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OB -25
T la had enough to be In love It la worse to
have a rival when one la cursed with a Joulous
temperament, passionate In love, and equally
passionate In hate. My cousin and I both loved
Rosa Dumaresque. He had loved her before
I did, but than he had met her first. He had
known her for two long weeks before my eyes
had rested on her and this madness had taken
possession of me. And yet I can hardly call it madness, for
I know that I would have laid down my life for her in cold
blood, that I would have bridged a chasm for her that shs
might cross In safety over my body, and next moment have
dropped gladly Into the gulf. I believed that she might
make of me what she would, even bridle and control my
hitherto ungoverned passions, and raise me to her own lofty
standard, but I knew, too, there was nothing I would not
stoop to for her sake, no crime that I would not dare to win
her.
I looked at my cousin, and wondered If he loved her as I
did.
No; Edward Torrlngton we both bore the same name,
though I had been reohristened Ted, while his baptismal
name had stuck to him waa not the man to count all's fair
In love and war. There was a nobility In his character as
well as appearance which forbade such sophistry, and some
times I used to think moodily he waa more fit to mate wltb
her than I.
Edward waa tall, and spare of build, like all our family,
except myself, with a heavy, red-brown mustache, and
eyes of that deep violet blue which la said to betoken great
MM
The Solving of the Mysterious Railroad
iT Is not oftjn that a railway company runs
special trains for ths accommodation of per
sons wishing to attend a murder trial. The
London, Chatham and Dover railway company
did so upon the occa n of the trial of Percy
Lefroy Mapleton, at Maidstone, on Nov. 4,
1881. " In consequence of the vast public Inter
sil, in Lha uiLse." I traveled down In one of these tralna, with
Montagu William and other barrister engaged In the trial.
Th train wa besieged by a crowd of the general public. A
a celebrated and cynical legal gentleman remarked, " wa
might have been going to a raoe meeting."
I doubt whether, among all the aasasslns I have seen In
the dock, I have met one who was more dangerous than
Lefroy as he chose to call himself. H was a tall, weedy
looking young fellow of about 35, thin, with sunken cheeks,
dark, short hair, and a peculiarly pallid complexion. He
was neatly dressed In a dark suit, with a turn down collar,
and a little knotted dark blue tie. His bearing was of the
exaggerated theatrical type.
As he appeared In the dock, and walked forward to It
front, every gesture seemed artlfloiul, and his eyes glanced
round as If he ware surveying his audience, and expecting
their approbation.
He wa charged with ths murdar of Isaac Frederick Gold
on Monday, June 27, In a Brighton express on the London
'Brighton and South Coast railway, between Three Bridge
and Balcomb. The case waa one which presented many
extraordinary features. Montagu Williams had been spe
cially retained to defend the prisoner. The attorney general
himself went down to Maidstone to lead the prosecution.
Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, it is said. In arranging the clr
cults of tha Judges, took some care that he should himself
preside at the Lefroy trial. The court waa crowded to suf
focation. For ome weeks Indeed the whole nation had been ex
cited over the miscreant, now safely caged In that dock in
the Maidstone Criminal oourt. As people unfolded their news
papers on the morning of June 58 their eye bad fallen upon
turning word In the heaviest type calling their attention
to one of the most cruel and duatardly crimes ever perpe
trated. And tha perpetrator had disappeared.
Isaac Gold wa an aged London gentleman, who had re
tired from business, and who had gone to live in the suburbs
of Brighton. On th morning of June 27 he left bom and
oame to London to collect some money owing to him, and
ho caught tha 2 o'clock express to Brighton from . London
Bridge on hi return Journey. He w well known to the
station officials, and waa seen by them comfortably seated
In a first ciaa smoking carriage reading a newspaper a ths
train started out of tha station. He was doomed never to
roach th and of that Journey alive.
