The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-09-06 00:00:00

elusion that no one could have escaped or been con-
coaled there without discovery."
"I'm not sure of that. it would be difficult, nG
doubt, but not impossible, especially when the dark-
ness of the night is taken into consideration. How-
ever, that for the present is beside the question, and
difficult of proof under any circumstances."
"'What, then, does it lead to
"Simply this, unless my suspicions are groundless
—the discovery of what actually befell the poor
creature and what became of her child."
"And you believe there is a chance of that r
"I do.
"In what manner ?"

For answer the doctor related all that had happened
to him on the two preceding evenings, Mr. Sartoris
listening very attentively and making a note or two
of the more important points of the narrative, but
interposing no remark till it was finished.
" You think then," he said, when Dr. Sampson at
length stopped," that the woman who was found
drowned-"

"On the morning after Geoffrey Mainwaring was
discovered in his study dead,—and she having
apparently been in the water for about twenty-four
hours, so bringing the period of death in both cases
to an almost simultaneous moment—remember that,"
interrupted the doctor. •
"A coincidence, certainly ; but proving nothing,"
observed Mr. Sartoris. • " But to resume, your theory
is that this unfortunate unknown was -- "

"Poor Gertrude," Dr. Sampson broke in, sadly.
"Yes, I grant that at present there is very little to
go upon except hypothesis, but my conviction that
I am right could hardly be stronger if it were sup-
ported by the most convincing evidence. I have a
strong faith in instinct."
"Something more is requisite in this instance,
Sampson, to satisfy a court of law. Of course,
believing as you do, you are equally satisfied that
the lad of whom you have spoken is the child we
have sought so long ?"
"I am certain of it," warmly answered the doctor.
".The moment I saw him I was haunted with a
vague resemblance in his features to some one I had
known, but I could not recall at first."
out lo

J 1
be without foundation," said Mr. S'artoris ; "or at
any late, that no further proof is forthcoming, what
then?"

"I won't suppose anything of that sort," doggedly
returned Jr. Sampson. "That plausible young
ras .al who put me on the scent holds something
back—he confessed as much indeed—and he shall be
made to speak. Whether or not, however, GeolTrey
Mainwaring's son must not be left in the den of
thieves when I have found him."

"Granting that his identity is proved, of course
not, but otherwise—"
"Then I will rescue the boy."
"How F"
"By adopting him."
Mr. Sartoris looked at his friend with a pityit
smile. _ _ _

"Isn't that risking almost too much ?" he said.
"Charity is all very well, but to get him placed in
the way of making an honest living by hard work
would be truer kindness. Brought up—as you
acknowledge he has been—among thieves and vaga-
bonds, what is he likely to turn out?"
"A man, sir—an honest man—or I'm no judge,"
stoutly asserted Dr. Sampson. "I would say a
gentleman if there were any difference between the
two terms, for I am certain he has good blood in
his veins, no matter who were his father and mother;
and I'm not easily deceived."
"Very few people that I am acquainted with are,"
replied the lawyer, with a slight touch of good-
humoured sarcasm in his tone. "Very few, at any
rate, who will acknowledge themselves so. For my
part, I take the world as it is, and trust nothing but
what is capable of the directest proof."
" Ah, that's the effect of your training," grumbled
Dr. Sampson. " Crede nihil is the motto of all your
fraternity—doubt and suspicion your whole stock-
in-trade."

"And quite as necessary to us as purgatives to
doctors," laughingly retorted the other.
"Maybe, maybe. I daresay you are right after
a fashion; but you don't alter my opinion, or my
determination either, and they are that I have dis-
covered Geoffrey Mainwaring's heir, and will spare
neither money nor trouble to secure his rights. You
will not refuse to help me ?"
" ll'm !" said the lawyer, dubiously; "that re-
mains to be seen. There are some slight difficulties
in the way."
"Difficulties be—hanged! What are they ?"
"Well, in thern first place, our duty to another
person."
"What do you mean P"
"Only this, my dear fellow., which you appear to
have forgotten—that we are joint guardians of a
certain young lady of tender years who, if she
lives' long enough, will inherit the ;very fortune
which you are so anxious to find another claimant
for."

