Year: 1876

] iiCAlOl, anu ICA NNlOP thN ieiON
curtains in her fright.


Once before she had seen that man
emerge from the house, and he stood
revealed to her as her Walter
Clarke


She could not be mistaken, for he
appeared in the cap and coat which
had lately vanished with him from
the parlorl


All this had transpired in minute
Of time, and the young girl returned
to the window to sec the man re-
enter the house and close the door
/ behind him.


God give me the strength to face
him and discover the trUCh," she said.
I'm the presence of dead Uucle Da-
vid l will meet him and settle the
question of his guilt forever"
/ She threw a shawl over her head
and took tiny silver mounted pistol
from the marble topped mantel. 1t
was a present from him and she hid
it beneath her shawl while she
crossed the whitened street.
The body of the murdered man lay
i'm the library, which could be reached
from the front door without disturb
ing any other part of the house. The
servants with several exceptions. had
retired and the few who remained up
were keeping vigils in the dimly-
lighted parlor.


Idyl entered at the front door, on
tiptoe, and saw CLEAN of light in the
library by means of the door, which
stood slightly ajar-


She halted in the hall TO su nmon
all her courage for the task before her
then opened the portals Of the library
and crossed the threshold. The gas
over the dead bank presidents desk
was burning dimly, but in its light
Idyl deserted the outlines of human
figure that seemed to fill the armchair
of the dead. This figure grew into
distinctness while the girl regarded
it, and at last she recognized the
chinchilla overcoat and the cap.


The man seemed TO be hunting for
some valuable papers, for his hands
were hidden in drawer at his side
but they were quickly withdrawn
when Idyl's voice fell upon his ears.


walter Clarke, I've caught you'll"
she said


The man turned quickly-wheeling
in the ch air-and showed Idyl face
which was the counterpart OF her
lovers.


The sight caused her to shrink
back, but she did not lose her self
possession.


well" said the man, what do you
want with me?" and with the last
word he was rising to mis- feet.


"Sit downi" commanded the girl,
and the pistol flashed from beneath
the shawl. "The officers Of the law
want you"


Cowed by the weapon and the
look of determination that flashed in
Idyl's eyes, the man dropped into the
chair again, and remained there till
the police had him in their power.


His presence in the library among
the dead mans papers proclaimed
him the murderer, and the italian
poignard found on his person forged
another link in the chain of guilt.


Il am the man." he said at last.
David Stagle held valuable papers
against our family. l came to him to
buy them, but he would not sell. On
that night L came again, and found
him doing in the library. Then l
struch lin, and he died. Last night
came to look for the papers sec
ond time; but that girl saw me and
took me prisoner.


When Walter Clarke and Howard
| Thompson stood side by side they
looked like bothers, and many people
could not tell the one from the other
the innocent from the guilty.


The events of the second night
threw Idyl Montgomery on bed OF
sickness: but The watchful care Of the
young man brought her through the
crisis, and to him one day she feebly
said:


God has been very good to us
Walter. But for your doubles ap-
pearance 1 might have put you away
as "a murderer


He stopped and resealed his love
with a kiss.


1t was her reward, and none great
er did she ask.