A be sat snugly ensconced In his corner, laslly glancing
at hi paper, and nearly aaleep, overcome by the Intense beat
of the day, a tall, thin young man In a dark frock coat, with
dark hair and small aid whisker, and with a low felt bat
worn rather on tho back of hi bead, walked slowly up and
down th platform, languidly looking Into the carriages, aa
if In search of a comfortable seat. At laat he opened the door
of th carriage is which Mr. Gold sat, and entering took hi
plaoa la It
At twenty-tore minute past 3 o'clock the express wa
wing la through Croydon. A few minutes later, with a
shrill shriek Of 1U whistle. It plunged into U mile long
L If
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spirituality. 11 waa a handsome man, far handsomer than,
1, mho bad none of th family looks to boast of; It waa al
ways a mystery where I got my dark skin, irregular features,
and brood shoulders from.
We were unlike in other ways, for I was wild and way
ward, while Edward had fixed principles, and lived up to
them. And yet. In apite of his virtues, which no one recog
nized, and. U the truth must be told, envied, more than I did.
there waa a rigidity In his Ideas, a want of ardor in his af
fectkma, at which I chafed.
Edward loved Rose, but his Imagination could go no
farther. He would talk calmly of he beauty, her excellence,
and. with the same calmness, criticise perfection until I
would leave him In exasperation lest I should betray myself.
At such tlmea 1 had a wild desire to speuk to her of my
own love; and yet, when the opportunity came, I would
hesitate. Edward was her favorite; years ago they had
met. when she was a little schoolgirl and he a grsve youth
at college, and with the remembrance of these days upon
them both, he called her Rose, and she called him Edward.
She had a confidence In him which I felt miserably she
withheld from me. And yet with her I would always try to
curb myself, to apeak on mattera with which I knew she
was la sympathy, and to keep alienee on the distorted views
I held of men and things.
Did she care for me at all? There had been a time of
sweet Intimacy, all too short, between us, when she had
lifted her eyes to mine with glances that bewildered me,
when she bad looked upon me with dazzling smiles, moments
when my pulse had beat high and I had dared to hope. But
that I believed to be before she had come to hear of my
wild, reckleaa life. Her manner had slowly changed. True.
1 had myself altered. Doubt had entered into my soul, and
I was brusque and curt, and I am sure sometimes she muBt
have felt strangely puzzled. She could not know that It
was thus I strove to mask my real feelings, for I was miser
able always, but never more so than when I saw her to
gether with Edward.
One of these days stands out In my memory. It was
a warm afternoon In June, and Miss Dumaresque had come
over to see my mother and beg her patronage for a charity
she was interested In. Rose Dumaresque had never looked
more fair In my eyes, and apparently In Edward's, for he was
In attendance on her with an admiration that he seldom
showed. They were walking the garden paths together
when I descried them, she in her white robe, with a cluster
of roses In her silver waist belt, and Edward, In his light
summer suit, with a straw hat tilted far forward over his
eyes, I had Just returned from a hard ride. Miss Dumar
esque's visit was unexpected, and. hot and dusty as I was, I
felt soiled and travel stained beside her. Edward. I recog
nized, with a sense of Irritation, had a happy knack of fitting
the occasion. He was cutting roses for her with a reckless
disregard for buds, and I drew near, filled with righteous
Indignation. After all, the roses were mine, so I Imagined 1
might be permitted to take an Interest In their welfare. Or
dinarily I would have grudged Edward nothing, even to the
half of my Inheritance, and I was already beginning to be
ashamed of the petty feeling that prompted me, when he
added Insult to injury by saying in his grave tones, " Miss
Dumnresque Is a June rose herself, ion't you think, Ted?"
It waa one of his rare compliments, and Mlaa Dumaresque
smiled, well pleased. I felt unreasonably Irritated. It w;s
a pretty speech, and I should have liked to have made
it myself, and then I should have had the smile, too.
"Nonsense, Edward!" I said, quickly, "Miss Dumaresque
Is a Christmas rose. Her birthday Is In December," I added.
Now, I am sure this was as pretty a speech as Edward's,
and I waited for a like reward; but. Just to show how un
reasonable women are, she bestowed a look of dlspleasifre
upon me and directed her conversation to Edward.
After that I left him to do the honors, and retired, sulkily
enough. Into the background.
