Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 21 January 1898 — Page 7

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I A N E A CLEW BY WIRE I

Or, An Interrupted Current.

BY HOWARD M. YOST.

jg Copyright. 1896, bv J. B. Llpplncott Co. 3

Now I certainly had received no message from Florence. If one had been sent me it must/ have been cither duriufl my first visit to the cellar or during my trip to Sidington, and therefore I /had missed it. "Yes, I have heard that they have met again. Much good may it do theml"

Jackson responded with a sneer. Then he went on: "And since you found my hiding-place, perhaps you'll tell me what you expect to gain by coming to it? Have you arrived at your right senses again?" "I have," came 1 lie answer. "Oh, then you agree to give your daughter to me. 1 thought you would come to time." "No, a thousand times no! I have come to have an accounting from you." "Accounting? From me? For what, I wonder?" Jackson asked, with insolence. "You have broken our solemn agreement. You have rcmovedmotonly your share of what remains, but also mine. Jiestore it, and you will not be injured, although we can never again resume our compact. Kef use to do so, anil I will crush yon." "Oh, ho, you will, will you? IIow?" .iRhsked Jackson, in derisive tones. "By denouncing you." Mr. Morley ro-.•'.-plied, sternly. "'Now, that is useless and foolish talk.

Let us reason, as between two business men," said Jackson, assuming a confidential style. "I want to marry your daughter. At first, you kept promising me that I should do so. All through the live years of patient waiting for an opf. portunit.v to tap the vault, yon kept me to the job by 1liat promise. Lately you refuse to fulfill your promise, and' yet you now talk to me of breaking our agreement. Give me your daughter.

A'ou know she would be influenced by your wish." "It cannot be." a "And why not? I know she doesn't Jike me, but I love her and want- her 'more than anything on, carlh. She'll do as you tell her you know that.

Come, I'll give up not- only your share of what remains, but nil my own. I am rich now, and'don't need it." "And who made you rich "Oh, you did. I don't deny it: mul-you have my thanks." replied Jackson, in mocking tones. "That last deal in which we were on opposite sides happened to turn my way, and I got the pile you dropped. That's my luck. 1 can give her as luxurious a home as she has had. Come, old man, be reasonable." "Never. You cannot have her. She despises you. and her likes and. dislikes have more, weight

Willi

me than

anything you could offer. Thank God. she will marry a better man than either you or me." "Oh, she? will! Not while I live. No. she shall marry no one if not me,"'Jackson exclaimed, in .gr\ "And \(iu thought that removing tlie stolen bonds to some secret hiding place of your own and thereby depriving me of my share would compel me to accede to your demand for my daughter's hand V" asked Mr. 'Morley. in great scorn. "Partly that. There was another reason, too. I had an idea 1liat some one was on our track, and it was my purpose to throw proof on the one who was universally considered the guilfv party in case it became too hot- for us." "Too hot for you," quietly interposed Mr. Morley. "No, for us. Do you suppose I have been such a fool us to place myself so completely in your power that my safety should depend on your whim? Not macli! If I am found out, be sure you go down with me. in s.pi-te of your high standing and incorruptible honor." Jackson hissed out these words with venom. "This conversation is fruitless. We will change it," remarked Mr. Morley, in tones wherein great effort at selfcontrol was evident. "Now-, restore my portion of the bondts. and you have my word that I will not molest you. Hefuse, and I'll grind you down in the dirt, where you belong." "Muff! all bluff!" exclaimed Jaekson, with a derisive laugh. "There was a time when I was a [raid of you. but not now, not now. You've been so very kind as to tell what you'll do now let me have my say. You'll give me your daughter, or I will denounce yon. You know I can do it. I hold absolute proofs which will astonish the world, you bet. Don't answer just yet. Think- over what I am saying. 1 know well I must fall when you do. My showing you up necessarily includes that. But you are sucfh a senseless old foo} in "refusing me your daughter that, it would be a pleasure to show you up. Besides, I do love Florence, and if I can't)have her I don't care what happens to me."