"Not if that claimant is the true heir, the natural
heir, as I verily believe him to be; Sartoris re-
member that."

"I grant you so. But I also bear in mind that
we have the interests of our ward to protect, and I
really do not see that we should be fulfilling cur
duty in that respect by seeking to deprive her of the
fortune entrusted to us for her use."

Dr. owever, was not to be induced to
take this view Sampson,Of the question, but slapped the table
emphatically with his hand, and said:
"That's all nonsense, Sartoris, and I won't do you
the injustice of supposing that it is intended for
serious earnestness. Right is right, all the world
over, and if this boy is really Geoffrey Afainwaring's
son, I'll spend every penny I have in the world before
I give up the battle to place him in the position that
justly b,longs to him. Now you understand my
sentiments, I hope."
"I am not likely to make any mistake about them
from any want of plain speaking on your part, that
is quite certain," replied Mr. Sartoris, smiling at
his friend's warmth. "Frankly, moreover, I will do
my best to aid you."
"You will

"Most assuredly. Understand, I am not so
sanguine as to the result as you appear to be, but
there certainly seem good grounds to go upon; or,
at any rate, to make it worth while to enquire
further. Does that satisfy you ?"
"Quite," answered the doctor, with a relieved air.
'I thought you couldn't be so heartless as to advise
me to leave the poor lad to his fate; though, upon
my word, it looked almost as though that was your
meaning.'
"Well, to tell the truth, I'm not sure that it
wouldn't be the best way in the long run," philo-
sophically observed Mr. Sartoris. "'What's bred
in the bone,'—you know the old saying; and it
seems to me after all, only a doubtful kind of ex-
periment to take a waif from the slums, and expect
any amount of education and after-training to
eradicate the taint of his early surroundings. Still,
as you observe, justice is justice. When are you
going to see him ?"
"At once."

"I will go with you, then, and question your
proVge. An hour more or less will make no
difference, I suppose. At two o'clock I shall be
ready, after a mouthful to eat."
So it was arranged, and the 'hour mentioned saw
the two gentlemen on their way to the river-side
wharf, which Dr. Sampson had very little_ difficulty
in finding now.
But only to make the discovery that their mission
was a fruitless one.

"By Jove! Sampson, you're a lucky fellow to
have found your way out of such a den with all
your property intact," remarked Mr. Sartoris, look-
ing round suspiciously at the entrance to the alley
wherein stood the building of which they were in
search, and giving a wide berth to a group of slouch-
ing, ill-looking men who:were lounging at the corner.
"It's pretty safe now, in daylight, I suppose, and
in company; but ut 0.10..- -I obouldn't
care to trust myself in such a locality, I assure
you.''
"Nor I," answered the doctor, "of my own
choice. I couldn't help myself in the first instance,
however and my second visit being under convoy I
felt reasonably secure. This is the place, and—Hullo!
what's the matter ?"

Up and down the cul-de-sac were gathered other
groups of hang-dog-looking men and slatternly,
virago-faced women, the former smoking short, foul
pipes, the weaker vessels chattering volubly; but all
BO engaged in watching the abode of Joe Bradley
that even the advent of two well-dressed gentlemen
failed to excite more than a passing glance of
curiosity.
Evidently some occurrence of more than ordinary
importance had tended to produce the unwonted ap-
pearance of bustle and excitement ; and Dr. Sampson,
followed by his friend, pressed forward through the
throng to rind the ricketty, tumbledown gates of Mr.
Bradley's domicile closely shut and guarded by a
couple of stalwart policemen, from one of:whom his
speedily gathered some inkling of what had happened,
and to explain which it is necessary to go back a few
hours.

(To 61 continued.)