It was not long before I had come to the conclusion that
Miss Dumareseque was a heartless flirt, but I did not think
that Edward would have had the effrontery to carry on his
lovemaklng under my eyes. And yet. If eyes and ears de
ceived me not, he was now begging for the roses she wore
In her belt. I had not thought Edward could be so senti
mental. " In exchange for all the buds I have cut you," he
wont on, playfully holding his bouquet above her bead. My
indignation revived. Not content. It seemed, with mutilating
the finest rose trees In the county, he was now making a
boast of the fact Of course. Miss Dumaresque could do as
she liked in the matter, for at least she would be giving away
her own flowers, not like Edward, who gave away mine; but
for my part I considered his request In the worst possible
taste.
Miss Dumaresque looked down and began to play with
Merstham tunnel. As the engine uttered that shriek pas
senger named Gibson, In a second class compartment of th
train, heard five quick, sharp explosions. " Fog signals," he
remarked to a companion.
Eight minutes later the express was speeding past the
village of Hurley. Two or three hundred yards from tha
line are some cottages, and In the window of one ot these a
woman was sitting busily sewing. As the train whirled by
she raised her eye from her work to gaze at It. " Look,
Rhoda!" she exclaimed to her daughter, who wa In the
room with her. " Look at those men In that carriage! They
are fighting, or having a game."
Following her pointing finger with her eyes, Rhoda
Brown also distinctly saw those men for an Instant They
were wrestling, she thought. She could see them "waving
their arms."
About one mile from Brighton the express drew up at
Preston Park for the collecting of tickets. When the ticket
collector oame and threw open the door of one of the first
class carriages he drew back with a cry of amazement. In
one corner was a passenger, pale and exhausted, his features
and dress smeared with blood. He had no hat, his clothe
cesoce
The Star Baby.
a HE waa a dear little baby girl, and a most un
natural child, bo every one said. She never
even made a whimper, but would He all day In
her little cradle, with ber china blue eye wide
m open and her rosy mouth parted In a smile.
" She's too beautiful and too good to live,"
aid her mother.
And that very night, when the baby lay
railing In her cradle a usual, a soft, warm breeze cams
blowing In at the window, and, raising the baby up, wafted
her out of the house and through the air, right up ever so far
Into the sky.
Then a strange thing happened. Directly the baby
reached the soft, white cloud above, sense cam to her, and
he began to talk and walk, although she was really only
a few months old and still wore long clothea '
"Where am IT" h said, and, looking up, she saw beside
her a big man, with a bald head and great, puffy cheeks, that
he kept blowing out to a tremendon size.
" Who are you, please?" said the baby, timidly,
" I am Puffer Wind," said the man, " and I have been sent
to fetch you into our kingdom. O, here comes Dame Rain!"
A ha said these words a sad looking woman came up.
She waa dressed In wrappings of dark gray, and her tear
were falling so fast that she could scarcely sea
"Bo you have brought th baby?" she said. "The dear,
pretty mlts; bow jlad I am!"
"Why do you cry?" asked the baby, looking up into her
face. "Are you unhappy?"
"No." said Dame Rain. "I am not unhappy; nobody I
her. I weep to water the earth, so that the pretty flower
may not die, and so that UttU girls and boy may have water
to drink."
"Hers, Dam Rain, don't cry on the baby!" said Puffer
Wind. " W must tak her at once to Queen Moon."
He took one of th baby' bands and Dame Rain took the
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her flowers. Her attitude and movement maddened me far
more than any words.
Presently I heard Edward say, hurriedly, "I must go!"
and there followed sentences that I did not catch. I saun
tered up and down; he could not wait long, 1 know, and
then my turn would come. Suddenly I heard my name.
"Ted!" My cousin stood at my elbow. "Will you drive
Miss Dumaresque home? I wish I could, but Aunt Dora Is
waiting, and we are due at the Orange. You don't mind,
old man?" He took my consent for granted and hurried off.
The next moment I stood by Rose Dumaresque's sldo and
looked timidly Into her eyes. Yes, timidly! I, who was more
wont to affront. women with my bold gaze!
were torn, and his tie and collar had apparently been
wrenched forcibly from his neck.
" I nave been murderously attacked and fired at," he said.
"I there a doctor near? I am faint. Can you get me some
water?"