There must have been something in Mr. Morley after this speech which disturbed Jackson, for lie gave, vent to a nervous laugh and baeked.away, so that I could not see him. "Now, don't act like a fool, old man, and do anything—"

Before Jackson could finish a pistol shot rang out. This was immediately followed by two other reports. Mr. Morley had evidently missed' the first time" and his second' shot sounded simultaneously with Jackson's return fire.

Then Mr. Morley staggered before the passageway, llis arms were upraised, and the hands worked convulsive] v. lie made a great effort to speak, but no sound came from his lips, except a deep groan as he fell forwardl full length. And there he lay, motionless, I his face resting on the hard floor.

In a moment Jackson was bending

over him. The look of horror, of fear, of dread in his face as he arose from beside the prostrate body tolda tale of murder.

With nervous liaste he picked up the papers which had fallen from his hand, and, throwing a hasty glance around, seized the lantern and entered the passageway, intent on instant flight.

Too horrified to think what course to pursue, I backed away from the door and took a position near the stairs.

Jackson entered the cook-house cellar, and, placing the lantern upon the floor, closed the door. Then he turned and peered about. The start he gave and the alarm on. his face told me I was discovered. lie had his pistol still in li'ishand, and started to raise-hisarm. "No, no," I cried "keep that hand down!" lie saw 1 had him covered with my revolver, and he obeyed my command for the moment. But I knew that he was a desperate man and would not hesitate to throw his life away in the endeavor to escape. Therefore I hastily followed tip the advantage. "You'll throw that pistol to me," I continued. "Instantly, you damned villain, you murderer, or, as sure as Heaven—"

I'.^t nij'' words were interrupted. ITe had backed up against the door, his eyes staring fixedly at me. There was a movement of his arm, and I was about to pull the trigger to forestall his purpose of firing at me. when a report sounded out from behind him, as he leaned against, the wall and door, and with a. loud cry he sprang forward,

came down all in a heap, rolled over on his back, and lay there, dead—dead, and

by his own murderous device for guarding his hilling place. Hurried footsteps were crossing 1he room above, and I hastily took up a new position of defense. "Stop!" I yelled. as the feet began 1o descend. "The stairs are covered by ni3r pistol.'"

There was a pause, and a hurried consultation upon the landing. "is that, you down there. Mr. Conway?" inquired a voice which I recognized.

iS

"Yes, it is and, as I do not know patient, one," remarked Komi tag. whether you are an enemy or a friend, Mr. Sonntag, I guess I won't run any risk. Y'ou'd better stay up. You have me in your power, penned up here in this hole but if I've got to die some one. else goes with me."

Again there was a hurried cotiversa-

Then I explained how Jackson ha been killed. I told nothing about Mr. Morley"s connection with the affair. They listened, intently, and then Sonntag, carrying a jimmy, went to the door. "Will you two stand to one side?" Sonntag called out. "That shooting apparatus might go off the door open."

The bundle of papers which had fallen from the .dead man's grasp was picked up by Sonntag's companion and handed by him to .Mr. Perry. Then tinman turned to me, and, bestowing a smile upon me at. the astonishment he evidently saw depicted on my face, went to Sonntag's assistance.

°,

ll

,b0nt,SS

Here another pistol-report sounded, followed by an cxelamalion of satisfaction from Sonntag. for immediately the door swung open. "Now, then, Mr. Conway, you can investigate this mystery," he said, coming toward me.

W liile Mr. Perry and Skinner were engaged in searching for the cause of the voice and the pistol-shots, Sonntag spoke in low, earnest tones: "Where is the man who came down after you?" he asked.

I pointed toward the inner apart-

tion in low tones between Sonntag and *rty also. He had it hidden around peine other party, who I surmised was Jiis hunting-lodge somewhere, we were Skinner. quite sure, but he was too cunning for "Perhaps you will not object to"my

ment. "What, did Jackson lock him tip there? How did he succeed—" Then he paused, and, holding the lantern higher, gazed thoughtfully in my face. "Dead, too? You don't mean to tell me!'" 1 nodded my head. "Lord Almighty!" Sonntag exclaimed, and then turned slowly from me and joined the two at the door. "Mr. Conway, come here," Mr. Perry called to me. "See," he said, when 1 came up, "here is the voice."

