Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-05-17

from New York, leaving tickets for
San Francisco unused, on receipt ol
a cable dispatch from my lawyers re'
gardlng another draft, Rome, Wash
ington, Paris again, now on one Clew
now on another, II has been q hard
life, You have been my only com'
fort.
A month before the Centennial OK
hibltlon opened In Philadelphia We paid
Il draft made In that city, We paid
seven, all made there, while the cShi'
bition wA in progress | spent u
meTls thySNgith you aud five Of the
shM@dcst detectives in America work.
cd for me during tho entire time. We
have paid more than one hundred
thousand pounds In all, We paid
twelve thousand last year, would
give all ! own to meet your father
again aud bc rcconcilcd with him."
"Why are you going u America
nowf"
"for no reason IN the world. The
last check was made in London the day
before we sailed, have tried system
long enough; ! am trying luck this
time"
"What shall you-"
lie paused aud glanced ut his moth
cr.
Her face was pale and her eyes set,
She clutched his arm with a grip that
almost wrung cry from his lips,
flames Watson y she gaSpcd,
"What is it-who-whcrcI"
"rhat man is james Wason," whis-
pcred the woman, pointing forward.
IL must see him.
"I'll bring him." said Robert, and
was gone.
"a lady wishes to ask you qucs-
ton, sir, if you please"
"Ccrtainly," and he moved back
across the deck.
"Whcrc is my husband, James Wat
SOM" said Mrs. Gaines, quietly,
though her lips were white, and blood
was running from the wounds her nails
were making in the palms of her hands.
"NIrs. Gaines !" he groaned then
turned upon the young man at her
sidc "Who are you?" and he raised
Robert Gaines had been in America
often enough to have seen something OF
one habit there which ought to remain
unimitated. He initiated it, however,
and took boyish pride in going arm
ed.
When James Watson raised his cane
the young man took one step forward
and the next moment Watson was look
ing into the end of a short, selt-cocking
revolver.
"Pit down your cane and answer
my mothers question. y
"Your mother?' said he and he
made sudden movement OF some sort.
1t isn't at all likely he would have
dared to strike the boy with the revol-
yer at his head. 1t isn't likely young
Gaines would have fired on him if he
had but in some way the pistol went off,
and Robert was looking from the smok-
ing weapon to prostrate man, and
the warm blood was creeping nearer
and nearer to his feet when the officers
of the steamship reached them.
"Put him in irons," said the captain
pointing to Robert.
"Do nothing of the Sort said
James Watson, raising himself on one
elbow with terrible effort; ''he's
finished me, but l would swear with
nv latest breath he did it in SELF de-
fense.
"He may live an hour said the
surgeon.
Watson opened his eyes.
"lt's better so," said he-''far bet
ter so." A little later he said. "Send
me Mrs. Gaines" To her: "You've
followed me terribly close most of the
time. You and your detectives have
tortured me almost beyond endurance.
It will be rest to die. 1t was my ac-
cursed greed and my powers OF clever
imitation with my pen which did it all.
l don't expect you will forgive me--l
am only glad that his son has given me
rest. He has ended your journey and
mine together"
"Whcre is my husband!" said Mrs.
Gaines, with the sound of unshed tears
in her voice. She was beginning to