Some water was brought, whtlo the station officials con
sulted as to what was best to be done, and, as there was no
doctor handy, it was suggested that the stranger had better
go on to Brighton only a minute's Journey and two of the
officials were put In the carriage with him.
Before the train started the stranger got out for a mo
ment's air upon the platform. As he walked up and down the
platform one of the porters noticed a piece of gold chain
hanging out of his shoe, and, stooping down, he seized it and
dragged out a gold watch.
" Thut is mine," said the stranger. "I put It there for
safety." And the porter handed the watch to him.
In a few minutes the three were at Brighton, and, proceed
ing to the statlonmaster's room, the passenger told his slory.
He was, he said, Alfred lefroy, and he lived nt an address
in Wulllngtqn. He had entered the train at London Bridge,
taking his. place in a first class carriage with two other pas-
other, but they had not travuled far before the air becam
Cold.
"Ah, Snowflak 1 not far oft," said Dame Rain, whose
tears suddenly began to freeze.
As she said these words they were nearly blinded by a
cloud of snowflakea, and out of the midst of them came a
pretty, dancing little white creature.
"Here, Snowflake. top your pranks!" cried Puffer Wind.
" See, we have brought the Star baby."
" O," said Snowflake, stopping and looking down at her,
" what a pretty darling!"
And then there cam a terribly loud noise, that shook tha
very cloud they stood on. The baby clung to Dam Rain's
band and looked frightened.
" Don't mind him," said Puffer Wind. " That' only Sire
Thunder; he' alway making a noise. Here be come."
A he spoke a fierce looking man came rolling up. He
was dressed all In black and looked terrifying.
"A little less noise, please!" said Puffer Wind.
" Now," he added, " let' all get away before Murky Fog
can see us."
And, so saying, he lifted up the baby and sprang up with
her through th cloud at an alarming rate, the others fol
lowing closely,
Buddenly they cams to such a lovely rose colored cloud
that the baby looked about ber with big. round tyes of
wonder.
" Here we ar!" said Puffer Wind, putting her down. "We
re near King Sunshine. Don't you feel tha htat?"
" It' lovely and warm!" said the baby.
At that moment they came upon a wonderful gold throne,
upon which was seated such a beautiful king and queen that
the baby threw out her arms and cried with rapture.
King Suiibhine was dress, d all In glittering gold, from
the top of his beautiful crown to his dainty gold slippers, and
beside him sat Queen Moon, clad In the purest of silver.
" My cousin has given you Into my charge." I said. In a
low vole-.
Her eyes fell, and my glance followed hers. They rested
on the flowers still In her It'll.
"So. Edward did not succeed in getting your roses?"
I said, with a ohajige of tone.
She colored. " You will think me foolish, I dare say, but
somehow I never care to Hive away flowers that I have worn
-unless It is to some one for whom 1 care a great deal. I
don't know why, I am sure."
My heart leapt at her w.u-ds; clearly she was not In lov
with Edward. That was my first thought, and then my
Jealous, suspicious nature put another complexion on he
words verhais she was willfully misleading me. Well, J,
would test her feelings and arrive at the truth.
"That Is too bad." I said; "I thought you had such a
great regard 'for my cousin Edward."
" Indeed I have!" she said earnestly. " I think there
is no one I have a greater ngard for, or a greater admira
tion." I made no response, and relapsed Into gloomy silence.
Tresently she continued, clasping her hands and speaking
with aome excitement, " Edward has deep feelings, but he Is
so narrow!"
I was taken by surprise, and responded with some beat:
"Edward la true as steel!"
"Yes," she said softly; "he has all the virtues"
Hrr words aroused the demon within me. and a tumult
of Jealousy and thwarted hope.
"Tell me." I cried wildly, "Is he anything to you? Do
you care for him?"
I thought If she had ncknowledg. d her love I would hav.i
begged her pardon and gone. I ought not to have asked her.
and never shall I forget the look she turned upon me In
stancea of her gentle dignity I had Been, of her scorn, too;
of her anger, never. Bhe was more angry than I had ever
eeeh a woman In my life; not violently so, but with concen
trated rage. Despite the estimate I had formed of her char
acter, I had hardly thought her capable of so much forc3
and passion.