On one side of the door was a wooden box, in which was a phonograph. "You observe this wire," began Skinner. "It is attached to the instrument, and runs down seemingly in the ground. Now. I'll go and step on 1he plank and see if the wire is not moved and the phonograph seta-going." He did so, and a clock-work arrangement was set in motion which communicated with the instrument. "Let us see what pulls the wire," said Mr. Perry.

We went over to the plank, and saw that Skinner had raised it so we could look underneath. There was a steel spring under one end, which was compressed when a weight was put upon the plank. The compression operated a lever which pulled the wire attached to it. The wire ran through an iron pipe under the stones toward the phonograph, the other end being fastened to the clock apparatus as we had already seen.

An arrangement like that which operates the phonograph was also used for

11je

l,P

approach. Nelson," a voice called out 't was. Then yesterday yon told me as a second pair of legs came down. the walled-up cellar, and I knew 1 "We are all friends, true friends," it

lia

1

No wonder I was amazed. For the man was lie who had played such a treacherous game upon Florence, had detective and Ski

tried to fchoot me. and had escaped wrath a few minuter- before-- -Skinner, the station agent at. Sidington.

nf'tho 'r

revolver, which was fixed above it,

the muzzle pointing to the small hole in the mortar between two stones. The spring, how ever, which caused the explosion of lhc pistol, was fastened on the inner side of the door, and so arranged that, cither a pressure on the door or an adverse force compressed it.

A!y leaning the weight of my hand against the door when I had stooped down to peer into the hole had operated the spring, as had Jackson's body when he backed from me. "Clever rascal, ihat Jackson, and a

"Then you know he robbed the banl I asked. I "Oh, yes, we knew it, and have known it for some, time." Sonntag said, dryly. I "Then why was he not arrested 1 continued. "Well, we wanted to recover the prop-

md we could not discover where

him."

continued. "From what you tell me now, and There was something so familiar in hat I have heretofore thought of your the sound of the voice that I hesitated peculiar ways, I suppose I am right in in again uttering a remonstrance. surmising that you are a detective," I "We are all friends," the man said again, as his head reached below the "Yes, I am a det.ccthe," lie qtiietiy relevel of the floor. Dim though the light uponded. was upon the stairs, I recognized him "And your name is not Sonntag?" immediately, and with a loud call "No. Wilson is mv name. It was sprang toward him. simply a stroke of chance that made "Mr. Perry! Oh, thank God, you me your lawyer and agent for a short have come!" I stepped unthinkingly time. It was necessary to be present on the plank at the bottom, and he here, and the death of your former came down to me and grasped my hand, agent came most opportunely." "Don't mind that. It cannot hurt "So then Jackson never suspected you," I remarked, as the warning voice you?" again sounded out, just as though its "No. At least I believe not." services were longer needed. "And how did you come to suspect "T know it cannot,

Mr. Perry re- Jackson?" I asked, curiously.

marked, with a smile. Here Sonntag, "By looking up his record." and another man brushed by us. and "Why, was he a regular criminal?" wentJo Jackson's prostrate body. "No. Not. until he robbed the bank. -Will you look here, sir?" Sonntag He used to be in the employ of a large called, motioning for Mr. Perry to ap- safe manufactory as an expert on locks, proa eh. When we found that out we were eer"My God! Tt is Jackson! Howterri- tain he was the man in the bank who b!e: Is he dead? Who did it?" asked could open the lock, when 1he timeMr. Perry, glancing up at me. "Wcr? piece was off, without knowing the vo'i compelled to shoot him. Nelson?" "No, I uin thankful that no man's blood is on my hands. Although, I came very near shooting' him."

combination." Did the detectives know of Mr. Morley's connection with the affair? If not, I could easily keep secret what I knew. "And you think Jackson was alone in the affair?" 1 asked, with a view to ascertaining how much Sonntag, or Wilson, knew.

II cast upon me one of his whimsical looks, and after a pause replied: "At

igain in getting first it, seemed quite certain there was sonic one connected with Jackson in the affair. But now I find there was not."

