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CHAPTER XXVIII.
It was a remarkable coincidence, but
it the very time when Paxton was on
biis way to A’isit Judith Kredge, in answer
to her letter, Stanmore was also setting
sut to secretly call upon the janitor’s
sister.
Stanmore was approaching Garrison’s
office from one direction, while Paxton
was coming toward it Horn an exactly
opposite way. had almost arrived at his
The former
destination, when he discovered the de¬
tective, and believing that Paxton had
not seen him he crossed the street and
aurried around the next corner. He
fancied that the detective would not ap¬
prove of the plan he had in mind, and
which prompted him to clandestinely
visit Judith Kredge. of
Peering around the corner the
building, at the streets’ junction, which
he had gained, Stanmore saw Paxton
enter Judith’s abode, and he resolved
to remain where he was until the de¬
tective took his departure.
The note which Paxton had received
from Judith Kredge stated that she had
just discovered a letter which Marion
Oakburn had left behind her, and that
she wished him to see it at once, as it
contained a ter-ible disclosure.
When Paxton entered the Garrison
building he was admitted by Judith, produced and
almost immediately the woman
a letter, which she declared she had just
found In Marion’s room, where she
thought the detective must have over¬
looked it when he searched the apart¬
ment.
Paxton had previously obtained a
Specimen of Marion’s handwriting, and
he saw that either the letter given him
by Judith Kredge was a genuine docu¬
ment or a clever forgery, such as only
an expert in chirographic identification
could detect.
The substance of the letter signed by
Marion Oakburn, with her name in full,
was a terrible confession.
We will not reproduce the letter in
full; suffice it to say that it plainly
Stated that Marion murdered her father.
"When he nad mastered the contents
of this letter, Paxton reflected ter some
time in silence, and his good judgment
Whispered that it must he a forgery.
“A criminal flying from justice never
yet left such a confession behind him, ”
thought tae detective.
Judith watched the detective’s face as
he read the letter, as though she was
seeking to read his thoughts, but his face
was now as immovable as a mask, and it
told her nothing. then
“If this letter is not a forgery,
the secret of John Oakburn’s fate is re¬
vealed. I shall find a way to decide
that question soon,” said Paxton; and
taking the letter with him, he soon after
left Judith’s abode.
Although he had not betrayed the
fact, Paxton saw Stanmore as he was
approaching the Garrison building, and
be saw the latter dodge across the
Street to avoid him.
“There is something strange in Stan
tnore’s conduct,” thought Paxton, glanc¬
ing about as he came out of the Garrison
building.
A moment later he saw Stanmore at
the corner, but he passed on as though
he had not seen him, and entered a
Shop. hastened the door
Then Stanmore to
of the Garrison building.
Through the shop window Paxton saw
Stanmore leave his post at the corner,
and the detective followed him, and saw
him enter the house which he had him¬
self just leit.
Wondering what Stanmore’s business
with Judith Kredge could be, the detec¬
tive left the vicinity, and took his way
homeward.
He passed the office of Pratt & Weeks,
and although all was darkness there,
could he have seen within the private
office of the firm, he would have ob¬
served Pratt and his partner going over
their ai counts, and striving to find a
way out of the financial difficulties in
which they had become involved.
The railway stocks, upon the rise of
which all their hopes depended, were
steadily declining in value, and the ras¬
cally brokers felt that they were ruined,
unless rhey could use the marked
innnpv
1 will tell you, Weeks, there , s no use
of concealing it from ourselves any
longer. M e re floored. The marked
money must be used! cried Pratt, dash
m 2 It T ( ?° L has Wn about *\ 1S P en come savagely. to the worst, that
is sure, assented \\ eeks.
I ratt paced the floor, and said:
I mean to take the risk, and attempt
to realize on the marked monev. U’n
fortunately, all our attempts to remove
the marks so that they might not betray
us, have failed. They could not be ob
literated without defacing the note so as
to attract suspicion.”
