CHAPTER XXI. UNDER SUSPICION.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 161, 17 July 1886, Page 8

CHAPTER XXI. UNDER SUSPICION.

jjiiriam jbkwsfobi> conducted Claroncs to the library, and pointing to two chairs in a recess, she said : "We can talk here without being disturbed." B "But why are you po troubled, dear cousin?" he asked, as he obeyed her. "For your sake.'' " For my sake ? Surely I should be grateful, but. I am in complete ignorance of the veason." tl 1 know you arc. You have heard of the murder of John Penfield. the man with whom you had a quarrel?" " Yes, and the news pains me more than I can tell you." "Of that I am sure. Yesterday there was an inquest—'' "So I heard. What was the result ?'" The inquiry has been adjourned till to day, and a constable was here not an hour ago with a summons for you." "Why a summons for me?" " You are wanted a* a witness." " But I am in complete ignorance—" "That I know," Miriam continued, in a low, tremulous voice. "But I want to tell you— because I want you to be prepared for it— that there is suspicion against you—" 6 " Suspicion against me!" exclaimed Clarence. * " Ye?. Do not talk «o loud. Without any thought of playing: the eavesdropper, last «Hgbt I overheard a conversation between Shirley Benson and Madame Barron— " " Neifher of whom holds mo in very high eeteem." s "That I knew before ; but Shirley Benson told the roadame that this John Penfield was here to watch you. and that the night of your arrival— that was last Tuesday—he and a fellow-detective named Bly followed you to the Hanging Rock. Did yon go there ?" "I did." | And in the dead of night ?" " Y"es ; in the dead of night, cousin *' "Why did you go?" "I could not sleep, so I dressed, Tendered out, and found myself at the Hanging Rock before I know it. But what has that to do with the murder of John Penfield ?" '•To me, Cousin Clarence, it hag nothing to do. But Shirley says the fact is recorded In t- dead man's journal, and that he j -—Shirley— and nearly every one in the tillage, believes that all the proof of guilt points to you—" "Thi3 is infamous '" cried Clarencfi. A3 he pprang to his feet, every muscle braced and hw eyes flashing with indignation. " I shall find Benson and make him swallow his word? !" "No ! no^ ! sit down and let us advise to£6tLer,' said Minara, in alarm. "Shirley Benson does not know I overheard him. I tell you to put you on your guard. You must be prepared for whatever may happen. Indignation will be folly when coolness and Strength are required. Every impulse of your heart, every thought of your brain is now to find the criminal and bring him to i uatice. Am I not right ?'' "You are— you are,"' he replied. " And know this," she continued, " that in your efforts I am with you. Till thin mystery is cleared and juetice is done. I shall not abate for an instant my efforts. I shall work with you, only promise me this, Cousin Clarence," she said, giving him both her hands. *'In advance," he said, impetuously, " I make you any promise you may aak.'' " Then promise me that in this matter we shall have no secrets from each other." lf I promise, though 1 do not clearly understand." "It is this : That you shall be frank with me : telling all you may learn, whispering tome all your suspicions. And I shall be equally frank with you. A woman's instinct, as it; is called, is often more unerring than a man's judgment ; and I am sure I can help and advise." "Of that lam certain; and everything that transpires in the future that I think you should know, I will at once consult you about." As Clarence spoke, he felt that the room was whirling about him. He felt tf at he had made a pledge which he could not keep. How could h6 tell her about bis experience the firot night he spent at the Manor? How could he lead her to that room and show her that a blood-marked dagger was concealed there ? How could he tell of the midnight vieit of her father to his room ? And how could he deecribe the murderous light in the old man's eyes as he opened the box he — Clarence — had brought, aud brandished aloft the fatal dagger of Siva ? No ; rather thao tell her this— rather than ■put her in possession of this the key that might unlock all the my?teries, and, in so doing, blast her life, he would bear all the odium of suspicion — aye, go down to an ignominious death to save her. And ia not thia the supreme test of an xmselfiah love, that a man shall die for the object loved ? _ As they stood there, hand in hand, the library door opened, and Madame Barron entered. ** Pardon, pardon," she paid, with a backward step. "I did not know you were liere." "Do not leave, Madame Barron," said Miriam, still retaining her bold of Clarence's hands. " I have been telling my cousin of the cruel rumours afloat about him, and assuring him of my faith." "Oh !" exclaimed the madame ; " the idea' ! People must talk. What cares Mr

