The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-30

| DNNNNAShA
wound round the edge of the lonely lake, she
uttered cry of delight. There, standing in
its old place by the lakeside, was the caravan.
Monk looked pale-there was something
| ghostly in tho temperance even Of this in
animate object. He was man Of strong
nerve, however, and he speedily smiled at his
own fears
As they approached the spot they saw Tim
standin. near the vehicle in conversation
with two strange gentlemen-one little man
in black broadcloth, the other a tall, broad
shouldered fellow wearing light overcoat
and a wideawake hat Directly the process
sion approached this group separated, and its
three members walked severally to the road,
he with the wideawake hat standing right in
the centre Of the road quietly smoking a
cigar.
AS the dogcart came uphe held up his hand.
Unable toprocecd without running him down,
Monk pulled up ancrily.
'Whnt is its Why do you block the roadl'
he cried, Gcrcely.
Excuse me- governor, returned the other,
coolly. "Mr. Monk, Of Monl;shurst, be-
lieve."
"Thats my ntme."
'Sorry to trouble you on such day, but
should like few words with YOU
II cannot s,ay-I am going to lie married"
$50 l l. ard, said tho man, lifting LIS hat
and bowling win grin to Matt Glad to
see you, Miss. How do you do! But the fact
is, Mr.. Monk, my business won't keep. Be
good enough to step this way"
Full of some unaccountable forebodinG, in
spircd partly by the strangers suave, yet
determined, manner, partly by the reappcar
ance of tho caravan, Monk alighted, and
followed the other across the grass to tho
close vicinity Of the house on wheels. The
little elderly man followed, and the man who
had first spoken went through tho ceremony
OF introduction.
''This is Mr.. Monk, sir. Mr.. Monk, this
gentleman is Mr.. LightwooJ, of the firm of
Lightwood e. Lightwood, solicitors, Chester"
"And you-who the devil are yOuf" de-
manded Monk, with his old savagcry.
'My name is Marshall, Christian name
John, though my friends call me Jack, an
swered the other with airy impudence. John
Marshall, governor, of the detective force"
Monk now went pale indeed But recover
ing himself, <hs,ssasA, II know neither Of you.
1 warned you that was in haste. What do
you want' Out with it'
The little man now took up the conversa-
ton, speaking i'll prim, business-like voice,
and occasionally referring to large note
book which lie carried
"Mr. Monk, you ere, am informed, tb3
sole mall heir Of the lato Colonel Monk, your
cousin by the fathers side, who was supposed
to have died in India in the year 1S62.'
eyes, that's true. What thonf'
"On the report Of his death, his name being
included in an official list of officers killed and
wounded in action, and it being understood
that he died without lawful issue, you laid
Claim to the demeSne of Mon.ishurst, in
Cheshire, and that of the same namo in Anglo |
sea. Your claim was recognized, and in 1865 |
you took possession
''Well. Have you detained me to hear only |
what already kncwF'
Pardon me, have not finished. | have !
now toinfcrin YOU that you inherited under
misConCCpt 'on-tirst, because Colonel Monk |
was nlGr:'.ei ard lad issue; secondly, because
he did not die in India but reached the shores
of England, where he persisted in the ship
wreck Of the vessel Trinidad on Christmas
day 1894"
Monk was ivii. At this moment Jones,
who had been watching the scene from
distance, came Over, painting and perspiring
in ill-conccaled tcrror.
"Lor', Mr. Monk, what's the mattera Look
We now, wo shall be late for the wedding"
As he spoke, Marshall, tho detective, clap
ped him playfully on the shoulder.
Glow dys do William Jores2 l have
often heard ofyou, and wished to know you.
P-ay stop where you are. III talk to you
presently"
81 don't know what you mean" Monk now
said, with do~ged desperation, with all this
rirmaroG, Mr. Lightwood, or whatever your
namo is 1t seems to me you are simply raw
ing. If am not my cousins heir, who is
tell me thatF
"His daughter, said the man, quietly.
Gle never married, and he never had a
laughter
'His daughter, an infant twelve or four
teen months old. sailed TO England with him,
was shipwreckcd with him, but saved by
special Providence, and has since been living
n this Place under the name Of Matt Jones.
"Y our intended bride, you know" added
Marshall, with On insinunting smile. "Hullo,
where is the young ladyr'
Monk looked round toward the dog-cart
md on every side, but Matt was nowhere to
70 seen.
81 see her go into that theer cart" said
William Jones.
Call her." cried Monk. "Ill stay no ,
onser here. Listen to me, you two. Whether
'ou are telling cuth or lies, that girl is go
ng t. become my wife-I have her guardians ,
'onsent, and she herelf, may tell you, fully ,
appreciates the honor am doing her."
"Indeed.n said Mr.. Lghtwood, smiling
Unfortunately I, Us Miss Monks legal ad- |
User, ru have say in the matter Doubt
ess this marriage would be a very pretty ar ,
angement for keeping the late Colonel ,
Monks fortune and property in your pos
essi0n, Iut l cannot conscientiously ap-
,rove Of the young lady's marriage to an /
ssassin.r
IAN as Observation-Disclosures do you meanr /
,asped N; NIX, staggering as IL from blow.
Tell him, Mr.. Marshall"
IAN right, sir. Well, you se, Mr.. Aouk,
4 Aonkshurst," continued tho detective,
rinly, yet playfully, '.you'r accused Of