After such a scene there was little doubt left In my mind
that she loved him. 1 retorted with bitter, stinging words,
when I should have bent before her Just Indignation. 1 left
her with every pulse beating high for love of her, and the
knowledge forcing Itself on me that I had offended her be
yond forglvenesa. I had ruined ray own chances, if ever
had any. and lost her even before I had begun to woo her
Nothing remained to me now but such forgetf ulncs as might
I'e In abse.ice.
Six months later I had not been home at all during the
time 1 received a letter addressed in Rose Dumaresque'
handwriting. What news might It contain? The. formal an
nouncement of her engagement to Edward? For that wa
news that I almost dally expected to hear. No; that blow
was evidently In store for me. for no such death warrant to
wild hopes that I still cherished dropped ns I opened the en
velope. Merely a card of Invitation to her birthday gath
ering on Christmas eve.
I arrived unconscionably early, and met her In the hall
with her arms overflowing with Christmas roses. She wa
In a hurry, and breathless, and our greeting was wholly un
premeditated. "Roses again!" I said significantly, aB I kept her hand
In mine, and addod earnestly, " I wish you roses, roses all
the way!"
" My namesake flower," she said, smiling. " Hobba ha
Just sent them up to the house In my honor."
She withdrew her hand hastily, and escaped from me as
Edward crossed the hall. Early as I had come, he was evi
dently before me. I had not Been him until then, and I
lingered, talking to him. Ho looked worn and anxious, I
thought, but the people were coming fast now, and I escaped
when I could and wandered Into a tiny room, which, from
Its general appearance of picturesque disorder, was evidently
not Intended to be thrown open to the dancers. It was filled
with bowls of Christmas roses, the roses she had held In
her arms a few hours ago. She had evidently arranged them
In haste and been called away, for some lay scattered on the
Murder.
By
engers, one of whom was an aged man of medium height,
with Blight gray whiskers, and dressed in dark clothea. The
other was a fresh complexloned Individual of about 40, with
dark whiskers, no mustache, and dressed In a dark gray suit
Neither of these persons spoke to him as he entered the train,
and as they arrived at the tunnel, after leaving Croy Ion, he
saw a flash and heard a report of firearms. Springing up
from his seat, he was felled by a terrible blow on the head,
which rendered him unconscious until he came to Preston
Park.
" I have been robbed and nearly murdered," he protested.
" You must do your best to catch these two men."
He could give no further particulars and could not guess
what had become of his assailants, and the police, having
been summoned, accompanied him to the hospital, where his
injuries were seen to. They were superficial, and there waa
nothing to account for that prolonged insensibility In the car
riage. While ,the doctor was attending, to him the deteetlvea
searched his clothea. ' They found a few shillings In his
pockets, some pawn tickets, and several Hanoverian sover
eignsflash coins, often us.-d by tricksters for the purpose of
Impressing unsuspecting people with an Idea of wealth. Le-
By Lena Morn.
" Ah," said King Sunshine, holding out his hand as they
advanced, " so you have brought the baby, a we desired,
Puffer Wind? Have you found her a good here a upon
earth?"
" Yea, your majesty," said Puffer Wind.
"Good!" Bald the queen. "Come hither, child!"
The baby ran up to her willingly and sat at her feet
" We heard you were too good and beautiful for th
wicked earth," said the queen. " So we have aent for you to
live with us."
Then the baby sat down on the steps of the throne, and
looked about her with much Interest. It all looked so pretty,
but after a time she began to tire ot this.
" I don't like the clouds," she walled. " I'm so tired I
want my cradle. I want my mamma."
At this the king and queen looked at one another In aston
ishment " Here. Puffer Wind, you have made a mistake," said
King Sunshine. " You must have brought the wrong child.
This seems to be a naughty little girl."
"Dear me!" said Puffer Wind.
" Go away!" said the Star baby, slapping at his face.
" Don't blow on me you make me cold. 1 want to go home."
"Take her!" said the king. " She's nut too good fur
tarth. Take her away at once, puffer Wind."
