The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-03-14 00:00:00

CHAPTER L. AND LAST.

CONCLUSION.
I think now, as the heavy hours decre2se
One after one, wid bitter thoughts increase
One upon one, of all sweet finished things;
04
"'The breaking o, the battle, the long pe ice.
is._"'L's quickly-formed suspicion as to her hus-
;•,•,ad's destination was well founded. When in the
rafusion that ensued upon Laura Desmond's fres-
ateid attempt at vengeance upon him, he fled from
ta
h 'lease he started at once for the station, which
t: reached just in time to jump into a train for
w„rii with the intention of at once making his way
the old wharf, hoping to arrive there and secure
Id: Prize, which even yet might serve him, before
I escape was discovered or they could guess where
~c) find. him.
Be had heard the cry of alarm and pain uttered
Lae 'woman who received the blow intended for
on; /KW her fall bleeding to the ground, but never
•efed this to interfere with his chance of flight.
4tepad.but one thought now—how to regain some,
• thcm'ealst, of the advantage he had lost, and, as he
Carrie's last words had shown him how to
"eotOPliSh BO much.
vh7e alighted at the ticket station so near the spot
h. %her he was bound that he performed the rest of
listleurney afoot, meeting, as has already been seen,
, Pounceby by the way, but not. of course,
'ing the remotest suspicion of that gentleman's
etltitY, or the fact that at that very moment he
';',rried'on his person the very documents he was on
'road hoping to regain.
t had been late before Clarence Woodville fled
t•yra Chiswick, and midnight was striking as he
vatered the maze of dirty streets that he must tra-
tert4o before arriving at the end of his journey.
-f,very inch of the road, every turning, was as
tntinar to him, and as well remembered as though
4.!Lt„ few days had p .ssed since he last trod them ;
1 t.,,,nugh the night was very dark, and the gas-
laa-t"'' rev, and far between, he went steadily on till
t„,_reached the goal for which he was bound.
tkhere was very litt'e change there, though in the
ears that had elapsed many of the old landmarks
mere swept away. The old gate that he remembered
Well still hung creaking on its hinges, and
1.,-,,enee Woodville's first action on enteiing the
Vrci was to close this and place the heavy wooden
ar across.
.lell he looked all around with curious eyes.
were well used to the darkness now, and his
hi,,,'wer knowledge did him good service by enabling
lei to tell at once in which direction to go. The
eP-ladder which gave access to the loft was in its
°Per place, broken and dilapidated now; but there
thwas, and as he set his foot upon it and commenced
he ascent a strange, shuddering feeling crept over
C:a at the thought that he might be going into un-
°fl danger
the nPfeeling was soon gone, and he clambered
~';•e steps with a resolute tread.
/8"111, he went cautiously, for the steps which yet
tinu bled creaked and gave way beneath his weight.
to!, reached the top at last, and only just in time,
dh;,ll-8 he placed his knee upon the doorway, with a
crash the ladder slid down and fell in a broken
43748 below him. He nearly went with it, but
be'dt4 himself by a desperate effort, and drawing his
Y up stood at last within the loft.
LA."4 then was dark and silent as a tomb, but:le
sled for a moment and listened with breathless
thsPente, to assure himself before proceeding fur-
er. that Joe Bradley had not been aroused by the
trueh.
N •
lefto sign, however, came from the interior of the
toro'At Woodville breathed more freely.
quiet !" he muttered, creeping, cautiously
"The old dotard is fast enough, I'll be
or, perhaps he may not be here, after all!
" what if he is? I have no cause to fear him now.
strength cannot be what it was in the old times,
Ni.a.lea_ if he were, I am no longer the stripling I
t)." "len, but a match for most men; and if it came
e: struggle between us, I don't fancy he would
thte best of it now. But if he should be away,
,nas got what I want with him! No, I won't
4111 that—my luck can't have turned so completely.
Rew7,:nae see, now. How am I too manage a-out
ng out of the confounded place again? Bah!
trele enough to think of that when I've secured what
tnticilarr; foi. I wonder where I shall find the old
hiWhile ha was muttering thus to himself he groped
t.,l,Way aboit the loft, to stumble at last over the
attered cask that a short time before had con-
tealed Pounceby. Picking himself up with a
IllUttcred oath, he continued his path, and crept
Zlitiously forward towards the partition, behind
as he approached more closely, he could
e ainly hear the heavy, restless breathing of a man.
" Ah !" muttered Woodville, stopping and listen-
-11,,1g intently to the sounds. "He is there, then!
OW for a light."
And from his pocket he took a box of wax matches,
thOtis, of which he lit and held aloft as he peered in
rough the open. door.
The fire was smouldering still, and before it lay
the recumbent figure of Joe Bradley. Ho did not
reeve, and Woodville, satisfied that he slept, walked
boldly in.
"Where shall I look ?" he muttered.
