The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-03-06
CHAPTER XXVI.
STRANGE TURNS.

CHAPTER XXvI.
STRANGE TURNS.
And yet this catastrophe rose out Of
mistake. When the detective asked
Jem Davies to watch the lawn, he never
suspected that the clergyman was the
villain who had been concerned in that
explosion. But Davies, a man of few
ideas and full of his own wrong, took
for granted, as such minCs will, that
the policeman would not have spoken
to him if this had not been his affair; so
he and his fellows gathered about the
steps and watched the drawing-roOm.
They caught a glimpse of MOncktOn,
but that only puzzled them. His APP
pearance was inconsistent with the only
description they had got-in fact OPP
posed to it. 1t was Grace Clifford's de-
nunciation, trumpet-tOngued, that let
loose savage justice on the villain.
Never was woman's voice so fatal, or
SO swift to Stay. She would have un-
launched she could not recall. AS for
BARLEY, words can hardly describe his
abject terror. He crouched, he SILVER
ed, he mOaned, he almost swOOned; and
long after it was all over he was found
crOuched in corner of the little room,
and his very reason appeared to be
shaken. Judge Lynch had passed him,
but too near. The freezing shadow Of
Retribution chilled him.
Colonel Clifford looked at him with
cOntemptuOus pity, and sent him home
with John Baker in a close carriage.
Lucy Monckton was in the parlOr of
the Dun Cow waiting for her master.
The detectives and some outdoor SER
wants of Clifford Hall brought shol.
ladder and paillasses, and something
covered with blankets, to the door.
Lucy saw, but die not suspect the truth.
They had murmured consultation
with the landlady. During this Mark
Waddy came down, and there was some
more whispering, and soon the battered
body was taken up to Mark Waddy's
detectives retired to consult, and Wad-
dy had to break the calamity to Mrs.
Monckton. He did this as well as he
could; but it little matters how such
blows are struck. Her agony was great,
and greater when she saw him, for she
resisted entirely all attempts to keep
her from him. She installed herself at
once as his nurse, and Mark Waddy re-
tired to garnet.
A surgeon came by Colonel Clifford's
order and examined Monckton's bruis-
ed body, and shook his head. He re-
ported that there were no bones broken,
but there were probably grave internal
injuries. These, however, he could not
specify at present, since there was no
sensibility in the body; so pressure on
the injured parts ELECTED no groans. He
prescribed egg and brandy in small
how to administer it to a patient in that
desperate condition.
His last word was in private to Wad-
dy. IF he ever speaks again, or even
groans aloud, send for me. Otherwise
=" and he shrugged his shoulders.
Some hours afterward Colonel Cliff
ford called as magistrate to see ii the
suffer had any deposition to make. But
he was mute, and his eyes fixed.
AS Colonel Clifford returned, one of
the detectives accOsted him and asked
him for warrant to arrest him.
Not in his present condition." said
Colonel Clifford, rather superciliously.
And pray, sir, why did not you lnter-
fere sooner and prevent this lawless
act?"
swell, sir, unfortunately we were on
the other side of the house."
place, so you must be in another. See
the consequence. The honest men have
put themselves in the wrong, and this
fellow in the right. He will die a sort
of victim, with his guilt suspected only,
not proved"
Having thus snubbed the Force, the
old soldier turned his back on them and
went home, where Grace met him, all
anxiety, and received his report. She
implOred him not to proceed any furth-
er against the man, and declared she
should fly the country rather than go
into court of law as witness against
him.
"Humph!" said the Colonies; "but you
are the only witness"
"All the better for him." said she;
'sthen he will die in peace: My tongue
has killed the man once; it shall never
kill him again."
About six next morning Monckton
beckoned Lucy. She came eagerly to
him; he whispered to her, Gan you keep
q secretp"
you know / can," said she.
"Then never let any one know 1 have
spoken"
NO, dear, never. WhyP"
II dread the law more than DEATH"
and he shuddered all over. Save me
from the law"
Leonard, will" said she. Leave
that to me-"
She wired for Mr.. Middleton as soon
as possible.
The next day there was no change in
the patient. He never spoke to any
body, except word or two to Lucy, in
whisper, when they were quite alone.
In the afternoon down came Lawyer
Mi6d1atnn nov fold him, uhat hc
knew, but Monckton would not speak,
even to him. He had to get hold of
Waddy before he understood the whole
case
10 DO Continued