and to bring Isa-
bella
At II o'clock next morning Mrs Dali
| las arrived with Isabella, the latter
looking wan and i'll. Even had the
Major not promised to be silent, he
| could not have brought himself to tell
the poor girl the truth at that moment
After all. she was perfectly innocent,
| and lad committed the crime unwit-
| tingly. Dido was the culprit, not Isa-
bella and the Major felt a profound
pity for the miserable girl who had
been made a tool of by the unscrupu-
lous negress and the evil-minded Ell
valid.
Well, Major" said Mrs. Dallas, after
| the first greetings were over. what did
| that wicked man say to you yester-
day?"
He explained how my poor Maurice
was killed.
All" said Isabella, clasping her
| hands I am sure that it was that ter
rible man who made David kill Man.