._ Another match was struck, and gave him light
:,I"2l.ough for a swift, comprehensive glance round the
a'rm. All, however, that he could see in the shape
14 furniture was the old chest, the lid of which was
Pen) and a maitress in the corner, before his light
varnt out. But he had a plentiful supply, and
.rew the ends carelessly from him, one after another,
ut observing that one he had thus cast aside
Eas scarcely half-consumed, and when it left his
atgers, instead of resting on the floor, fell through
tui`reyice and into the centre of a heap of shavings
d old timber that lay below.
se,,Then he knelt down beside the mattress, which he
na-nthed thoroughly, but without success, before
his way over to the chest, which he did at
t, lifting its contents out one by one, without
b se° \'ering anything in the shape of papers, till he
egarl
thi •
4boUt to nk that his next attempt must be made
st. the person of the old coiner.
chetil he continued to turn over the contents of the
he -dt.,and was so engrossed in his occupat:on that
flee, not hear the stealthy crawling across the
1•048) ,had no idea that the slumberer was at last
the u from. his sleep, until he felt a hot breath at
Rta ack of his neck, and before he could turn to
t111.1"Ple with his antagonist a hand encircled his
vas at with vice-like grip, and the next moment he
Platc.sthr, ewn upon his back by Joe Bradley, who
lee. "'uk his knee fairly on the chest of his prostrate
are you? What's your little game, eh ? "
tee ri,e'Y, demanded the old man. "Speak, and tell
bit; utit. if you try to move a inch, I'll drive this
Isa 3,3 las far as it'll go. Now then, who are you,
iteWerianville gasped for breath. He could feel the
• vas ge of a knife pressed against his skin, and
eret "erlY powerless for the moment to speak or
te BucZilove, if he had had the free use of his limbs,
en and unexpected had been the attack.
ae are your again demanded Joe Bradley.
" p,„Y_Oll don't tell me I'll Ah ! "
atdy!at this moment the driving clouds swept past,
ttm ~,N1 flood of bright moonlight lit up the room
143 posed to Joe the features of the man who
.itsy erre so completely at his mercy, and a wild
"thunph and revenge burst from the coiner's
.
E;0 'gilt have guessed it !" he yelped, exultantly.
Yet h h_ave found you at last! It's my turn now,
yo°1217;(1 ! and I'll use it though I have to swing
I,lle •
wec,araised his knife high as he spoke, and Clarence
h"e felt that his last moment was very near
Desperation, however, lent him strength
Nerve-,l'e, pit the paralysin* g influence of fear, and he
Ifi:' ~aimself to resist to the utmost.
'rantic struggle was so far successful for the
tlie-uelitthat the descending weapon, well aimed
i .1148 Ri 4t had been, missed the mark for which it
11.4ftie,en_ded and passed through his coat sleeve,
"g only a slight wound upon his arm, and.
t)o "ng its •t i the floor with such force that
hilltrze, porn n
uleY could not at once dislodge it. Wood-
the eft arm was thus securely pinned down, but
BZ,ther was at liberty, and with it, collecting all
With :ength into the blow, he struck the old man
:aeh.terrific force as hurled him backwards.
'tort u•tlanther instant Woodville was free, and rose
tsta'cle ground as Joe Bradley also picked himself
once more, with set teeth and a murderousr
.111 uehed towards him.
if4te4rue was no more words now. Each was too
14
speoP,ela gaining victory in the conflict for life
1, 4(4 ea to pass between them. But Joe had lost
e,c)ange4/1 tage, which was now all on the side of the
trd more active man. But still not wholly
kolatiens
8? concentrated hate of years gave Joe
re Nu 'rength, and made the combat somewhat
than it would otherwise have been.
tttcoeand fro, their bodies swaying in a sl;4ledlYbl'errilr'anow up, now down, dealing fierce,
zuaci, at each other which were all unfelt in
42y zrenz
tin at ea Yof their rage, grappling with brutal
.ea other's throats, the struggle was con-
n t
it Was t a ure s weapons only.
a,,g• Nv.,„ 00 unequal, however, to have but one end-
exer`tiPdville gradually recovered his strength,
i,„a Joe rg it to the uttermost gained the mastery,
erneat;adleY, conquered, but still defiant, lay
_et, the man whose life he had so nearly
4-Qausted and unable to stir hand or limb.
aNv b • izie4ta, rief space they rested, each glad of the
1,450dviiii;5,,. respite. The air seemed very close,
VII his '4ught, and a strange whirring sound
at it tears'
tEtk- ertveineY, too, that a dense volume of smoke
ptooeti, butrug them ? No—he could not be rais-
t'eded. e dare not rise to see from whence it
ill Let Joe Dradle
e u y gave a convulsive start.
ale .-4terisit.,P.; he shouted, in tones that prayed
his terror. "Do you hear! Let
otilevraLe
sp,raTnh:
toboahirsdsfeeatr,
t4Nr„4 .
eingstiivnicngtivelyayhetilpilindegr
4,0 riot), and dragging him aside.