But while Paxton passed onward by
the swindling brokers’ office, there were
some starting reflections in his mind,
founded upon the discovery he had made
when he examined the locket belonging
to Marion, which Judith Kredge had
pawned, and also relating to his discov
ery of Stanmore’s secret interviews with
Judith
The discovery which the sight of the
portrait in the locket caused Paxton to
make, and the suspicions and theories
which the detective founded upon that
discoverv, will presently be made clear
to the reader.
what was the motive for Stan
— •
more’s visit to Judith Kredge?
He believed the woman knew whero
Marion was, and he meant to bribe her
to save the cashier’s daughter, to liber¬
ate her.
The interview between Stanmore and
Judith need not be recorded in full, but
we may as well state that the former
assured the woman that he was con¬
vinced she knew where Marion was, and
he offered any price if she would accom¬
plish her rescue.
But Judith still protested that she was
entirely innocent on the subject, and
Stanmore was obliged to leave without
accomplishing anything.
The following day a stranger called
upon Stanmore at his hotel, and placing
a letter in his hand hurried away with¬
out a word.
Stanmore was astonished at the man’s
conduct, but the sight of the hand
writing on the envelope seemed to drive
all thought of anything but the letter
out of his mind.
“It is from Marion!” he cried; and
tearing open the letter he devoured its
contents.
The letter was as follows:
Ain Stanmore: You told me to call upon
you tor assistance, should the time ever
come, when In dire extremity, I needed a
devoted friend.
That time has come now. I was abducted
from my home, and I am now a captive by
those who are in league with persons who
are interested in concealing the real truth
of my father’s murder.
I know the secret of my poor father's
terrible fate, and until to-day I had in my
possession a paper, which would prove the
truth of the explanation I bad resolved to
make the next day after my abduction, in
open court, in order to save Stuart liar
land.
Without the paper, which I have lost, or
which has been stolen from me, to prove
my words, I know my statement will not
be credited, for I am aware that Judith
Kredge can give to e most terrible and posi¬
tive evidence against me. If I am arrested
now, I am lost, and if I were to tell the
whole truth of the mystery, though I swear
to you by the memory of my dead mother,
and by all things sacred, that I am inno¬
cent, and that I was prompted by a noble
purpose, I would not only defeat that pur¬
pose for which I have suffered so much but
sacrifice myself.
Of all things, I most dread arrest I call
upon you to rescue me and shield me from
the law. You will find me at No. 72 Baxter
street I implore you not to reveal my
whereabouts to a living sou!. I have made
one friend among the confederates of my
foes, who has promised to deliver this letter
to you. Yours in doubt and danger,
Marion Oakburn
“I will save her,” cried Stanmore.
“And while seeking to rescue her I must
try to prevent her discovery by Pax¬
ton.”
The course of events had so shaped
themselves that now Stanmore was se¬
cretly arrayed against the detective, as
far as related to Marion Oakburn.
He could not think of revealing the
imprisoned girl’s whereabouts to Paxton
now, since she had implored him not to
do so, even had there been no other mo¬
tive for keeping the secret.
Stanmore paced his room thinking
profoundly and striving to devise a plan
lor Marion’s rescue and vindication.
The following morning he set out for
Paxton’s office, alarmed lest the detec¬
tive might discover Marion and arrest
her before he could accomplish her
rescue. He wished to be informed re¬
garding all of Paxton’s discoveries.
As he approached the office he saw
one of Paxton’s agents, whom he knew
very well, approaching, and he knew
from the expression of the man’s face
that he had some important intelligence
to communicate to his principal.
When the agent entered the office
Stanmore stole to the door, placed his
sar to the keyhole, and listened.
In a moment he reeled back, white
and agitated.
“The fates are against her! Marion’s
prison-place has been discovered. The
agent who just entered communicated
the intelligence to Paxton,” he mut¬
tered.
Then, listening again, he heard Pax¬
ton say:
“We will arrange to secure the girl to¬
night. At least we may hope the de¬
velopment of the great mystery is near
at hand. ”
“I must foil Paxton. Marion shall
not be arrested!” resolved Stanmore.
