The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-04-11


for that poor soul up yonder;" and he
pointed in the direction OF Marmiton.
what poor soulY" said Frank, Tor a
moment the thought OF Madcap swept
aside.
1.-The woman what's condemned to
death for drowning child in the Shift
ing Pool" said Job, speaking slowly
and watching the effect of his words.
Poor wretch!" said Frank, aDsently;
Hby the way, JOB, do you know il NJ.
"What made you think of that?o said
Job, with shrewd suspicion as to what
his master had been peeping at; "weil,
he Isl heard it just now-the Old squire
is dying at last, and Mr.. Eyre no was
telegraphed for yesterday, but woul n t
go cos twas his wife's birthday; but,
Tor, Master Frank, don't Zee 90 in for
looking through Mr.. Eyre's he ges; he s
a bad ono to NEEDLE WIZ, an David ain t
the only ono as got into trouble l.lrou. h
a spying after what warn't his'n."
"Ah, how do You do, nv dear Lovel?"
said Colonel Busby as Frank cnlefcd
the library by the window; 'reio.ccd TO
sec you homo again, and iooAin, 60
bright and well; you have come. too. in
the very nick OF timo 10 renler mo .
most valuable assistance. For some
reason, Eyre has set himself 1rom i, o
nrSG against that unhGDpy WOmaa uD aJ
tho Jill, and VIII CIT OF be- Lass ch"ncc;
of life if 10 can; but with your sigma.
ture"-and he suddenly injured before
Franks astonished eyes u scroll on
which were inscribed names varying in
dignity from that of alord OF the manor,
to q tiller Of the same-''we hope to de-
feat him yet"
what is it," said Frank. passing his
| ha, l,i fNh do 10
| Colonel Busby'S little fat form and eX-
tended scroll irrepressibly suggesting
the parsonage who in n pantOmine is al
ways striving to get a hearing, but
| never succeeds.
Have you not heard?" said the Colo
mel, who thought himself the pivot on
which the world turned; its the memo
rial to the Home Secretary"
'Of course" said Frank, apparently
waking up, Its about a cowslip-l
mean man-nO, a woman"
"A woman" said Colonel Busby, in a
tone of stern rebuke. ''who now lies un-
der sentence of death. A woman" he
| repeated. who must be saved"
This won't do" thought Frank, and
compelled himself to thrust the thought
of Madcap aside, and take the memorial
! in his hands.
The first few lines carried little mean
ing to his mind, but as he read on q
change passed over his face. "A stran-
ger TO the place." he said, still looking
at the paper, land she came here in
search of some unknown person."
YES" said Colonel Busby. nodding,
1.-THE father probably-thers have been
suspicious, he went on, but it's odd
that none have pointed in what I'd
swear is the right direction" and he
made significant gesture toward the
Hall.
WHAT" cried Frank, his bright face
suddenly growing pale as death. Colo
mel Busby nodded. ITO be plain with
you," he said, land it's more than 1 dare
to be with any other soul, for Eyre leads
the whole country by the nose, you're
suspected of what firmly believe he is
guilty of. You see, it happened five
and half years ago, and we all know
and there's not doubt the woman came
in search of the father"
Franks hand suddenly closed on the
parchment-for a moment sight failed,
and he felt as if the life were going out
Of him in agOniZing cOnvulSive .throbs:
then, as the necessity for self-control
smote him, he drew himself erect, and
appeared to be reading what was in
reality blank to him.
IF the murder was committed five
and q half years ago." he said, "how
comes it that the mother is only now
convicted?"
ut is not the mother" said Colonel
Busby, staggered in his previous con-
victiOns by Franks manner; Its sup
posed that this was her servant, and
that the crime was committed unknown
to the parents"
us she small sandy-haired woman.
bordering on middle age?" said Frank,
the words escaping him Involuntary.
ITO be sure said Colonel Busby,
more and more depressed by his con-
viction of Franks guilt; "a mean-look
ing creature"
aThank God.'' cried Frank, in more
natural voice. his mind relieved of at
least one terrible fear. "And her mis-
tress, has she been here? Is she in the
placer"
I'VE don't know that she has mis-
stress" said Colonel Busby. staring at
the young man; tits a mere guess, but
she seems in mortal dread of some un-
known person coming before she dies,
and it looks suspicious"
Then she has confessed nothing?"
said Frank eagerly.
Nothing, publicly. What she said
to Mr.. Eyre in private we don't know.
k)iIC NohCu lOl luDi ullCCOly tuC
trial was over, and they were closeted
together some time. 1t was he who
committed her to prison on mere sus-
picion of the deed. and, in fact. from
first to last has shown an extraordinary
interest in the case and the woman"
An exclamation burst from Franks
lips; but calming himself by great eff
fort, he said, Mr.. Eyre is absent from
homer"
Yes; but before leaving he wrote to
town. You know his influence in high
quarters, and this influence he is using
against her.
What" cried Frank, recoiling step.
''IIe could save this woman's life and
will not?'
Colonel Busby nodded.
You know what he is, !" he said; ''im
movable when he has once made his
mind up. Guilty she is, and hanged
she shall be- that's the way he talks.
But you'll sign, of courseY"
Mechanically the young man took the
pen thrust upon him, and signed his
name; but, having done so, his eye was
arrested by the signature Immediately
above his oWn-"H Clarke