The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-07-12
assnrance-for she had always as cor
daily hkedlthe one as she had despised
| the othar

assurance-for she had ALWAYS as cor
daily likedlthe one as she had despised
the other.
After many. evasions and prevarica-
tions, John Lalor came out with story
SO strange and improbable that it re-
moved from the minds of all the last
shred of doubt as to his guilt.
1t was that-he had been instigated by
Richard Hanley to remove the only
obstacle between himself and a rich
estate, by the crime of murder. This
crime he protested he had not COM
mitted; but instead had seized and over
powered the man he had undertaken to
assassinate, whom, after robbing him,
he had afterwards dragged to place of
secret confinement, from which he had
purposed releasing his prisoner as soon
as he had secured the promised reward
from his employer, by convincing the
latter that he had performed his agree
ment.
But when asked to reconcile this ac-
count with the discovery of the body,
Lalor could say nothing; and search
OF the place in which he alleged he had
concealed his victim, revealed nothing
to corroborate his incredible statement.
As for the part of it duplicating Han
ley, that was set down, to sheer de-
pravity. = = p
John .Lalor was tried, found guilty
and sentenced to be hanged. Every
body said he'would confess at the 1ass
moment; and Richard Hanley, whose
presence poor Sylvia was forced to
tolerate occasionally through. stress of
parental authority, was waiting to draw
a sigh of relief as soon as the drop fell.
One day Mr.. Melroth' door-bell rang.
OF the servant who came to answer It,
a handsome young man, who stood on
the threshold, inquired for Miss Mel
roth.
He was invited to enter, and asked
what name should be announced.
''None," was the answer, s.but tell
her gentleman wishes to see her, j
When Sylvia Melroth appeared and
her eyes fell on the comely visitor,
with an exclamation of mingled sur
prise and terror, she staggered back
and would have fallen but for the ready
arm which came to her support.
The next moment, as she lookedlp
all fear had departed from her ewes,
which were filed, instead, with tears
of joy and love.
80! Mark, believed you dead, and
it almost broke my hearth she MUIR
INJURED. w
81 hope to live many days after such
a one as this!'f he said, earnestly, seal
ing the declaration in due form
I.A T.
was literally true. Mark had been
kept many days prisoner, bound hand
and foot, but finally managed to escape
on the day. of ~Lalor's capture. Then
he kept himself concealed till that
rascal had suffered all the terrors of
the law but the very last, and till the.
state of. Sylvia's heart had been
thoroughly tested; for, through trusty
friend, Mark had kept himself advised
of all that passed. ggs.s r.. ~
VI course Lalor escaped the gallows;
but both he and Richard Hanley under
went the highest penalty allowed for
conspiracy.
but about the finding OF the bodyp''
the reader will ask. .Tti
That was another of Hanley's tricks.
AS before explained, Mark Penning-
ton s brother had died not long before
his own disappearance. The two were
alike; and by. secretly -ex-,
h,nning the body of the dead brother
and disfguring itwith wounds, Richard
Hanley was enabled not only to furnish
the evidence needed to perfect his own
succession, but to complete the case
against John Lalor, Of whon it was his
purpose to be rid 1NsE LEDGER OF