The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-02-27

Reverend Alleyn Meredith" do 1
know this gentlemanY" said the Colo
mel.
Il think not, sir" said the foOtman.
what is he likeY"
Like a benefited clergyman, SIR"
Colonel Clifford was not in the humOr
for company; but it was not his habit
to say not at home when he was ut home;
and being magistrate, he never knew,
when stranger sent in his card, that it
might not be his duty TO see him; so he
told the fOOtman to say, THAT he was
in point Of fact engaged, but was at this
gentleman's service for a few minutes"
The fOotman retired, and promptly
ushered in clergyman who seemed the
rector. Sleek and plump, without cor.
pulence, neat boots, clothes black and
glossy, waistcOat up to the threat, neat
black gloves, snowy tie, face shaven
like an egg, hair and eyebrows griZZled,
cheeks rubicund, but not empurpled, as
one who drank only his pint Of port,
but drank it seven days in the week.
Nevertheless, between you and us,
this sleek, rosy parsonage, archdeacOn
or rural dean down to the ground, was
Leonard MoncktOn, padded TO the nine,
and tinted as artistically as any canvas
in the world
The first visit MoncktOn had paid to
this neighbOrhOOd was to the mine. He
knew that was dangerous visit, SO he
came at night as Il decrcpit old man.
lie very soon saw two things which dis
couraged farther visits. One was a
placard describing his cril"c III u few
words. and also his person and clothes,
and Offering 500 gllineaS reward. AS
his pallor was specified, he retired for a
minute behind q tent, and emerged tho
color Of mahogany; he then pursued his
observations, and i'll due course fell in
with the second warning. This was the
body of man lying upon the slack at
the pit mouth; the slack not having
been added TO for many days was glow
body he recognized Immediately, for
the white face stared at him; it was Ben
Burnley undergoing cremation. TO this
the vindictive miners had condemned
him; they had sat on his body and pass
ed a resolution, and sworn he should
not have Christian burial, SO they man
aged to hide his corpse till the slack got
low, and then they brought him up at
night and chucked him like dog on to
the smOuldering coal: one half of him
was charred away when Monckton
found him, but his face was yet I'M
touched. Two sturdy miners walked
to and fro as sentinels, armed with
hammers, and firmly resolved that
neither law nor gospel should interfere
with this horrible example.
Even Monckton, the man Of iron
nerves, started back with q cry of dis
may at the sight and the smell.
One of the miners broke into hOarse,
old man." he cried. "Yon's not man;
he's nobbut a murderer. He's fired t.
mine and made widows and orphans by
T. score" "Ay," said the other; but
there's a worse villain behOind, that
found t. brass for t. job, and tempted
this one. Wen catch him yet; all, then
we'll not trouble Judge, nor jury, nor
hangman neither"
"The wretches" said Monckton.
"What! fire minel No punishment is
enough for them" With this sentiment
he retired, and never went near the
mine again. lie wired for pal of his,
and established him at the Dun Cow.
These twow in constant communica-
ton. Monckton's friend was very
clever gossip, and knew how to ques-
ton without seeming curious, and the
gossiping landlady helped him. SO. be-
tween them, Monckton heard that Wal
ter was down with fever and not eX-
pected to live, and that Hope was con-
fined to his bed and believed to be sink
ing. Encouraged 10y this state of things,
Monckton made many artful prepare
tons and resolved to levy cOntribu-
ton upon Colonel Clifford.
At this period of his manmuYres for
tune certainly befriended him wonder
fully; he found Colonel Clifford alone,
and likely to be alone; and, at the same
time, prepared by Grace Clifford's half
revelation and violent agitation to be-
lieve the artful tale this villain came to
tell him.