Here Skinner, who had been listening to our conversation, glanced quickly tit) at ilson, and 1 saw some signal Hashed between the two.

And what IIKIV your name be? Are

you a detective, too?" I asked of Skinner. "Yes," he replied, simply, "I am a inner is my name." "Why did you try to sliootmc? "I didn't. I fired in the air. Still, I did want- you to think I did. It was

for two

of the stolen bonds!' Mr. Perry ex- away until this affair was settled anlaimcd. in excitement, may recover all of them.

,,(,n:nnm 1 10(lt0 lne wouid

£500,000. be something. Then lie hurriedly stepped over near the door to watch Sonntag and Skinner. leaving me to my thoughts.

Poor Florence! My heart was rent when I pictured her grief. And my promise to Mr. Morley that, she should ous to your contract with Miss Mornever hear anylhing against her father to cause, a diminution of her love and respect—how was I to keep that promise, when the father lay there in yonder room, shot: to death by his partner, his tool, his pupil in crime?

poroses: One, to frighten von

Perhaps we other, to make you really down on me,

.. I don sup- You see, Jackson at last seemed to pose hero is any hope of getting back suspect me, and I thought if I could the money be continued, with a sigh.

show

him you were tcrriblv down nn

I'

ut me

If we -t them back, it will hj confidence. "Oh, you succeeded in making him believe you were his friend?" I remarked. "Worked the pal racket ou him, eh?" "As much as I could."

all the closer in

Then you really were not. treacher-

son, when the whole truth is known, and we will take ctire that it be known that you allowed yourself to be made a martyr of, by enduring the, suspicion for the sake of aiding the search for the real robbers. Now then, come, gentlemen. Let us go into the other place."

CHAPTER XVII.

i,: 4. 4- a.

Sonntag—or Wilson, as I ought to call

1

Vf

T-IC1SOTI lnd^-P AT

I came next nnd' I

I came next, and Skinner brought up

the rear with another lantern.

Mr. Perry followed quickly, and I heard him exclaim, in tones of horror "What in heaven's name is that?"

Wilson placed the lantern on the fioor and bent down over the prostrate body of Mr. Morley. "Why, were there two? is he dead, too?" Mr. Perry went on. "This is terrible!—a most, horrible affair! Who can it be?"

The cider detective silently motioned to Skinner, and together they gently turned the body over.

The president leaned down, and then started back. Consternation, doubt, amazement, horror, were on his face as he glanced from one to the other of us. "Sylvester Morley!" he finally gasped. "Impossible!" Then lie leaned over the body again. "It. looks very much like him, very much like him," he whispered, glancing down at Wilson, who gravely nodded his head. "What? You mean it is Morley—this body orley's? (I reat God in Heaven!"

We stood silently around the body for some time, none of us willing to utter a word. P,ut the. realization of what the father's death, and in sucli a violent way, would mean to Florence had been growing stronger and stronger in my mind, and I finally broke, down under it, covered my face with my hands and groaned aloud.

Soon I felt a touch on my arm. Glancing up, 1. saw Mr. Perry standing beside r.ie. .- .• "It is a most terrible affair, Nelson but never mind, my boy," he said, softly, in a.n attempt at comfort. His next words t.okl me. however, that he did not know the real cause for my grief. "T know how you must feel to have a horrible event, like this happen on your place. But you are cleared, at. any rate. It will soon be known that von are innocent, of the crime, the suspicion of which you have, borne so long and eo patient I v."

I made an effort at control, and when again addressed Mr. Perry noticed Wilson and Skinner holding a whispered conversation. The younger man's face was toward me, and as his ?ye caught mine there was so much pity and sympathy in it that I could not help feeling some wonder. "To think of it all happening on roy grandfather's place, whose character was as far removed from an3'thing criminal as heaven is high above earth," I finally managed to murmur, unwilling to state the real cause of my emotion. "Is he quite dead?" Mr. Perry asked again, turning to Wilson. For answer the detective pulled back his coat and vest and pointed to the shirt bosom, which was dyed with the life strea m. "You see," lie answered, quietly, "quite dead. Shot through the heart." "Did Jackson do it?" lhc president asked, turning to me. I nodded mv head. "Why should he? What was Mr. Morley—"

