The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-02-20
ishment for his ..offense. He had done
several small Jobs in Belfast for the doc.

Belfast sent tor HIM and told him he had
a delicate piece of work for him to per.
form. A Mrs. Bell, lady of grea
beauty. and the wife of rich proprietor
had just died suddenly, and the doctor
and his associates desired the body to in
vcstigae the cause of death The doctor
paid him SO much money down and dis
patched him to kiimare with such in
structlonS as were necessary. At mid
night he went TO the churchyard with a
wrench, pair OF shears and a 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 TIA, faint light was
burning inside. Steal,hiIy drawing near,
he glanced in. He saw the coffin lying
along the marble slab and in front of it IA
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
bersome shroud, he cut cut piece from
the woman'S dress and retired unobserv-
ed. AS he remained for an instant peers
ing in at the strange scene, he saw the
corpse arise and raise the hand which the
woman was appare emily IN the act of put
ting 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
womans design, and, impressed with the
conviction that she was woman above
the ordinary rank, he resolved to follow
and see where she wen. to. He had no
difficulty in tracing the rapidly retreatlng
figure. 1t passed out Of the churchya:d
at wicke, on the north side of the
church and entered The parsonage. Salts
fled that he possessed an important secret
out 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-sna,cher fingered in the
neighborhood until he ascertained that
the clergyman had Quilted home for
friends house. Then he called at the
parsonage. and asked fol- the lady Of the
house. After tine lapse Of halt an hour
middle-aged, handsome, stately lady
entered the parlor, and gazing with con.
siderable dignity at her visitor, said:
"What is vour business with me, sir 7"
Let me shut the door, ma'am," h,
said: and quickly stenring h--;-1 -
lady closed the door. 81 think we have
m ct before, ma'am," he said.
"Sir" the lady exclaimed in offending
accents
81 am sure we have met before,
ma am" the man said.
"You are mistaken, sir" the lady re-
piled, "utlerly 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 blanched. and
she gave gasp for breath. Instantly re-
covering herself she said:
Il don't understand you. sir. You are
laboring under mistake"
well, l may be-" the mai replied;
that's fact; but my impression vas that
| saw you last night in. the vault when you
were trying to remove the ring from the
finger Of what you supposed to be a
corpse"
The lady sank into chair and was
deadly pale. BY powerful effort she
overcame her momentary weakness. and
said, in strong tones: Il don't know,
sir, what you speak of. You are either
laboring under a 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 | will
keep it if you will make it worth my
while"
How much do you required" the lady
asked, acquiring the power Of speech by
a very great effort.
Twenty pounds down will satisfy
me Tor the present." tine man said.
land more at another time when
need it"
The money was paid. and within a