As he was turning away he saw anoth¬
er of Paxton’s agents coming through
the passage leading from the street to
the detective’s office.
Stanmore feared that he was discov¬
ered playing the part of a spy, but with
great presence of mind, he calmly stoop
ec * d° wn aQ Y seemed to be engaged in
tying up his shoe.
To the detective he said:
“Gtod morning.”
Then he passed on in an unconcerned
way , ag though he was just leaving the
office, while the agent entered it.
Stanmore hastened back to his hotel,
feeling that he must work rapidly if he
would defeat Paxton and prevent the
aITest of Marion Oakburn.
As , , he , . t0 . ?*? i he hostel
e r 7
. f lt ^ .*
ie came ‘!, ee '' ; ie V, K
^brought 3n e preceding him the night. letter from Marion
. Eol ,T rr low he . \ h e lra } k ™ and h( ob ^tanmore ?> ed a signal tc
T , t b the < - said,
a n ® ar 7 man
.. lhls a ,, . moralag ’ Just b ? f ° re da >' llght
th ^’ amoved the young lady to a new
P*' ls ? n P lace ‘ > ou .! e< ;: tbey “^trusted
he hoa8 ® was ‘jotted by a detective
| J la8t ora algbt was Seen s W lu Z aU)ut 11
Describe r : the ., „ said .. btanmore.
spy,
I 1 ® an dld ... sc
n ’ *‘
Ab ’ tbe age ? t , . , brought . . ^ Paxtor
n ? W8 that , be had located Marion,
found ? hls , ls at fortunate, the place to Marion which will the not bt
wiil agent
coaduct Baxton to-night,” saic
Stanmore.
The he asked:
“Do “Yes" you know where the lady now is?’
sir; and to-morrow night I’l
take to her. ”
you to-night?”
“Why not hand. No matte:
“I’ve got a job on
what it is, it can’t wait,” said the fellow
resolutely. obliged
With this Stanmore was to res:
content.
It galled him to think that he was
compelled thus to work in secret, anc
that he dared not call upon the polic<
for assistance to rescue Marion.
That night Paxton and his men mad<
i descent upon the house where his
agent had located Marion Oakburn, bu:
of course they did not find her, and the
house whero she had been a captive was
deserted.
Paxton and his agents were furious,
“Some traitor must have betrayed oul
plans,” cried Paxton. agreed with him.
His colaborers
Then the man who had encounterei
Stanmore at the door of the office whip
his associate was making his report o:
the discovery of Marion, told of that
circumstance.
“Stanmore had not entered the office,
He was playing the spy!” cried Paxton
CHAPTER XXIX.
Paxton did not appear to be as much
surprised to hear that Stanmore had as¬
sumed the role of an eavesdropper as
might have been anticipated.
To his men he said:
“Not a word about this.”
That same evening Paxton again vis¬
ited the pawnbroker, and secured the
locket containing the picture of Donald
Wayburn which had belonged to Marion
Oakburn.
The next day -when Stanmore dropped
in at the detective’s office as usual, the
latter slyly opened the locket in his
hand, and glanced frequently from the
portrait it contained to Stanmore’s faoe,
as though he was comparing the two.
When Stanmore had gone, Paxton
said in monologue.
“I was not mistaken when I thought I
made a discovery when I first saw the
picture. The portrait in Marion Oak
burn’s locket is that of Mr. Stanmore,
taken years ago, and though he has
his since changed greatly he cannot change
eyes. The name of the original of
the portrait is written under it. That
name is Donald Way burn, and there¬
fore I know that Richard Stanmore’s
real name is Donald Way burn. He is
the author of the threatening letter
which I found among John Oakburn’s
correspondence. Here is a mystery. Ha£
the Chief of Police who sent this man
io me been deceived in him? Can it be
that this man whom I have trusted, and
who has employed me. is really guard¬
ing the secret of the great crime I am
trying to unearth?”
Thus reflected Paxton, and he added:
“I believe I have the certitude that he
is Marion Oakburn’s lover.”