Fort unately. Skinner, who had arisen after his whispered conversation with Wilson, and gone poking about in the corners and behind the empty barrels and boxes, here uttered a shout which caused us all to glance in his direction. He was tugging at some object inside of a barrel, and soon brought out a large valise, which from its apparent w-cight and plethoric appearance was stuffed full. "Ah, that looks promising!" ejaculated Mr. Perry, starting eagerly forward. 1.he valise was deposited on. the flcor, and the president- went down on his knees, in great excitement, to fumble with the c:a ich. '/'"f

ln

ment from you, but you didn't give mo

any chance.' "Why was the whole affair kept, from me so carefully 1 asked.

The question, for barrassed

:iwri.y

murmured: "I tell vou this will cut

the young woman up terribly. "It will indeed. And who is to tell her!" I exclaimed, in anguish. "That, is your duty, Mr. Conway. She wouldn't take it, llie same from anyone else as she would from you." Then

lie

"Be careful and don't strike your I you won't think me too forward in sayheads against the dirt above, or some of that she thought a good deal of it ill come down, Y\ ilson callcd back iyou she was so anxious to get you to tis. As the passage was not more cleared, and kept imploring me all the than three and a half or four feet in time to hurry up and find the real robheiglit, it was rather difficult to follow his advice. "Do you suppose Jackson did all this work himself?" 1 heard Mr. Perry ask. "Undoubtedly," Sonntag1 replied. "You see, he used to come to Nelsonville quite frequently. For the past six weeks he had not been seen about here. But then that is no sign that he was not here. Probably during those six weeks he was at work. Here we are," he said, as he crawled out into the room.

J-'*'* it,."said Wilson.»••*«

While the two were endcavoring'to open the bag. Skii: came to where 1 was standing, and

,b SL lruI 1

down on the

dead man. said, in soft tones: "This

will go hard with the young lady." here was nothing particularly striking in his words, but the tone of his voice had so much genuine feeding in it that I voluntarily turned :."id extended my hand. "I hope you'll forgive me." 1 said, ou be'.," he icpiied. grasping my hand, "ton did pretty near choke the daylight out, of me, I hough. What a grip you've got!" he added, with a bright smile. "Hut. then that's all right. I'm thankful you didn't shoot. I was going to tell you who I was. ns there was no use for further conceal

continued, earnestly: "Ye? vou're

I"1 the one to her, and the onlv one

wll„y

,lo \rtell

(:an

5 a

W've her any comfort—if there

}jad

bers." Bless my dear love's kind and true heart! And now to have licr sweet young life, plunged into such erief and sorrow! It seemed cruel, oh, most cruel!

I again grasped Skinner's hand and pressed it. "My God, how can tell hcrl" I exclaimed, the tears starting to my eyes. "Nelson! Nelson!"

It was Mr. Perry who called, and who came up to me with his face aglow. "As far as a hasty examination goes, 1 have reason to believe the greater part of the bonds arc here, minus the interest coupons for the. past year. The rascal must have converted those into cash anyhow, they are gone." "So it did pay you for responding so quickly to my telegram," I remarked. "Your telegram!" he repeated, in surprise. "I received none."

Then I explained to liini, and when 1 had finished he said: "\\liy, you see, the reason I did not receive it was that I was already at Twineburgh. Wilson telegraphed me this morning, and 1 came up on the noon train." "Mr. Perry came into the office half an hour after you left," replied Mr, Wilson. "I sent the, dispatch after 1 left here." "How did you know Jackson would come to the cellar to-night?" 1 asked, curiously.

Mr. Wilson glanced around before answering. Then be sunk his voice down low, as though afraid he might be heard by the others: "Have you forgotten the voices in your bedroom and up in the attic? The conversation was the most fortunate chance that ever befell me in my whole professional career." "Oh, then, you think Jackson was one of the parties holding the conversation?" I asked. "Assuredly. Has not the result proved that?" he replied. "But 1hen, who—who could have been the other'."' asked, with great fear and dread.

