The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-22

the house and just as she had put the boy to bed knock came to sie side door. She went down, leaving the paFafine oil lamp burning on the table close to the bed. She found at the door a ragged little boy, who handed her a note. k was to the effect that if she came to a i certain public house the writer would tell her something which would be greatly to her advantage and to the advantage of her master. She did not like the notion of leaving the house. In the first place, her instructions about the boy were clear. In the second place, the fastenings of the house were net satisfactory. The spring lock on the side door little better than touched the hasp, and the master himself knew, a strong push was sufficient to open that door from the outside except when 1t was bolted within. For long time the woman hesitated. Then thinking that there might really be some advantage to herself and her mas ter behind this note, she resolved to risk and lest the boy should feel lonely-she had been accustomed to sit with him while he went to sleep-she told him she would leave the lamp alight on the con- dinon that he lay still and did not get out of bed while she was away. The boy promised and she went.
 At the public house indicated she found a stout, slatternly woman, who appeared to be the worse for drink. The woman said she was the writer of the note. and then to Martha Grace's horror, assured the faithful old servant that she had no intention whatever of bene6ting the mas ter of Albany Lodge, but that her design was that Martha, being Tn position of confidence, as she was informed, should gradually pillage that house; that she, the strange woman, would dispose of the goods, and that they two should divide the money between them.
 Martha broke away from that wretch indignantly and hurried back with all speed to the house. She had been more than half an h hour absent, and when she got back the place was in flames and all 5ossi5TiiTy Js EeyTifIs- xT sss ssTC57T-~:scTz- TC57T she had left the boy was over. No doubt the child had got out of bed, and while playing with the lamp it fell and fired the house.
 There was nothing for the discon solate father to do but to wait there through the dreary watches of that desolate, dim night, looking at the uncertain flicker of the gradually dying fire.
 With morning came the possibility of search. Then the remains of the lamp were found. but no trace whatever ef the boy. This puzzled people skilled in fires. They owned they could make nothing of Il. They could trace portions ofthe bed ding and the floor, but nothing whatever that spoke of the presence of a human being. Walford urged the searchers to renew their quest. Again in vain. Ab- solutely nothing belonging to the boy was found, except, strangely enough. some buttons which were known to be- long to his clothes, and shilling. Both the father and the nurse agreed that there could not possibly have been any other coin in that room than the one given by the father tv his son the evening before. The coin, too. was found in place close beside the iron bedstead, which would roughly correspond with where the nurse had put his clothes. Wha, mystery upon mysteries were these
 Even now. although il was Q o'clock in the morning. Walford refused to leave
 
 with him loyally all the time, set oif in search of some retreshment. He came back very shortly. and as preoccupied as Walford was. he could not but see tha. some new and startling surprise had overtaken his friend. He asked hastily what Il was.
 Il don't think ought to tell you, Walford, but if don, some one else will in few minutes. There was a bad breakdown al Cremona last night
 know there was. and l was the cause of it. said Walford. sadly. But who can blame me? Look a, this Where Is my boy
 e don't mean you. Walford. but Grat- tin. He fell on the stage ina fainting fiji and the opera had to be stopped. They say he's seriously i'll. In fact. the doc tors think he can, recover The papers say there IS something wrong with his heart"
 .' am sorry to hear it. said Walford. " Psor Grattin The sight of the house in flames. and the knowledge that my little one had perished, and then having to dress and go GU, in comic part. was too much for him"
 While the two men were speaking a
 
 third man came up and said: The police tell me one of you is Mir. Walford. l have note for NIT. Walford."
 When the owner of the burned house had read II he turned to his companion and said: " It is from poor Gra,tin. He asks me to come to him al once for Gods sake. or he may never see me again. He lives quite close. will not be half an hour. Wait for me-
 Wslford found Grattin exhausted but able 10 speak tiuen,ly. The doctor tells me l may go any moment. l will not waste worc. have been unsconscious until ust now. l want you to forgive me if you can-if you will. was jealous of you. made up my mind to destroy you if could The whole plot was mine. go, woman to decoy your servant away l set lre 10 your house"
 And the boy-the boy" whispered