The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-10-24

Edwin Amory was silent for few mo
ments
Finally, he said,
You are to swear that you both of yoI
overheard Robert Parton tell this man
what's his name II
Jim Mayhem.
Yes, Mayhew, to set hre to the shops.
Yes, You see If We swore you frs
thought it was best for us to do, that w
did it for him or that he hired us to do it
it would not be taken as States evidence
but would make us guilty and would b,
imprisoned for it.
4 Yes, the other way is the best TC
swear that this man Mayhem did it, Who
is he, anyway
" A man who worked here with Parton,
who went away and whom we followed to
the cabin in the mountains, where Parton
and he were hiding away"
Then he is a friend of Parton's Al
"Yes."
Where is he now p
"We don't know"
"Do you anticipate any trouble with
him in the trial r.
i" No, he will not appear
"Why not :"
" Because he is not cognizant Of any Of
facts Of the case.
How do you know that n
:" Because he was not here when the fire
occurred"
. He may be prepared to bring in some
evidence for all that, said Amory.
"What will it amount to p
Why not ~
:" Because our combined evidence will
offset any testimony which he may offer.
Edwin Amory smiled triumphantly.
You are up to your parts, | see, he
SAID. The conviction and sentence Of
Robert Parton in this second trial will not
fail J"
We think not.
A few moments more Of conversation
upon the subject in hand terminated the
intel view, and the two men left the
house
Alone, Edwin Amory leaned his head
upon his hands and sat plunged in deep
reverie.
g 1t is bad affair. he muttered, his
brow knitted and dark with the excess
of combating emotions IN his mind,
but ! must not secede now. | have
involved myself in a series Of intricate
affairs, which / must carry through or
else become disgraced and exposed. Why
did this man Robert Parton as he now
calls himself, come forward and cross my
path For ten years and more since ! first
came to this place, | have led a life out
wardly right, and have secured the respect
of all whom | have known. | cannot af-
| ford TO lose my influence and position, nor
can | give up Ethel. Ny plans are near
! fruition, and to see all my plans become
! failures is to abandon my position and all
my works of years There Is one good
thing-this man Robert Parton has for
gotten his true identity and name, and he
does not recognize me. If he Is out Of the
way, need no longer fear for my future.
| | am safe then to carry out my imposture
and wed Ethel.
| He unlocked drawer in secretary
near by him as he spoke and drew then a
little but strong tin-box. From 1t he took
package Of papers. and unloosing the
ribbon which bound them, took one Of the
papers in his hand and glanced over its
| contents.
1t was well that destroyed the other
papers" he said musingly. These few
documents should share the same fate,
but as the last links which bind me to the
past, | will preserve them. He must new
er know Of their existence, however, this
Robert Parton, for they would reveal my
plot and ruin me. ] will put them away
and dismiss from my mind forever all
thoughts Of that past. Once rid Of Par.
ton, and all fear Of detection, and | need
not care for any enemy"
He relocked the drawer and the box con
tanning the papers as he spoke, and arising
left the room. He little imagined that ht
had been watched but as he left the room
the blinds of the window we're opened, anC
James Mayhem, the ex-tramp stepped
cautiously in with a dark-lanterr
in hand All unknown to Robert Parton
he had while he was slumbering, awok,
from light sleep, and ever on the alert
had gone TO Tremayne Villa. He haC
watched his opportunity, and as has beer
seen, had entered the room just as Edwin
Amory had left it.
He directed the rays Of his lantern up
on the drawers in the secretary, knel
down and taking a hook made of stee
from his pocket began to pry open the
lock. 1t yielded more readily than he hac
thought, and he soon had the box and it
contents in his possession. He closed tn,
drawer, arose to his feet and retiring b,
the window as he had came, left the room
and Tremayne Villa.
''Proofs y he cried, exuItantly as h,
gained the road " have them all nov
In my possession, and no false evidenc,
can make Edwin Amory appear as an hon
est man"
Unobserved and unknown to Rober
Parton he regained his room with the lat
ter, secreted the little tln-box, and pack
age of other papers which he took from
his pocket in desk standing in one corne
OF the room, and was soon at the tabl,
again plunged in deep thought.
"They cannot outwit me, he said
confidently. " have the proofs to un
mask the imposter Edwin Amory."
TO BE CONTINUED.