Only just in time, for the next moment the whole
of the flooring on one side of the room fell through
with a dull crash, while through the chasm a thick
column of smoke poured up, which was speedily dis-
persed by forked flames that licked and curled
around the rotten boards, rising higher and higher
with frightful rapidity.
The two men, caught in a trap as they were, for-
got their feud and gazed at each other with a horrid
dread, the bright flame lighting up their features
with a ghastly ruddiness, as they looked about for
some means of escape.
But there seemed none. Their only foothold was
that part of the flooring that still remained intact.
But this was on the opposite side to the door, and
between that haven of safety and themselves yawned
a gulf of such width as it was impossible to leap.
Was there no way to escape the fearful doom flat
threatened them?
Yes! one path remained open, and they dis-
covered it simultaneously. A plank that had not
yet gone down with the rest, but still stretched
from the ledge upon which they stood to the window
overlooking the river. Better a plunge into the
cold, dark waters below, where there was at least
the chance of safety for a bold swimmer, than to
await where they were the horrible fate that
threatened.
Both men made a dart to cross the plank at the
same instant, but Joe Bradley was the nearer, and
was half way across the frail bridge before Wood-
ville placed his foot upon it, only to recoil with
a cry of mingled terror and despair as he saw
the plank give way beneath the weight- of the old
man and fall, carrying him with it, into the glowing
mass beneath.
" Ah! help me, help me !" frantically shouted Joe.
"Give us your hand—the powder is here !—if the
fire reaches it we are lost. Help me out !"
His appeal was useless, though Woodville had
enough of humanity to have answered it could he
have known how. But there was no way of escape
for either. He had himself prevented succour reach-
ing them by fastening the outer b0-ate as he entered,
and though at that very moment help was at hand
in the shape of Leonard and the party who accom-
panied him, they found it impossible to gain
entrance.
Woodville shouted wildly, and made desperate
efforts to cross the yawning gulf that shut him out
from the window and from life, for he would have
felt no fear in trusting himself to the river—but
without avail. The smooth wall offered no foothold,
the wind from the open casement poured in, driving
the smoke and curling flames upon him as he strove
in mute, agonised despair to escape, till, scorched
and blackened by the fiery blast, he drew back to
the only standing room that was left to him, and
waited for the end with bitter curses on his lips. .
And that that end could not be far off he was sure.
Joe's voice was no longer to be herd, but his last
words still rang in Clarence Woodville's ears, and
tiled him with an awful dread.
Each moment seemed an eternity, until at last
there came a sudden blinding flash, a dull roar, and
with a force that made itself felt for miles around,
and sent a huge wave rolling down the river, the old
house was lifted high into the air, its beams and
timbers shattered and scattered far and wide, bury-
ing beneath its ruins two scorched and ghastly
corpses, burned and battered by the force of the ex-
plosion out of all likeness to humanity. *

Carrie was told nothing of the terrible fate that
had. overtaken her husband and father for some
weeks. Her wound, though not dangerous, resulted
in fever, and by the time she had so far recovered
that she could with safety bear the shock of such
intelligence all that was mortal of them had been
recovered and decently interred, Leonard himself
superintending the search for their remains amongst
the ruins of the old riverside house, and seeing them
buried.
A very few words are now needed to sum up the
future fortunes of those who have figured pro-
minently in these column. Edwards was re-
leased from service by George Sartoris, and with his
savings set up a small business, taking his widowed
sister to reside with him. Laura Desmond, though
Carrie would fain have allowed her to escape the
penalty of her crime, was sentenced to imprisonment
for unlawfully wounding, and having served her
term was heard of no more. Mr. Pounceby' s re-
liance on Leonard's gratitude was so well founded that
he was enabled to leave the profession of which he
had been so long an important member, and join
his newly-acquired means to those of his old sweet-
heart, with whom he still carries on the thriving
business she had so long conducted unaided.
Last, but not least,—
But why waste words in describing that which
must be patent. There was no litigation needed to
place Leonard Grant—or, rather Mainwaring—in
possession of what was proved to be rightfully his.
21 friendly action substantiated his claim to the
name; and as for fortune, that, though fairly his too,
he was content to accept from the hands of his wife.
Dr. Sampson still retained his bachelor abode and
habits, resuming the practice of his profession so
far as to assist in introducing to the world a fine
little fellow, for whom Lord Lynwood stood sponsor,
and who will, someday, inherit all that his lordship
has to leave.
The terrible fate of the man whose wife she once
believed herself to be was concealed from Eve for
some time. When she at last heard it from her
husband, the wretched tragedy wa's a thing long
gone by, and they never spoke of it again.
Let toe dead past bury its dead
says the sweetest poet who ever wrote, and Eve was
content in her present bliss to lay aside as much as
possible all remembrance of the plowable scoundrel
who had so basely attempted to entrap her.
TELE END.