The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-03-07 00:00:00


"Willingly," answered Leonard, still in the game
quiet tone. "As for your wife, she is here, and quite
rcady to go with you when and where you please."
He moved quickly to the door as he spoke, and
opening it wide admitted Carrie and George Sartoris
In the background, too, stood a third figure—that of
a woman; but she remained without, hidden in the
shadow of rhe doorway, and no one observed her
presence.
Clarence Woodville started back with a cry that
was more like a snarl of rage, but recovered himself
almost directly, and uttered a contemptuous laugh.
" Very well arranged indeed,' he said. "A
capital situation to bring down the curtain upon.
Unfortunately for you, however, I am not to be so
easily disposed of. That woman," and he pointed
to Carrie, who stood regarding him fixedly, "is not,
and never was, my wife. I perfectly admit that she
passed for such, and that I have frequently called
her so; but then," he added mockingly, " we did
not happen to be residing in a country where—as in
Scotland—such a fact constitutes a marriage by
repute, and that makes all the difference, you know.
No, no, Mr. Grant. If that is the only mine you
can spring upon me, I can still defy you. This
person is nothing to me."
"Liar !" vehemently exclaimed Carrie.
"I repeat it," he went on, glaring malignantly at
her. "Come, gentlemen, this is too stale a trick to
rob me of my just right. I tell you one more, this
woman has no legal claim to my name.''
"And once more I say you speak falsely," repeated
Carrie. "You thought the evidence was lost, doubt-
less, but for once you have over-reached. yourself.
It is here, in my possession."
Eve darted forward, hope beaming in her eyes.
"Is this true ?" she asked, with breathless eager-
ness. _

True !" exclaimed Woodville. "No—she lies!"
I do not, as Heaven is my witness ! See,
gentlemen !"
And Carrie held out to Mr. Sartoris a slip of
paper. Woodville rushed towards her to snatch it
from her hands, but was intercepted by Leonard
and Lord Lynwood, while the lawyer received the
document safely.
It was, as Carrie had averred, a perfectly certified
proof of her union with the foiled adventurer; and
the numbers opposed to him now rendered it useless
to attempt force to gain possession of and destroy
it.
"Curse you !" he exclaimed, malignantly. "You
shall pay oearly for this."
l'hen he turned and confronted the others.
'Well !" he continued, with an air of bravado.
"Since it appears there is no choice, I throw up my
hand. What is to follow? Am I at liberty to
go F"
"On one condition," aaid Leonard, interposing.
"And that is ?"
"That you give up—"
"I know what you want. Your letters. I can't."
"Why not ?"
"She can tell you better than I," Woodville
went on, nodding to Carrie. "But for her infernal
carelessness I should have them and would make
you pay yet. But they are gone—where, I don't
know. Perhaps she will tell you."
Leonard turned to Carrie.
"No —I have not got them," she said, in answer
to his look. "But I know where they are ?"

"Where '1"
"In my father's possession. I was to have gone
to him to-night, but -- Ah !"
. As she uttered the last exclamation, with a shriek
Carrie rushed forward and threw herself before her
husband, who, unobserved, had drawn near the
door, and was about to make a dart through it for
liberty, when the woman who was concealed there
sprang towards him and aimed a blow which Carrie's
quick eye had seen, which she was just in time to
avert by receiving it herself.
She screamed and fell, while Laura Desmond—for
she was the assailant —was seized by the servants
who came hurriedly up on hearing the cries; and
when the excitement was a little subsided it was
found that Clarence Woodville had seized the opi.or-
tunity for flight, for he could no longer be seen.
Carrie was quite sensible, the hurt she had
received, though severe, only being a flesh wound,
and when she came to understand, as she soon did,
that her husband was gone, she begged with frantic
earnestness that he should be followed at once.
"But where to asked Leonard. "He will not
venture to return to his lodgings."
"No, no," she cried nervously. "Not there—at
the old river wharf in Lambeth—where my father
is. If they meet, there will be murder done. Ah !
go—at once, and save them I"
The whole party determined to follow Woodville,
leaving Carrie to Eve's care, and were just starting
when a cab drew up at the door, from which Mr.
Pounceby jumped out and accosted Leonard.
"I've done the job!" he shouted. "Here, sir!
Here's a present for you. I ain't afraid that I
shan't get paid what it's worth."
And he thrust the pocket-book into Leonard's
hands. The young man's heart beat high as he
hastily opened it and caught sight of the faded
letters within ; but there was no time to lose now,
and placing the treasure in an inner pocket he started
with the others on their strange expedition, accom-
panied by Poun eby, who insisted upon making one
of the party as soon as he heard whither they were
bound. _
_ _ _

You'd never be able to find it by yourselves,"
he said, "and I know the whole lay of the place.
How long has he been gone ?"
Half-an hour, perhaps," answered Leonard.
" ! a pretty good start. But we shall.be close
upon his heels if we look sharp."

(To be continued.)