The Illegal Marriage — page 176: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

168 THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. “Let me go, Colonel Stannard—I’ll not promise you. I believe you are all conspiring to defraud her,” he almost shrieked, as, tearing away from Stannard’s hand, he slammed the door in his face. Quickly opening the door, Stannard called to him; but Crawford stopped a further effort. “Oh, Martin! why did you carry the thing so far? Let me go and tell him the truth—let me tell him that I will not have the estate before he goes to her.” “Stannard,” said Crawford, impressively, “as sure as you live that young fellow is guilty.” “Peyton, that cannot be!” But a new light seemed to break on Stannard’s mind, and he stopped in consternation. “Perhaps he is not guilty of the murder—I do not think he has the courage for that; but he knows something about it.” “You see now—you can see yourself, Stannard,” » said Martin, “that he thinks more of Miss Morgan’s money than he does of her.” “He is guilty of more than that,” interposed Crawford, “or I am greatly mistaken. Was there nothing said about him at the inquest?” “Nothing at all. Simmons acted like a fool. He would not listen to reason.” “Think a minute, Stannard—was there no evi- dence to show that he was there that night? Was there no negro gossip to give a clew?” He could not again run the risk of injuring Cecy by withholding what he knew, and at length de- termined to speak of the letter. He told them the circumstances, with Alfred’s explanation. “I knew it,” said Martin, slapping his knee; “I felt sure of it. Have you that letter?” Stannard took the letters from his pocket, and the two lawyers read them carefully. “What is this?” exclaimed Crawford, suddenly; “vou gave him five hundred dollars? What in the world was that for?” “T can’t tell—here is his other letter asking for it.” “Stannard, my friend, you have made a dreadful mistake; you have done an injury to that girl.” comicbooks.co