New Britain herald., 1927-05-28
Folsom's former valet. stepped into

| LAC 4VVuAs
Il have intrudsd, gentlemen
he said. looking from Stone I
l Barron and back again. ''becaus
l I have been listening at the doc
5 and It il time I should have M
, say"
, I'm sure you can have nothinI
t to say. Ross. on the subject ~
are discussing" Madeline said t
, him. please leave the room.
urge you to do So"
Stone stared at her. but tn
man Ross gave her what seeme<
to be q meaning look.
II must speak. madam" h,
said. "for have . confession t
make. I killed Garrett Folsom"
You. Ross" Miss Anastasis
said. in utter bewilderment. Now
why in the world would you Kill
him :"
Il cannot tell my reasons fol
it." Ross said. with a doEged look
II only say ! confess to the murder
and I want to give myself up
but. It's too absurd. Ross
Miss Folsom went on. You were
in the hotel at the time he was
killed"
NO. madam. I spoke falsely a.
to that I was in the ocean,"
But you were at the other end
Of the hotel beach. You were far
away"
II can swim under water,
madam. as well as any other way.
1 did so, and / killed my master,
and then dressed and returned to
the hotel quickly. 50 that ] might
not be suspected"
"And why are you making your
confession now" asked Stone, who
was beginning to see through some
dark places.
ITO save the innocent from he
ing suspected. 1t is possible that
| Mrs. Barron may be charged with
this thing, and ] want to forestall
such a possibility. I assure you.
Mr.. Stone. you will find am tell
ing the truth"
Then you are the man with the
white mustache who bought the
antique dagger late that night?"
! Stone said.
| Yes"
Il can scarcely believe IT,
| Ross" Miss Folsom said, but II It
is true. then our quest Is at an
end. You shall pay the penalty
and my brothers murder will be
avenged"
YES, madam" said Ross.
! He shan't! He shall mott" cried
Madeline Barron. wildly. Listen!
that man you call Ross is my faith
er. He saved me from the wrong
Garrett Folsom would have done
me. Then, for Mr.. Folsom did not
know him. he gave up his own
career, and went to be valet to Mr..
Folsom so he could keep watch on
him. He meant to keep him from
further molestation of me. and de-
| voted his life to that. He went with
Garrett Folsom wherever he went.
He never let him out OF his sight
and when they came down here
tell them, Father. what Mr.. Folsom
said"
He said" the man they called
| Ross stated, gravely, that he had
seen here at the hotel the only
woman he wanted. He said he
meant to get her. too. He had no
idea was her father. and he de-
clared he would manage 1t. He
said he should confront her in
/ the ocean and claim acquaintance,
! and then he would be guided by
circumstances what course to pur-
sue. but he would get ker away
from her husband and would have
her for himself. This he told me
with a leering chuckle that night
, he arrived. as he was dressing for
| dinner. So I knew the time had
come when ! must strike. what
ever the consequences might be.
Il had no weapon. but l went
! for walk and saw the auctions
here and there, and realized /
could get one of those old daggers.
The white mustache I always car
ried around, thinking ! might
some day meet Madeline and It
might be necessary that she
! shouldn't recognize me. AS a
minor precaution put 1t on, be-
/ fore I bought the knife. and the
rest ] think you all know. I have
no regrets. 7 rid tho world Of a
scoundrel. I am sorry. Miss Fol-
som. to speak thus Of the brother
you adored. but l knew him better
than you did. and he would have
ruined my girls life had he been
allowed to live"
Then Anastasia Folsom spoke.
! Ross" she said. and her voice
was gentle. but it sounded full Of
heartbreak. you are right. / AMI,
perhaps. a strange woman. and ]
worshiped my brother. But I see
now it was an imaginary man I
worsriped. II he did these things
you tell Of and / cannot doubt
what ] have heard. then you did
right. / don't mean I am glad you
| killed Garry, for I loved him so.
hut I can see 1t from your point
! OF view and can understand what
you have been through these years
; Of watchful servitude to a man
you hated. can appreciate 1t all,
including Mrs Barrons agony OF
! spirit. and withdraw all charges
and I wish the investigation
stopped.
II don't know what must be
I done, exactly. but you. Mr.. Stone.
! and Mr.. Barron will know how to
| arrange matters. Only I want Ross
to 50 free. to be unsupported by
anyone ut all. I want the police
TO be told that the mystery will
remain forever unsoived. ! want