Paxton considered the startling and
enigmatical developments which were
now presented to his consideration, and
at length he said, mentally:
“I will see the Chief of Police from
whom Stanmore brought his letter of
recommendation and introduction. The
thought has just occurred to me that it is
possible he may have forged the letter.”
The detective acted upon this resolu¬
tion forthwith.
He repaired at once to the office of the
chief of the Metropolitan police force,
and he was closeted with that gentleman
for more than an hour.
"When at the expiration of that time
Paxton left the office of the chief, he
said to himstlf:
“I begin to comprehend tho matter at
last.”
He must have obtained some informa¬
tion regarding the man who called him¬
self Richard Stanmore.
Meanwhile Marion, on tho second
night following the day when Stanmore
received her letter, paced a narrow
apartment in a dilapidated building in
the suburbs of Harlem.
To this place she had been removed
by her captors, after their suspicions
were aroused that a detective had dis¬
covered her original prison place. troubled, for
Marion’s thoughts were
she was reflecting upon the circum¬
stances which had united to place her in
her present unprecedented situation of
peril and perplexity.
The reflection that the truth unsup¬
ported by evidence would not be credited
distracted her.
Before her mind arose a vision, of her
arrest, trial, and conviction of a crime
which she had not committed, and the
cheers of the public as they received her
explanation with cruel derision, rang in
her ears.
“No, no; my story will not be credited.
I must not be arrested, now that I have
lost the paper I took from the office on
that fatal night. That paper would have
proved my truth and innocence, but now
I am doomed if captured.” breathed
Then Marion knelt and a
prayer which began with these words:
“Father in Heaven, Thou knowestl am
innocent.”
Fervently she supplicated, humbly she
implored divine help to lead her out of
the fatal quicksands of danger and doubt
into which she had unwittingly strayed.
Little did Marion Oakburn suspect
that human ears heard her prayer, or
the soliloquy which preceded it, but
such was the fact.
Every word Marion uttered was heard
by Stuart Harland, who was at that
very moment a prisoner in the cellar
under the room in which Marion was a
captive. explanation to how Harland
An as
became a prisoner in the power of the
wretches who were acting as Marion’s
jailers must bo given, and we will con¬
sider the events which led to his capture.
Stuart was not discouraged by his
failure to capture the mysterious man
who had exchanged coats with him. On
the contrary, he was encouraged by the
fact th it he had sighted him once, and
he believed he should sight him ugaln.
Thus it was that after his encounter
with the unknown, where Levi Kredge
ha 1 struck him down with a cowardly
blow, Stuart still continued his “still
hunt” for the man called “Garnar" by
Pratt and Weeks.
On the evening when Marion’s secret
friend had delivered her letter to Stan
more. Stuart Harland chanced to enter
a lodging house on West street.
While he was in the office of this es¬
tablishment, Stuart heard a clerk say to
the proprietor, as he took a valise from
under the counter:
“This traveling bag is in the way here
behind the counter. I hardly think the
man who left here will ever call for it.
What shall I do with it?”
As he spoke, the clerk placed the trav¬
eling bag on the counter, and Stuart
read the name “J. C. Garnar,” which
was stamped on the side of the valise.
The young man started as he read the
name of the supposed assassin, and step¬
ping to the counter, he said.
“I think I know the party to whom
that bag belongs,”and speaking rapidly,
he described the man who had taken
his coat.
Of course Stuart knew that there
might be a large number of men by the
name of “Garnar” in the city, but he
had a kind of presentiment that he had
found a clue to the supposed murderer.
“You certainly must know the man
who left the valise. You have told just
how he looked to a dot, ” said the clerk.
“I thought so,” answered Stuart, and
repressing his excitement he asked:
“When this valise was left here did
not the owner say when he would call
for it?”
“It seems to me he did, but I don’t
recollect what he did say,” was the an
swer returned.
Stuart remained in the lodging house
for some time, but he finally went out.
He was crossing the street, when
chancing to look back he saw a man
entering the lodging house. The man
had a full beard and long hair, and he
was dressed like a farmer.
