The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-06-27
THE DISAPPOINTED HEIR.


have found no difficulty in classifying
the two men, Richard Hanley and John
Lalor, as they sat eying each other sus-
glanced furtively about as though dis
trusting the very walls. The first, he
would have told you, was as unmistak-
ably villain of the higher class as the
latter was of the lower.
SNOW that the things DONE" said
Lalor, in his coarse, brutal way, '.isn't
it about time I got something on ac-
countP"
"You must remember" replied the
other, 'T haven't received the money
yet. There are certain legal forms"
Legal fiddlesticksl Murder, con-
sidering the risk run, ought TO be q
cash job. Come, must have at least
a hundred dollars, Dick---a mere trif1e.
you must own, to man Just come into
such fortune"
"You forget the difficulties still re-
naming. As yet it is only q case of
mysterious disappearance How am
1, let alone others, to be assured that
Mark Pennington is deadf"
Haven't you my word for itpn
broke out Lalor, bringing down his
fist; land by Jove no man shall dispute
thatr'
81 don't dispute it; but for Heavens
sake speak lower. 1 only meant"
Besides" pursued Lalor, not heed
ing the apology, ''if you want proof,
there it is.m
Hanley inspected costly gold watch
which the other took from his pocket
and laid on the table.
$50 you robbed as wen as"
| h;,,, aAHal alov
| plying the word at which Hanley
banked. why, not make the most of
a bad jobP'
"What did you do with the"
Again Hanley hesitated.
"The body?" suggested Lalor.
Threw it into the bay. The tide has
carried it far enough by this time"
For some minutes Richard Hanley
was silent, seeming buried in reflection.
"Well," interrupted the coarser ruff
fan, ''what about the hundred I've
asked forP''
at have no money at present. was
the answer, given quietly. Come here
tomorrow night, and III see what can
be done.p
'See that you have 1t them" growled
Lalor. ''f you and 1 quarrel it won't
be well for one of usi'
When John Lalor had gone, carrying
with him the watch. Richard Han1eyf
face was study. The look of mali
cious cunning it wore was simply dia-
bolical.
81 must get rid of that man." he
muttered, ''or submit TO incessant
blackmailing.n
That very night a secret communities
ton set the police on John Lalor' 6
/ 49,. l. oI 4. AL..N
needed but word to do this. He was
caught and searched, and on his per,
son was found a watch bearing the
name and identified as the property Of
Mark Pennington, young gentleman
of wealth, whose mysterious disappear.
ance had excited much attention within
the past few days.
OF course Lalor was held on sus
picion, which ripened into conviction
when it was announced shortly after
that Mark Pennington's body had beer
found floating in the water, gasheC
with wounds which left no doubt that
his death had been the result of fou
play.
By the recent death of an unmarried
brother year or two his senior, Mr.
Pennington had fallen heir to q large
fortune. He might now have made
bold to avow his love for Sylvia Mel
roth, the rich merchants daughter; bui
an estrangement had grown up between
them because Mark fanoied that Richart
Hanley's attentions were preferred II
that quarter to his own. And with the
double purpose of seeking relief from
the sorrow caused by his brother.
death, and distraction from the pang,
of jealousy, he was on the eve of de
parting on foreign tour at the time o.
his sudden disappearance.
Richard Hanley had the e7stree {,
society, for he was by no means &C
counted such villain as we have in
troduced him to the reader. 1t would
as already intimated, have required Al
expert in physiognomy TO penetrate th.
disguise of his smooth, hypocritica
face. He was Mark Pennington
second cousin and nearest survivins
relative; and when the news of Mark
murder came out, many were the con
gratulations showered on Mr.. Hanley
apropos of the great wealth to whicl
he would succeed by his kinsman'
death.
He became a fayorite, now, with Mr.
Melroth, to whom he opened his min
on the subject of Sylvia. But whel
Mr.. Melroth broached the matter to hi
daughter, she gave way to q shower o
tears-partly, no doubt, through sor
row forpoor Marks memory, and partl
from indignation at Richard Hanley'
assurance-for she had always as cor
daily liked the one as she had despise,
the other.
After many evasions and prevarioa
tions, John Lalor came out with stor.
so strange and improbable that il re
moved from the minds of all the las
shred of doubt as to his guilt. ..
1t was that he had been instigated b.
Richard Hanley to remove the onl,
obstacle between himself and ric
estate, by the crime of murder. Thi
crime he protested he had not com
mitted; but instead had seized and over
powered the man he had undertaken
/ assassinate, whom, after robbing him
: he had afterwards dragged to place Q
secret confinement, from which he ha
purposed releasing his prisoner as 500
as he had secured the promised rewar
from his employer, by convincing th
latter that he had performed his agree
ment.
But when asked to reconcile this az
, count with the discovery of the body
Lalor could say nothing; and searc
of the place in which he alleged he ha
concealed his victim, revealed nothin