The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-04-24
ishment for his 'offense. He had done

year named, we'll known physician OF
Belfast sent for him and told him he had
a delicate piece of work for him to per-
form. A Mrs. Bell, lady of great
beauty. and the wife of rich proprietor,
had just died suddenly, and the doctor
and his associates desired the body to in
vcstigate the cause of death. The doctor
paid him so much money down and dis
patched him to kilmarc with such in
strucUons as were necessary. AT mid
night he went TO the churchyard with a
wrench, pair OF shears and pick-lock.
The night was dark and rain was falling.
Creeping up 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 that a faint light was
burning inside. Stcalthily drawing near,
he glanced in. He saw.the coffin lying
along the marble slab and in front of it il
woman was Standing. a second glance
showed him that the woman was at work
trying to remove ring from the finger OF
the dead. a 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
bcrsoyne shroud, he cut cut a piece from
the woman's dress and retired unobserv
ed. AS he remained for an instant peer
ipg 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
shrek, rushed through the door and fed,
leaving the lamp burning on the floor.
The body snatcher guessed at once The
woman's design, and, Impressed with the
conviction that she was women above
the ordinary rank, he resolved to follow
difficulty in tracing the rapidly retreat;ns
figure. |: passed out Of the churchya:d
a. a wicket on the north side OF the
church aud entered The parsonage. Salts
fled that he possessed an important secret
out G. which he could make money, he
returned to the vault. The light was still
burning and the coffin empty.
TIE next morning the news Of Mrs.
Bells restoration to life y as abroad i'll the
town. The bodysnatcher fingered in the
neighbOrhood until he ascertaincd that
the clergyman hal Quilted home for
friend's house. Then he called at the
parsonage. and asked fol the lady of the
house. After the lapse Of half an hour
a middIe-aged, handsome, stately LADY
entered the paror, and gazing with cons
siderable dignity at her visitor, said:
What is vour business with me, sir :"
Let ME shut the door, ma am" h
said; and quickly stepping behind the
lady closed the door IL think we have
met before, mann" he said.
Sir" the lady exclaimed in offending
accents
Il am sure we have me! before,
ma'am, the man said.
You are mistaken, sir the lady re-
pied, utterly mistaken, sir; you will
oblige me by quitting the house immedi-
ately"
You forgot last night in the vault,
ma am" the man said in low tone.
The cheek of the lady blanchei and
she gave gasp for breath. Instantly re-
covering herself she said:
Il don't understand YOU, sir. You are
laboring under mistake
We'll, | may be-" the mai replied;
that's fact; but my impression vas that
| saw you last night in. Inc vault when you
were trying 20 remove the ring from the
finger of what YOU supposed to be a
corpse
Tae lady sank into chair and was
deadly pale. By powerful effort she
oyercane her momentaiy weakness, and
said, in strong tones: Il don't know,
sir, what you speak Of You are either
aboriug under ms,aGe or you are
lunaiic."
do YOU happen to have dress ike
This, ma ann The man added, drawing
from bis 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
Sac tried to speak, but u;terance was im-
possible.
Il am reasonable, ma'am," the man
said: | know your secret, bu, | will
keep it If you will make it worth my
while
How much do you require" the lady
asEsj oc1piriuO tho pomer ~ Spsarh he