Miss Mephistopheles: A Novel: (Sequel to Madame Midas.)
David Hume · en
Fenton, hearing some one close behind him, made a bound forwards, then
fell on the line, with a shriek of despair. In a moment Malton was on
him, and the two men rolled on the line, fighting like devils.
"Curse you!" hissed Malton, putting his knee on Fenton's chest, "I'll
kill you!--I'll kill you!" And he dashed Fenton's head against the
iron rails.
The American, in despair, flung up his hands, and caught Malton round
the neck. Once more they fought, wrapped in a deadly embrace, when
suddenly they felt the bridge vibrate, and, even in their struggle,
saw rapidly approaching, through the darkness the light of the down
train.
Malton, with a cry of horror, tried to release himself from Fenton's
grip, but the American held him tight, and in another moment the
train, with a roar, was on the bridge, and over their bodies.
One hoarse yell, and all was over. Evan Malton and Hiram Fenton were
torn to pieces under the cruel wheels.
CHAPTER XXX.
EXIT KITTY MARCHURST.
So this was the end of it all. The criminal, guilty of the two crimes
which had agitated Melbourne for so many months, turned out to be the
respected manager of The Never-say-die Insurance Company. After the
discovery of his guilt, the affairs of the company were examined, and
found to be in a terrible state of confusion. Fenton, aided by Malton,
had embezzled large sums of money, and so carefully manipulated the
accounts that their defalcations had never been noticed.
It was true that once they were on the verge of discovery unless some
of the money was paid back, and this had been accomplished by the
robbery of Kitty Marchurst's diamonds. As the two guilty men were
dead, the only man who knew anything about the affair was Mr.
Villiers, who soon found things made so warm for him that he confessed
all he knew about the crime.
It appeared that, on the night of the supper, Fenton was in great
straits for want of money to replace that embezzled by himself
and Malton. Hearing Kitty state where she kept her diamonds, he
determined to steal them if he could do so with safety. In going to
the drawing-room, he saw Stewart descending the stairs, and, as the
young man told him he had been in Kitty's room putting the child to
bed, he thought he could steal the jewels on that night, and let
Stewart bear the blame.
With this idea, he went upstairs, took the diamonds from their place,
and, in order to make things doubly secure, should his idea of
implicating Stewart fail, he got out of the window, and clambered
down, so as to show that the house had been burglariously entered.
In stealing round to the front of the house, he met Villiers, who had
seen all, and, in order to make him hold his tongue, had given him the
small diamond crescent which Naball secured in Little Bourke Street.
Of course, Kitty would not prosecute Keith, as he had saved her
child's life; and it was his security in this belief that caused
Fenton to urge on the detective.