Ashworth for that? It would b« very laughable, indeed, were it not that it becomes us to be solemn in the presence of death " Clarence made no reply to the madame, but bowing oa he withdrew, he went to his own room. He had juat changed his clothps, when Minnie tapped at his door, and said : "Mr Ashworth, there's a man to sco you." " Who is the mnn, Minnie?" *' A constable, sir." 14 Very well j say I will see him in a f ew minutes." Tne man waiting 1 for Clarence proved to be a village constable with a summons. He paid, as ho handed the paper : : "The inquest is a-goin' on this mornin' an' the coroner he wants you for a witness " "I was going to tin village." replied Clarence. "We can walk down together." The excitement in the village had not abated. From the mountains and from all the surrounding villages and towns great crowds poured into Willowemoc to learn the news for themselves. The inquest had already been resumed in the school-house, about which the greatest interpst centred. As Cl irence approached the building, the qrowd opening to let him through, he felt his sleeve plucked and he heard the hermit saying : " A timo of trial is coming; keep cool, my friend." '•Trust me for that. Come in 'with me." "No; bet'er I should remain out here. The poison in the minds of the people must be dispelled," eaid the hermit, as he motioned f©r Clarence to move on. The constable, with the air of a man ccnscions that he has just done an heroic act, led hi 3 witness through tha crowded schoolroom and up to the little desk behind which the coroner sat Dr. Berisford had been recalled, and now occupied the witness stand. He looked blankly at Clarence, and when tho confusion incidpnt, to the young man's entrance had subsided, the examination wa« resumed. It may be well to pay that the body of the murdered man had been sent that morning to his friends in New York. "Dr, Berisford," said tho coroner, consulting some papeis "I soe, by your evidence given at the inquest, held on the body of Frank Ashworth, that" you paid you had seen, when a child, a dageer such as yttu believe made the wound that caused hi= death ?" "That is true" " And you insist that the weapon that caused tht death of John Penfield was of the some kind ?"' "I do." " And it is your belief, ™ith all the circumstances before you, that the pamo hand, holding tho same blade, killed both men?" " That is my belief." "Since the evidence was given in the Ashworth case, have you ever seen such a dacrerer as you described ?" " I have," said the doctor, hoarsely. At this point the excitement in the room was shown by a chorus of nervou* cougiing and the scraping of heavy boots on the bare floor, as the people moved uneasily. Then came a painful silence, in anticipation of the naxt question " When did you sco this weapon ?" " La9t Tuesday night." " Where ?" " In my own hou=e " I "In whose po3?e<sion waa it?" , '* In tho possession of vny guest, Clarence Ashworth." " Please to state the circumstance connected with its exhibition,"' " Mr Ashworth, who ia a distant kinsman of mine, told me, on a former visit, that his brothor had procured such a weapon in India. On his return to Philadelphia, whera he live?, he wrote me that the weapon j had arrived among other effects belonging to his deceased brother. Anxious to see again Mr Ash worth, of whom I had coni ceived a high opinion, I invited him to come to Willowemoc, and a=<ked him to be sure and bring with him the strange ! j dagger." i "And he did so?" ; •• Yes." " Where is the dagger now ?" i "I have every reason to believe it ie in its ca&e, in Mr Ashworth'a room at my . house."' i '• "Did you know John Penfield ?" "I knew of him, but T cannot say I had ■ any acquaintance with him." " PTow did he impress >ou ?" ; "I thought he was a man unfitted for i the business he piofcsed to follow." "Dd you recaU an .altercation between I John Penfield and Mr OZarence Ash- ; worth T' . "I do." » " Whero did it occur?" " Near the Hanging Rock.' "On that occasion did Ashworth strike ; Penfield?"' \ " He did, and I recall distinctly that ' Penfield tried to shoot Mr A?hworth, and that ho would have done so had it not been > for the timely appearance of that eccentric i gentleman whom we know as The Duke." " ritd you hear t-be cause of the quarrel ?' ; "Mr Ashworth told me that Penfield had been dogging his steps, and that when ex- : postulated with he used most offensive langraage." " Can you recall what that language wae, Doctor ?"' t " I cannot. ?" r "I see," said the Coroner, looking iireotly > at Clarence, "that Mr Aahworth is here. I , shall take his testimony, and in the meani time, if Mr Ashworth doesjnot object, I shall > ask you, Doctor, to have this dagger brought before U 3 for examination."