So Puffer Wind caught ber up and took her down and
C&wn so far and fast that the baby went to Bleep In his arms
When she awoke she found herself In her owu little cradle
at home, and because she was all alone In the room she at
up screaming loudly as ever she could.
Soon her mother and the nurse came running Into th
room, and both of them seemed surprised and glad.
"The darling! she's crying!" said her mamma. "Look,
puree; she quite red in the face with temper. O, I'm ao
glad! My baby won't die now. bhe Isn't too good fur this
world, after all!"
table, and I even rsisfd one fnun the floor with the intention
of placing It In one of the vases. Hut the bowl I drew towards
me held no water, anil I examined others with the same re
sult. Well, It was a pity! Miss Dumaresque's flowers would
fade, and I had half a mind to get some water myself, but
I lingered about the room, loath to . for I suspected It was
her own particular sanctum, and everything In the room
Interested me. There was her work basket In a corner, and
a tiny Persian kitten on the white hearth rug was playing
with a bit of paper; no. a letter. I recovered It. and was
about to put It In -a place of safety when my own name
causht my eye. It was my cousin's name, too, but I did not
think of that until I had turned the letter over and seen
R.-se Dumaresque'a signature at the end I benan to read,
and In a moment I knew the letter was not for me but I
read on deliberately until I came to the end. and learnt that
Miss Dumaresque had refused my cousin Edward for the sec
ond, perhaps third, time. 1 had barely made myself ac
quainted with this fart before 1 made another discovery
the letter waa six weeks old. and gave me no possible clew
as to what had happened In the meantime.
Tho letter was still In my hand and I was deeply oc
cupied with the reflections It had given rise to. when E.lwsrd
hastily entered the room. His face showed signs of agita
tion, which Increased in sljiht of me.
" I have lost something." he said, beginning n hurried
search. "Ted, have you setn a letter anywhere? I dropped
one In here, I think. Yes. that's It!" he added eagerly,
stretching out his hand to me.
Edward Judged others by himself. He never doubted but
that I had that moment raised the letter from the ground.
I am sure no suspicion crossed his mind, for he took It from
me with a word of thanks, and was about to hurry off when
I stopped him. Oood or 111, I had never yet done an action
which I would not stand by.
" I have rend your letter," I paid slowly without f! shade
of regret In my voice.
He heard my words, but I do not think the moaning of
them dawned on him.
" I have read your letter," I repeated.
He turned then, and faced me.
" You read my letter this letter? You must be mad!"
I suppose the expression of my face convinced him, for
he took a step towards me, and a look came Into his eyes
that I should have quailed before had I not felt that It was
mirrored In my own. I had never met the Torrlngton look
before, and as he glared back at me I understood for the first
time why I had been but rarely crossed In my life.
We were still standing thus when midnight chimed. The
tension of our muscles relaxed no whit as we listened to the
distant strokes and unconsciously counted them. Twelve!
Almost simultaneously the voices of the carol singers rang
out " Teace on earth, good will towarda men."
Edward looked wildly round and a change came over his
face. " Sooner or later." he muttered, " he was bound to
know." He passed his hand over his forehead and extended
It to me.
Edward could afford to be magnanimous, I thought, but
the blood rushed to my face and I hesitated.
"Ted," he said, "never mind about the letter. Shake
hands!
I complied, for when he spoke like that my unjust re
sentment vanished.
" She has Just refused me for the third time," Edward
went on hurriedly. " Nothing matters now. I did not know
you loved her; there was never any chance for me!" He
pressed my hand convulsively. "Oood-by! I loved her, too
more than you think!"
In another moment he had gone, and I stood alone, at
once victor and vanquished, my arms folded and my head
Bunk on my breast In a gloomy reverie.
Suddenly Miss Dumaresque entered.
" O, my Christmas roses!" she exclaimed in a tone of dis
may. "They are faded already!"
" Some one forgot to water her flowers," 1 said, looking
tip, with the cloud barely lifted from mf face.
She started, and I saw she hnd not observed me hitherto.
" Yes, what a pity! Especially," she added mischievously,
"as I had meant to give you one to exorcise the ey 11 spirit !"