Wilson drooped his head and seemed to be considering his reply. "Impossible to answer that question," he finally said, reluctantly. "And 1 don't know as there is any cause for either you or me ever to refer to that conversation. You see, a detective feels sensitive at not being able to discover everything concerning an important case. And, although wc have been wonderfully successful, who Horace Jackson's assistant or master (for lie undoubtedly had one was, will probably remain forever a mystery. At least I shall not. attempt anything more in the ease. My duty is completed."

My heart gave a bound. Mr. Morley's connection with the robbery was not suspected, even by one of the most astute detectives in America. My promise, then, might be fulfilled, and Florence, at least., spared the knowledge that her father was a great criminal.

I noticed Wilson's slinrp eyes were on my face, and I strove to cloak my satisfaction. Then the detective held out his hand and gave mine a hearty grip. "The bodies had better be removed upstairs," Wilson then said, resuming I his matter-of-fact manner.

In due time llie two bodies were )ving. side by side, on the floor of my bedroom.

rl

he man whose life before the world had been blameless and honorable, a synonym for business virtue and integrity, but who was in reality the greatest rogue imaginable—who. from (lis capacity for engineering large endeavors. 1 knew must have been the prime factor ir. the robbery—lay there beside his tool, who had become as accomplished a rogue as his master.

Il.vpocrisv and pretense have alwav« inspired the greatest repugnance in me. lint, as 1 gazed down on the face of him whose daughler was my promised wife, and remembered the bright spot in all the blackness of his real character, the love and affection for his offspring, my heart was heavy with sorrow for him.

That love, so deep, so fond, ihat he gave up his life rather ihan vield to a thought which miaiit cause her unliappiness—surely such a love was alonenicnt enough for the evil he had wrought.

Mr. Pen- was standing beside me as these thoughts llew through my mind. "1 cannot understand how or why Sylvester Morley should become mixed up in this affair and so meet his death," the president said, in grave 1oncs. "Surely—but then that is too wild a thong-lit to utter. Hut, there is something I cannot understand about.it." "Oh, Mr. Perry," I exclaimed, "it is my fault. 1 should have explained before. but the affair lias sent my wiis wool-gathering." I handed him the

bon(l 1 1,atl

some reason, em-

r. hkiiMicr.

ley?" "I guess Wilson thought you were a "GoodGod.no. Who could play false hot-headed, and might give the to her?" Skinner exclaimed, in such

to

convincing tones that I was satisfied. i'!l)»i,,d. hesitatingly. Here Air. Perry broke in. "Vour regarded him closely, for somename will come out resplendent, Nel-

lou

much zeal," he final-

felt sure his answer was not. a

true one: but he was gazing at the bo«ty

"P. a brief

count of the finding. Then went.on: "After I found the bond. 1 immediatelv informed Mr. Morley, as he was an interested party, being one of the. trustees of the bank, and I wished some older head's advice. I explained everything to him in answer to the numerous questions he asked me."

Mr. Perry was listening intently, as were also Wilson and Skinner, and the perspiration broke from my forehead

as wcilt otl with

at his feet in seeming sorrow. seems he could not resist attemptThen he shook his'bead, and again

itlg an invcs

so calne ere

sai

0I

llind of a

the gigantic lie.

tigation himself, and—and

I was in the cellar when

he came down, but it was as dark as pitch, and I thought it was one of the robbers and that I was trapped. I did not discover the truth until too late." "All, that explains it all," Mr. Perry

I had finished. "That was

'l y' truly. He was always that

mslT1»

and

end

would never de-

upon another to accomplish

things when he could do it himself." I could not heljp glancing furtively

at the two detectives, and from each a nod of approval.

rcceiveS

In one room—once the. dining-room -of the old house, a bright young fellow is working, planning, thinking, experimenting all day long, and at times all night, long, too, on the problem uf voice-transmission without, the aid of receiver or transmitter. He has mado some progress, and, as he is a patient voting man of brilliant parts, I make bold to prophesy that the world will soon be startled by a lightning stroke of genius which will blazon the little hamlet of Nclsonville in characters of tire on the. present generation.

