The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-12-27
como back, and her story WIS strange
one. II ran m follows.

left the house, and Just NJ she had put
the hoy to bed, knock came to the
aide door. She went down, leaving tho
rarailinc oil lamp burning On the table
close to the bed. She found ~ tho
door IA ragged little boy, who handed
her a note. This she read in the
kitchen. II was to the effect TINT IL
shc rnn'e to certain public house the
writer would tell her something which
would l'c greatly to her advantage and
the advantage Of her master. She
did not nt NIL like the notion Of leaving
the house. In the first place her in-
sirnctions about the boy were clear.
In the second place, the fastcnings Of
the house were not satisfactory. The
spring lock on tho side door little better
than touched the hasp. and ~ the
master himself knew. strong push
was sufficient 10 open that door from
the outside, except when il was bolted
within.
For long time the woman hesitate,l.
Then, thinking there might really he
some advantage ~ herself and her
master hmhind this note. she resolved
to risk going. Before leaving she went
upstairs, and lest the boy might feel
elv---shr Ind been accustomed t. sit
with him while he went To sleep she
told him she would leave the lamp
aligh, on the condition that he lay
still, and did not get out uf he'd while
she was away. The oy promised and
shr went.
AT the public house indicated she
found a stout slatteinlv woman, who
appeared to m the worse for drink.
This woman said she was the writer of
horror, assured the faithful old servant
TINT she had no intention whatever Of
hen,iiting the master vi Albany Lodge.
but her design was that Martha. being
in u position oi confidence. ~ she was
informed. should gradually pillagc that
house that she. tho strange woman.
would dispose of the goods. and that
they two should divide the menc, he.
tween them.
Martha broke away from this wretch
indignantly. and hurried back with MI
speed Ia the house She had been
more than half nm hour absent, and
when she got back the place was in
flames, and all possibility of getting Mt
the room where she hal lett thu hoy
was over. No doubt the child had got
out of l~a, and while playing with the
lamp. il fell and fired the house.
There was nothing for the dis,Mso.
bate father to do hut to wait there
through the drcary watches of that
desolatc, dim night. looking n. tn m.
certain flicker Of the gradually dying
fire.
With morning came the possibility OF
search. Then the remains Of the lamp
we're fennd, but no trac. whatever of
the boy. This puzzled people skilled
in fres. They owned They could make
nothing Of il. They could trace por.
tions Of the bedding and the tloor, hut
nothing whatever that spoke VI the
presence Of human being. Walford
urged the scarchers H. renew their
quest. hut in vain. Absolutely othins
belonging to the hoy was found. except,
strangely enough. some buttons which
were known To belong a. his clothes
and shilling. Both thu father and tn.
nurse agreed that there could not pos.
sihls have been another silver com IN
that room than the one given hv the
father tn his son the evening before
The coin, ton. was found in plac,
close beside the iron he,istead, which
would roughly correspond with where
the muse had put his clothes. Wha,
mysteries upon mysteries were these
Even now, although il was o'clock
in the morning, Walford refused /,
, leave the ruins, and his friend. VIII,
had stayed with him LOYALTY al tn.
time, set oil in search ot some refresh
men,. He came back very shortly. and
prcoccuried as Walford WAS. he could
not hut see that some new and startling
surprise had overtaken his friend. III.
asked ha ,tily what il was.
Il don't think ought to tell yon,
Walforl. Int il l don't some one els.
will in few minutes. There was 1
bad hr.ak down ut the t.cmona las,
night"
Il know there VAS. and was tn,
cause of il, said Walforl. sadly. "Bu,
who can blame mes Look at this
Where is my havs"
Cratic. Hc Tell on the stage in faint
ing III, and the opera had tn he stopped
They say he's seriously i'll, In fact. til,
/ doctors think he can't recover. Tn,
! papers say there is >omethmr wren.
with the heart.
II am NeiN sarrv H. hear ii. sal,
Waliosd. Poor Grattins the sight o
my house in flames, ami the hnoMleig,
that my little one had persisted. an,
j then having to dress and 81 an in ;
| comic part, WIS too much for him,
While the two men wer speaking,
third man came up amt said: The po
lice tell me one Of yuu is Mr., Walior,i
have note for Mr. Walfond."
When the owner oi the burned Eoa>,
had read 1t, he turned to his companion
and said: 1T is from poor Grattln. Ii,
! asks me- IL eamc To him nj once fol
Gods sake, or he may never see Ia,
again. He lives quite close. vii
/ not he half an hour. Wait for me- 7"
Walford found Grattin exhausted. In
able to speak ilucntly, The doctors
! tell mo | may go at any moment,
will not waste word have been nm
conscious until Just nov. | want yo,
to forgive me il vou can, ii rnn will.
was jealous of You. made my min,
npto DESTROY y"u ii could. The Who'll,
plot was mine. l got u woman To deco,
yoar servant away. set fire To YOU
house
"And the boy the h"y:" whispere,
the father. nale as death.
l. sleeping there" He pointed te
door leading of the room in which IA,
lay. Il used chloroform on handker
chief with him, and then brought hin
here. He is sase. Open the door an.
lock. | shall never sing the part.
had hettcr voice than YOU. but
wasn't as good man. Forgive me am,
let me- die In peace with all an earth
since there is no hope af my gaininI
peace h.l leafter. have earned dam
nation. hut ] d:a not kill the hoy
Mere, :. mercy, James Walford. Hark
There is ronr boys Voice. Is it no
sweet enough Ia yonr ears this morninl
to take away yom anger: Hark Tha