She referred to a popular superstition In our part of the
country which claimed that the wearing of a fresh flower
held off the evil spirit.
- I rallied at her words.
" It would be too unkind," I said, " to make me the double
Victim of your negligence."
She blushed and looked shyly at me.
" Well, you may have this!"
She took a flower from the bosom of her dress, and my
brain reeled as I recalled her words spoken In the summer,
and wondered if she, too, remembered them. Was It pos
sible that she cared for me? I looked at her sadly.
"Your lily will be faded by the morning," I said, "and
my good angel will have vanished. Besides, It Is Just a
Christmas, rose that I want," I added meaningly.
"They are too faded!" she protested " until they re
vive "
"A Christmas rose!" I pleaded passionately; "one that
I can wear all my life!"
She reached out her hand trembling to the bowl and I
3rew It Into mine.
"Will you give me yourself ?" I whispered.
She did not reply, but her silence was a sweeter consent
than any words, and I gathered her Into my arms, kissing
her and crying, "Rose! My Christmas Rose I"
Grant Jones.
froy protested that he knew nothing of these. Ill assailant
must have put them In his pocket.
An examination of the railway carriage revealed signs
of a terrible outrage having been attempted or perpetrated In
It There were the marks of revolver shots on the woodwork.
The conduct of the police called In the first place to Inves
tigate the mystery exoited much comment.
Lefroy's Injuries having been seen to, one of the officer
went with Lefroy back by train to the address he had given
at Walllngton. As the train they were in stopped at a
station on the way from Brighton, tho stationmaster came to
tha carriage and Informed the officer that the searcher sent
out had discovered the dead body of sn old gentleman a Mr.
Gold on the line near Baloombe tunnel. Having seen Le
froy Into his lodgings at Walllngton, the detective left him.
" If you should want me for anything tomorrow," said
Lefroy calmly as he bade the officer good day, "you will find
me here or at my club in the Strand." j
A short time later the officer was again at the house. H
had received a message warning him to detain Iefrov, as It
was evident that a murdor bad been committed. But l efroy,
he was told, had left the house almost Immediately after bis
arrival, and none knew where he had gone. He had fled!
All the witnesses declared that Lefroy, during his ques
tioning by the railway officials and police, showed remarkable
coolness and readiness In explanation. It must have been a
fearful nervous effort. But he succeeded In allaying all sus
picion and excited their pity as they looked at him with those
terrible stains upon him. Judging by them, he must have lost
a large quantity of blood. As a matter of fact, the blood was
that of his victim, Mr. Gold.
The railway company and the government at once offered
a reward of 100 for Information leading to the rnurierer's
capture, and placards were Issued bearing the descrlutions of
Lefroy, his portrait, and specimens of his handwrlilng. A
likeness of him whioh appeared In a dally led to bis capture.
Lefroy had taken refuge in lodgings In a little house In
Smith Btreet, Stepney. He Informed his landlady that his
name waa Clarke, and that he was an Invalid engraver from
Liverpool. HI conduct was mysterious and excited his land-
lady' usplcion. Ha staid In all day and kept the blind of
his room hi window looked out Into the streeet-drawn close
down a If fearful of any one looking In. His landlady had
en the picture in the paper. She consulted the police re
specting "the strange young man."
The detectives Swanston and Jarvla-who visited Smith
street to Interview the mysttrlous lodger, recognized hlra and
pounced on him at once.
"I am glad you have found me," declared lefroy. "I
am aick ot it and should have given myself up In a day or
two. I am sorry I ran away. It puts auch a wrong com
plexion on thlnga; but I could not bear the exposure."
The Jury quickly returned a verdict of guilty, and, palo
and trembling.- Ifroy listened, apparently ull unnerved, to
the sentence of death. When the lord chief Justice finished,
however, h had recovered soma amount of self possession.
"Gentlemen," he cried, striking theatrical attitude and
in Impreasivs tones, as h lifted one hand to heaven, "the
day will ooma when you will know that you havs murdered
me!"
He was hanged three weeks later-after having tried to
delay his fate by m ikli.x an absurlly Impudent confession
of another umrdw. t.f which be did not know even the leading
details.
t