Stuart stopped on the opposite side of
Ihe street, and as he stood considering
in which direction he should wander
next, the Aan who resembled a farmer
in appearance came out of the lodging
house carrying the valise with the nam«
“J. C. Garnar” on it in his hand.
In an instant the thought traversed
the mind of the young man that the man
in the garb of a farmer might really he
the supposed assassin in disguise, and
he proceeded to follow him as he walked
rapidly away.
The man led Stuart a long distance.
Although he did not betray the fact,
subsequent results proved that the man
whom Stuart was following discovei'ed
that he was shadowed soon after Har
tand took his trail.
Finally he entered a building, which
was ostensibly a cheap restaurant, but
den. tog rear of which was a low gambling
This was the very house in which
Marion Oakburn was now held as a
captive. The proprietor of the place
was a friend of Levi Kredge, who had
been bribed to act as Marion’s jailer.
Upon entering this place, the myster¬
ious man who was the object of Stuart
Harland’s pursuit, darted through the
little restaurant in front and entered the
gambling room in the rear. •
He seemed to be well known to the
proprietorof the place, who, with a dozen
or more other men, was present, for the
latter greeted him in a familiar way.
“You look scared. What’s up?” ho
asked.
In his interlocutor's ear the man whom
Stuart had followed, whispered:
“There’s a detective on my trail. A
hundred dollars for you if you trap him
and give me a chance to get off.”
“Do you mean that fair and honest?”
asked the other.
“Yes. In proof, if you will give me
your word to do me this good turn, I’ll
pay you in advance. The detective will
venture into the restaurant, I am sure.”
“Done. I’m your man. Let’s see the
color of your money.’’
The other handed the gambler a roll of
bank notes, and then he sprang into a
closet and c’osed the door.
The man who had rweived the money
whispered to his companions for a mo¬
ment, and then all became silence in the
gambling den as they heard some one
enter the restaurant.
The man whose entrance reached the
ears of the men in the gambling den was
Stuart Harland.
He purchased a cigar, and presently,
when at a signal from the proprietor the
men in the rear room began to talk and
use the terms of the game, Stuart strode
to the door and entered, saying:
“I think I will buy a few chips and see
how luck runs to-day.”
[to be continued.]
Danclng with a Corpse.
In Spain, when a person dies, the
body is frequently removed to the
undertaker’s shop a few hours after
death. In one of the largest of these
establishments in Madrid, some years
ago, an extraordinary sight was wit>
nessed.
A gentleman was brought in his
“casket” one afternoon and placed in
the room set apart for that branch of
the business. The proprietor lived
over his premises, and on this especial
evening was giving a grand ball.
When the ball was at its height, a
gentleman, in full evening dress, sud¬
denly joined the company. He danced
with the wife of the undertaker, and
he danced with the undertaker’s
daughter, and he seemed to be thor¬
oughly enjoying himself. The under¬
taker thought he knew his face, hut
didn’t like to be rude and ask him
his name; butby-and-by all the guests
departed, and the strange gentleman
was the only one left.
“Shall I send for a cab for you?”
said the host at last.
“No. thank you,"replied the gentle¬
man: “I’m staying in the house.”
“Staying in the house!” exclaimed
the undertaker. “Who are you, sir?”
“l\hat! don’t you know me? I’m
the corpse that was brought in this
afternoon!”
The undertaker, horrified, rushed
to the mortuary-room and found the
coffin empty. His wife and daughter
had been dancing with a corpse. An
explanation, of course, followed. The
gentleman, who had only been in
a trance, had suddenly recovered,
and healing music and revelry above,
- nj 1 a tat y g* 2 3 %
ta O 40 3 40 ST S' o _ 5 c B ■
^ a O cc £•'0 a P?
2 g £ 5-; P < O ^
Us •' rr-> *r § % +=>« 3 I—),.— O rt- o » S’ 2 H o ro r <
-5 ° efO a> io® ^
w P) !- o g eg to *-! •
50 •a cr a S'
® fcc O a 2 ^ *“• P p *—
1 r/ a < Ct 2 CfQ
Odd Pegasus.
