The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-03-06
ishment for his ,offense He had done
several small jobs in Belfast for the doc

AOsAtA0us III uiS sOuCiiSC. nc udu OOUC
several small jobs in Belfast for the doc
tors, and on the night of July 20, in the
year named, a well known physician Of
Belfast sent for him and told him he had
delicate piece of work for him to per-
form. A Mrs. Bell, lady of great
beauty. and the wife of a rich proprietor,
had just died suddenly, and the doctor
and his associates desired the body to in
vcs,isate the cause of death. The doctor
paid him so much money down and dis
patched him to killmare with such in
strucuons as were Necessary. NJ mid
night he went TO the churchyard with a
wrench, pair OF shears ana a pick lock.
| The night was dark and rain was falling
Creeping On to the side OF the church,
he approached the tomb Of the Bell
family. TO his surprise he saw that the
door was open and tina: faint light Was
burning inside. Sieal,hily drawing near,
he glanced in. He saw the Co.iia lying
along the marble slab and in from. OF it a
woman was standing. a second glance
showed him that the woman was at work
trying 10 remove ring from the finger of
the dead. \ sudden thought struck him.
and crouching down, he reached in at
he door and with his shears, which he
had brought to rid the corpse of its cum
bersome shroud, he cut Cut piece from
the woman's dress and retired unobsers-
ed As he remained for an inStan. peers
ing in at the strange scene, he saw the
corpse arise and raise the hand which the
woman was apparently IN the act of put
ling to her mouth. The woman gave a
shrek. rushed through the door and fled,
leaving the lamp burning on the floor
The body.snatcher guessed at once the
woman's design, and, impressed with the
conviction tha, she was woman above
the ordinary rank, he resolved to follow
and see where she went to. He had no
difficulty in tracing the rapidly re,reatins
figure. 1t passed OH. of the churchya:d
at wicke, on the north side OF the
church and entered the parsonage. Salts
fed that he possessed an important secret
Gu; Of which he could make money, he
returned to the vault. The light was still
burning and the coffin empty.
The next morning the news Of Mrs
Bells restoration to life vas abroad in the
town. The body-snaicher fingered in the
neighborhood until he ascertained that
the clergyman had Quilted home fot
friends house. Then he called at the
parsonage, and asked foi the lady Of the
house After the lapse Of half an hour
niddle-aged, handsome. stately lady
entered the parlor, and gazing with con-
siderable dignity at her visitor, said:
What is vour business with me, sir -
LET me SHUT the door, ma'am,' n,
said; and quickly stepping behind the
lady closed the door u think we have
met before, ma am, he said.
Sir" Inc lady exclaimed in offending
accents.
Il am sure We have me. before,
ma am, the man said.
You are mistaken, sir, the lady re-
piled, utterly mis-. AIKEN, sir; you will
oblige me By quitting the house iu nedi-
ately."
You torgo, las; night in the vault
ma am, the man said in low tone.
The cheek Of the lady blanohej. and
she gave gasp for breath. Instantly re-
covering herself she said:
Il don't understand you, sir. You are
laboring under mistake
well. may be" the MAJ replied;
that's fact. bu, my impression vas that
l saw you last night IN. the vault when you
were tying to remove the ring from the
finger of wha, you supposed to be
corpse"
The lady sank into chair and was
deadly pale. By powerful effor, she
overcame her momen,ary weakness, and
said, in strong tones: 81 don't know,
sir. what you speak Of You are either
laboring under MISTAKE or you are a
lunatic."
"Do you happen TO have dress like
this, ma'am'" the man added, drawing
from his pocket the piece which he had
Gu; from the dress OF the occupant OF the
vault the night before.
The lady's lips grew white and dry.
She tried to speak, but utterance was i'm
possible.
Il am reasonable, ma'am,' the man
said: " | know your secret. but l will
keep it If you will make it worth my
while"
How much do YOU require" the lady
asked. ACQUIRING the mower nj sneech nv |