Evening star., 1912-06-26
THE ISLE OF STRIFE
GEORGE c. SFIEDD
Copyright by SmaILA Maynard 4 csy

kTdHltu Tie Nndt every man Is eNtIttpn
TO. innocence until guilt he proven. And.
therefore, | seek friendship Of Lavouche
neither now nor hereafter
He stared at the table. Proceed he
said finally.
How I came into possession OF the
map | have already related. On tho
voyage from Texas to New York. which
l previously mentioned. became &C
quainted with a gentleman who has eS-
tensive interests in Central American
countries and Venezuela. | gave an ac-
count Of what had occurred in the west
when 1 obtained the map. described the
French mechanic of the mines and stated
how l had last encountered him running
on board vessel bound for Venezuela.
the same vessel on which by chance Mr..
Moore and his daughter also sailed. This
gentleman instantly recognized the man
by my account-and with good reason.
For another person with whom he had
done business. a flibuster by the name
OF Lonagan, had been shot against a wall
In Venezuela by order OF this former
French mechanic: the latter had risen
through schemes until he became a friend
OF the president Of that country. The
French mechanic was no other than tho
man who is Mr.. Moore's guest and who is
now an envoy. The mechanic was named
D'Trville and murdered two men while
at the mine at Forge: he now calls him
self Senior Del Hervalle. and II IL not
known how many murders he has since
with him at the mine, talked with him
in his shop fought against him. He hints
that l am insane and possessed by an
hallucination. II such Is the case. then
the owner of the mine, the former man
ager and his wife, besides others who
were present on the spot, will be pos
sessed by the same form Of hallucination
when they see him. That the events
which occurred at Forge mine are not an
invention Of a disordered mind. Mr..
n,I ~ A., ~.
have talked with the actors who were
engaged in the struggle and are familiar
with the circumstances. Is such not the
case, Mr.. Moore?"
Il have talked with the persons YOU
mention and know the story to be true,''
he replied There was a French me-
chanic. The description given Of his per-
sonal appearance was similar, / regret to
say, to that of Senior Del HervaIle. II 10
a striking likeness.
Betty sprang to her feet. II too have
had the story told to me many times by
my friends. 1t is the truth" And she
sat down with heightened color, a fight
Ing color.
All, this was better than / had hoped
for. Mr.. Moore had gone further than
dared think. But l was a long way
off from proving that D'Urville and
Senior Del Hervalle were one and the
same man, as was presently evident
when Davis rose and stated that he had
tary in Venezuela for four years past
and he also added a word on hallucina-
tions and mistaken resemblance and
doubles" and so forth. Lavouche craned
and stretched it's ears. The investisa
tion was exceeding it's fondest hopes; II
would be wonder to relate unto the
third and fourth generations.
Presently / went on. When / came to
the island ii was with no other idea than
to show the map to my army friend.
do nd ~,
with the proper American authorities.
A storm began the night Of my arrival.
had not yet been to Moore House. With
the abatement of the gale l went thither
in the evening and recognized Senior Del
Hervalle as an old enemy. Then Stevens
and Mr.. Davis leaped on my back. think
ing me a burglar. and / was dragged
into the house. where the senior instantly
perceived who l was. Stand up, Stevens.
and tell what you know"
AT my word Of command, for / WAS
resolved to push the matter on my own
hook. Stevens arose.
"The senior recognized Mr.. Wood
WORTH said he He spoke his name
the first time he laid eyes on him.
And yet Senior Del Hervalle denies
that he ever knew me-" / stated. Was
he too laboring under an haliucinRtion
when he addressed me as Charles Wood
worth II he had not met me in the
western mines? Moreover, he searched
me, found the map in my pocket, at
once knew ii for what IL was, since he
had seen it often two years before at
Forge, and gave 1t to Mr.. Davis 10 Sc
crete. But / tore myself from Stevens
grasp and followed him through the
house and out upon the lawn. where l
forced 1t from the secretary. Was that
an hallucination when I choked you that
night upon the grass. Mr.. Davis?"
/ waited. but he remained silent. Then
once again / bade Stevens stand.
What did the qpnOr saw when he first
beheld the map?" I questioned.
He looked at ir and exclaimed. All.
the map of poor Frederic.
Which was the name OF the man who
drew it." l explained. Frederic Douglass.
D'Urville's companion In crime at Forge.
the man in whose trunk the map was
found. the scoundrel with whom Senior
Del Hervalle connived to steal the mines
gold" Now ii was my time to feel
slim triumph, for my case so far was
stronger than l thought. Del Hervalle
moistened his lips, and l saw that Muriel
drew away from him. 1T would seem
a very. very strange thing that the senior.
having never known me, having never
been in America, during the last five
years, yet should at once know me upon
this encounter, and know the map and
finally pronounce the name OF the very
man whom l declare to have been an
accomplice of the French mechanic who
is identical in looks with the senior.
Have you any questions 10 ask Monsieur
the Mayor" II seemed that he had not
Shortly thereafter he called at Stag
Lodge during my absence and attempted
to force the map from Andrew at the
point of a pistol Andrew would not tell
where IL was hidden even when hs
thought death should be his reward the
following minute. That Senior Del Her
vale would henceforth be q dangerous
enemy l guessed, how dangerous l could
not TELL Presently Margot, Jeans half
sister, sent me a warning. From whom
she obtained her information possibly
Mr.. Davis can instruct you. Elizabeth
Moore, kindly relate your meeting with
Margot."
She arose swiftly. II met her She
said to tell Mr.. Woodwork Beware
strange doors and she would say no
more. But only yesterday morning she
sent the same warning to him, Beware
strange doors"