Mark Kenniston, of Phillirw J? at.
from has a a bull calf, moose which which he hi that? ,
is so tame
turns it neighboring out every warm (lav le
in the u h
the big bull as easily as he
pot lamb, and is breaking hi 3
ness. He hitched the" bi to har
wagon last moose to a
ten miles summer, and was carried
at railroad speed before he
could stop the animal.
circuit Tim© Suvcr,
The latest application of electricity
Is to the curling of forehead fringe
The idea is American, of course and
its realization is anxiously looked for
ward to by young women of fashion'
who hope to find in electricity
means of producing a
at a moment’s
notice those infantine rings and hvi
cinthine locks which now take twenty
minutes at least to bring to irrfet
tion.
No longer Guesswork.
It has always been generally be¬
lieved that snow keeps the ground
warm, but no very accurate data od
the subject have hitherto been forth¬
coming. Accordingly it is interest¬
ing to learn, from observations made
at Katherinenberg, that at a depth of
fourteen inches the soil, when cov¬
ered with two feet of snow, was ten
degrees warmer than at the surface.
Too Much of a Good Thing.
She—Stop teasing me or I’ll box
your ears!
He—All right; you know the rule.
I’ll kiss you if you box me.
She—You wouldn’t dare to!
He—I guess you’re right. I
wouldn’t want it said I was beaten to
a jelly by a girl!—Smith, Gray & Co.'s
Monthly.
MAY KKNKW UAi t- v» AR.
It Seems That the Seaboard People are
Not Yet Pacified.
Talk in railroad circles over the Sea¬
board Air Line’s affairs has not yet
subsided. The action of the stock¬
holders of the Georgia, Carolina and
Northern and the Seaboard Air Line
Belt railroads, at their recent meeting
in Atlanta, in endorsing the attitude
of the officials of the Seaboard system
in the recent rate war, has tended to
create an impression that the Seaboard
may, at an early date, renew the rate
war.
The Seabord people declare their
profits, during the progress of the war,
were entirely satisfactory to them and,
as they still wish to get certain con¬
cessions from the association lines, it
is not at all unlikely that they will re¬
sume hostilities.
President Hoffman is reported as
saying that he wished to live in peace
with his competitors, yet he proposes
to protect his own interests,
A declaration of war on the part of
the Seaboard would cause little sur¬
prise at any time.
The pooling committee of the Sea¬
board’s stockholders has given out a
statement in Baltimore setting fort* 1
the reasons, from their standpoint)
why the deal was not consummated.
A FATAL HAYRIDK.
Wagon Loaded Wi 1* Merry-Maker®
Plunges Through a Bridge.
While a “hay-ride” party of y oW
people from Ensley City, near B*
mingham, Ala., was crossing
sue pension bridge at J iUwe o r ^
two-horse wagon about i ■> o
Saturday night, the bridge ga
The wagon and those in
plunged into five feet of water.
It is supposed aMoose jom ^
the catastrophe, which will be
8 Shannon had his skull frae
William
tured and died Sunday. fatally
Miss Maggie Hurbigau was
injured on head and back. 2
of the party were a
Ten others them P r0 a E.
or less hurt, some of
internally injured. Engtey m „ n jo
The citizens of
dignation meeting and called
cial investigation.
MCKINLEY’S INAUGfJKAh
Will Be In Charge of a Ufe-hoaZ
Democrat. ^
News comes from W asbington ( j
members of the repub^ bc3U a
committee who had^ cod er t0
the matter in New York m g tnuel
Hanna the name ot a
Chairman ot * b .
W. Woodward, president trade, n 0 i
ington board of « s h»r g e
committee o . c
the general arrangements for t in9Uga ra
of the McKinley.
tion " Mr”’Woodward of President been a
has
nil of his life, but could not ^
to the Chicneo pl“ ,(or ’ de®'
himself with the
oetsis as,.
to the support
The name of Genera 1 . q c0 a
of M'chigan, is mentm ^ griB d
ger, with the P 06
nection Jjar£ ide.
marsh 1 of the inaugu