The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-02-22


swallowed it. The man declared. how
ever, that it all happened so quickly that
he could hardly be quite certain about
the matter, and Evelifia, as usual when I
spoke to her about it, took refuge in
an obstinate silence.
My suspicion that Evelina acted on
other peoples advice was now strength
ened How far this circumstance can
have any influence. upon your opinion,
when you have heard me out, | don't
know. To me, all is dark; but / shall
try to tell my story in such a way that
nothing Of what know shall be hidden
from you
Fortunately, | have got on SO far
with it that | can now LET others speak
for meat least for while. The next
great event in my story is the trial of
Evelina, which took place about three
weeks after her arrest.
The proceedings are to be found fully
reported in all the papers at that time,
and you will get a more complete idea
of the case by reading one of these
reports, than if give you verbal ac-
count.
Monk opened drawer in his writing
table, and took out locked portfolio,
| from which he produced a large grey
envelope. The envelope proved to con-
tain several cuttings from the Morning
Nea0S, which Monk laid before me.
But" | objected hurriedly; Il would
| ST1ttfslo ratta~
own lips. Otherwise should miss your
impressions, which, to me, have much
more value than a newspaper reporters
idiotic and irrelevant remarks. And
even if he does report the bare facts,
such report cannot possibly be as sat
isfactory as your own account"
There is a difference in newspaper
reporters" was Monks dry reply. AS
you will see, the Morning Nezos man
has not only reported carefully and judi
ciously, but his remarks are impartial,
and Show good sense and power of OBJ
servation."
That's all very well; but I depend,
however, more upon your power of OBJ
servation.
In this case, you cannot do so. If a
! detective ever has made great flasco,
did SO on that occasion, as you yourself
will learn Don't you understand that
am afraid that you are beginning to look
at the events with my eyes? | am afraid
to lead you into the labyrinth in which
! ], myself, am lost, and which probably
have myself built up!"
1t struck me that Monks reasoning
was correct, and | made no further COM
ment
Only one question" said ''have
you any objection to Clara hearing your
story?"
No; on the contrary, it was my in
tention to ask you to tell her every
thing, when we are finished hope for
help from her; she is an unusually in
telligent woman, and besides, women
have, in many respects, much finer feel
ings, instinct, or what you call it.
than we men"
Then I have proposal to make to
you We shall not continue tonight,
but | shall tell Clara all that you have
now told me. Clara and | will read the
newspaper account together, and then
we will see you again"
Il gladly accept your proposal" said
Monk, little hesitatingly; but if |
could be allowed, l would ask you both
to read the account in the paper in my
presence. Of course / have read it, not
once, but ten times, to myself, without
any result; but now it has struck me
that the whole affair might appear to me
in new light, if heard some one else
read an exact account of what happened
on that fateful day"
Eyes, with pleasure" l exclaimed. Il
promise to do this, both on my own and
on Clara's behalf"
Monk shook me by the hand, and
asked if Clara and / would come up to
him one day, when I had told her all |
had heard from him.
''You shall see us here tomorrow" l
answered quickly, and so we parted that
/ evening, or, more correctly, that night
1t was half-past one when reached my
! home
had had a busy day, and the intense
interest with which l had listened to
Monks account had tired me. | only
longed to get to sleep as quickly as pos
sible. But then happened what more
experienced man than | might perhaps
have foreseen.
When I got home Clara was sitting
up waiting for me. So | explained to
her, as casually as possible, that next
day she should hear Monks remarkable
story,-a story, the continuation Of
which we were to read together; we'll
what further happened l cannot remem-
Der, but l am sure it WAS past four
that night before got to sleep, and then
Clara had heard everything that the
reader knows of Monks history.
"Pshaw! it isn't difficult to under
stand how the story will end The
horrid Englishman naturally managed
things so that Miss Prick should be sus-
pected of having stolen her uncle's dia-
| mond and"
These were the last words ] heard