My wife and 1 are spending the summer at her residence on Sunset hill, and we drive over to the old house every day to talk and to encourage the young genius.

A year has passed since Mr. Morley's death six months after that tragio event Florence became my wife.

The first evening cf our arrival at Sunset, hill I was sitting on 1 he porch, watching the violet tints down in the valley. My wife was slowly pacing up and down the walk.

She had been very quiet, and sober all that day, and I attributed her mood to the sorrowful recollections which the place would naturally call up.

Presently she came and knelt down beside me. Besting her head on my shoulder, she spoke. "I have something to tell yon, my husband—something which 1 have kept hidden from you. But, have been punished sufficiently for there has not been that absolute trust and confidence between us that I wished. It is all my fault. Promise to forgive me, and I will tell you my secret."

I laughed at her, and placed my arm around her. "It must, be something terrible indeed," I exclaimed, in pretended alarm. "But as you are my ife, of course there is no other way but to forgive the wrong." "1—I believe—papa was concerned in the bank-robfoery," she finally murmured, in broken tones. "Good heavens, Florcncel What can you be dreaming of?" 1 exclaimed, in great surprise. "It is no dream how I wish it was!" she answered, the tears falling fast. "No dream, my husband. It is the truth." "IIow do you know it?" 1 asked. "When 1 heard that Jackson was the guilty one, and that, papa had been killed by him. I suspected then Ihat, papa had something to do with the affair. 1 knew there was some business relation between them that I could not understand and then papa's secret trouble during the six weeks before he died was significant." "But, afier all, this is on If surmise, I said, in an altcmpt to comfort, her. "1'hink of your father's position. Think liow he loved you." "Oh, Nelson, 1 will never forget that 1 will always remember him by that strong affection he had for me. But what I have told you is not surmise. Just before we were married I scut for my detective, and insisted on knowing the truth." "Why, I thought Wilson and Skinner knew nothing about Mr. Morley's connection with the affair," I exclaimed. "Oh, yeB, they knew it, but out of regard for you and me they had determined to keep it secret, seeing that papa wiis dead and a revelation of it would do no good. If papa had lived, t.liey would have been compelled to bring him to justice. I assigned all the pi'opert.y to the bank, all except this place., which was bought with money left me by my mother. Papa was not nearly so wealthy as most people supposed, but I believe what he had, along with what was obtained out of Jackson's estate, and what still remained of 1he stolen property, fully reimbursed tht! bank. That is why 1 carr.etoyou a poor girl instead of the heiress yon had reason to o.xpeet. So you see, my hm.band, you married not only a comparatively penniless girl, but a—a—oh, ,\ el son —a great criminal's daughter!" she. faltered.

I caught her closer to inc. I married an angel. Go(J help me to be worthy of you!" I said, huskily. "Now, dear heart," added, after awhile, "do not distress yourself for

nothing. knew of your father's connect ion with the affair Jong before you did." "Before you married me?'' she asked, looking up eagerly. "Yes, long before."

And you wished nic to be your wife, even when you knew Then you really did love me. What a noble old boy you arc! And I am so happy!"

We sat there a long time in silence. What need of words! The calm and peaceful night seemed a benediction, life stars above twinkled, but not ono of them shone with the resplendency which beamed from the eyes of my belwveil wife.

I look forward to the future, with kcanest pleasure, knowing well there can be no Interrupted Current in the flow of life's happiness.

THE END.

FAIRVIEW.

Hillie Martin's children have v* hooping cough Marion Miller bus completed ii sleds for John and Charley fServi e.

two

Mi-.'-es Raehael and Flossie Pickle visited Nannie Miller W cdnef day after-

A good many of the pupils are kept out of school on account of whoouintr coueh

Edgar Dickerson and Luthur Brush, of New Market, vifited our school lriday.

Mrs. Marion Miller, who fell and brokrt her urin a few weeks ago, is improving.

The friends of Sophia Wilson were pained to learn of her death, which occurren last week.

Several from he attended the surP'i«e on Frank Long and family, of North Union, Saturday night.