Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-09-26

stiuhhcht Ut WOlh Hclr tlc TOOl Vi INC trees
one Of which he had, during his daylight
survey, observed to b. partially decayed
Every now and then the stealthy workman
stopped TO rest, to stand up and straightcr
his cramped limbs As the moon brighten.
ed, the tctcclivc conld see his shadow pro
jcctcd LcyOnd the shadow of the trees upon
the grass. lie never paused long from his
task, but he paused very often before he
gave 1t up exhaused. Then he went away
slowly by the wicket, as he had come.
The spy moved after him, noisclcss as a
shade, and when lie had followed about fifty
PAGES along the high road he saw the old
man cross stilc into the fields leading up TO
to the moors.
Returning then to the plantation, Cole
knelt down where Pierce had knelt, and in
spected the lower parts of the trees as well
as the imperfect light would allow. 1t was
some time before he discovered on which
the saw had been used, but at length some
whitish dust directed him that which was
decaying. No doubt it was hollow, and had
been used as Il hiding place for something,
which the seeker was now trying to recover
Satisfied that the quest had not yet succee-
ded, and that Pierce would return the next
night-satisfed also that, meanwhile what
ever he sought was safe in its concealment,
the detective betook himself through the
conservatory again into the house, and found
Mr. Tindal awaiting him in the breakfast
room. with which it communicated After
some talk, they agreed that Pierce should
be allowed to accomplish his object, and that
| fpossiblc, he should he taken with the ST.
lent witness he was attempting TO remove in
his possession.
The following morning there was hoar-
frost ON the grass, and nothing to challenge
| attention to the yewtrees from any one ig-
norant Of what was going forward. But the
sharp eye Of Mr.. Cole detected, after mo-
mcnt of daylight inspection, that Pierce was
working to make hole large enough to
pass hand through, and Mr.. Tndal by
striking the trunk discovered that il was
hollow throughout.
Pennie, to whom the progress of events
was faithfully communicated, would fain
have called for axe and woodman to cut
down the tree instanter; but Cole had a pro-
fessional pleasure in his work, and would
not consent to risk spelling it by over haste.
If Pierce were seized with the hidden thing
in his possession, there would be a substan-
tial proof that he had other put it there
himself, or had been made the confidant of
the hider If it were discovered by any other
person, IL might be as impossible to connect
1t with him as it had been to bring home to
his daughter the guilty decd of which Mr..
Tindal had been so long DETAINED. Pennie
therefore put curb on her impaticncc, and
Cole had private interview with Mr. Featll-
erstone, now member of the Allan Bridge
bench of magistrates, who granted him u
warrant to apprchend Pierce.
The next night the detective watched
again. The old servant came as before, and
pursued his work. When he had been at it
nearly an hour Cole heard him give long
groan of fatigue and relief. He had evident
ly succeeded in his object; for, rising from
his knees, he slept into the moonlight, and
seemed, by his attitude, engaged tn exam in
ing what he lad Fsuad. Ia a n,e,,,ent Colo
was beside HIM, had laid firm hand ON his
shoulder, and grusped his wrist. Pierce start
ed, dropt his capture, which fell with the
ringing sound of metal, while Cole said: 81
want that buried treasure, my friend;" and
STOPPING, with his hold still on the old man,
he picked up what proved to be an elegant
pistol. He had expected this.
Pierce was paralysed by the shock of his
seizure. lie could not speak, but he began
to sob.
''Comc, have n good heart. Rights right,
and murder will out, you know, said Cole.
ut don't matter-shcs dead now," gasped
the miserable father, and he let the detective
lead him to the house.
Mr.. Featherstone was there, and second
magistrate, sitting in the library with Mr..
Tindal. They had dined at the Abbey, and
had stayed late, in anticipation of the event.
When Pierce was brought in, his injured
master, from the long habit of kindness for
his old servant, babe him take chair, for
his shaking limbs were hardly able to sup
port him.
Tears were running down Pierccs lean
and haggard checks, and, looking up pitt
fully at Mr.. Tindal, he said: 'sMr. Arthur,
she was my own flesh and blood. Mr..
lIargrovc sworc to me she'd be found guilty
and hanged, as sure as ever she was tried
and they could not have proved it against
you. And as for Mr.. Hugh, who made her
what she was, he got no more than his de-
serts-no more than I'd have given him my
self, If I'd known before for certain that il was
him had taken her away A thrill of pas
sion convulsed the old mans features as he
spoke, and rising to his feet, he struck out
with his feeble right hand, as if he had his
enemy before him there.
This was not the moment to preach II
homily against the wild justice of revenge.
Every one was more anxious to learn the
facts Of the tragedy then to moralizc upon
it. They went into the narrow compass,
and Pierce seemed inclined to shorten his
own torture by telling them without long
questioning
THAT day Mr.. Hugh was killed Alice
cimc to the back-door here, and asked for
me- shouldn't have known her, she was
that changed; and she'd stained her face like
a gypsy. She begged; and the Lord forgive,
| said I'd never give her penny, nor bite
nor Il sup, it was to save her from dying
in ditch; and shut the door upon her.
II did not seem two minutes after that she
came back wild like, and threw that
pointing to the pistol, -" down in the porch,
where I'd gone out again TO look which way
she might take. She didn't speak word,
but she laught d, and was off before could
open my mouth. picked up the pistol, and
put it in my pocket, and just then somebody
called to me from the garden to come, for
Mr.. Hugh was murdered. Inever heard
the shot at all had been that mazed with
seeing the girl. After the search was over l
dropped the pistol into the hollow yew-tree.
Mr.. Arthur, meant to tell the truth when
she WAS pOne-I did indeel y