The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-06-17


Dorothy calmed her with affectionate ad-
vice and wise comments upon the proverb
that truth is stranger than fiction. On
Tuesday night, however, when Kate read
that Mr.. Green, NJ P, had seen John Need
ham on the platform Of the Liverpool rail-
way station, q strange sense Of fear and
alarm took possession Of her, and the fol-
lowing kilograms passed between her and
Dick:
From Hiss Norbury to Richard IVooduille,
Manchester.
Pleas, come to Wyeiale at once; Aunt
Dorothy and myself are anxious to confer
with You on an important matter"
From Richard WoodrHle to Miss Morbu1y
II snail catch the mail and he with yon
bafori IL
From Richard TFoodrills to Horace Wood,
of Hyedale, at The Cottage, Richmond
Bridge.
cat what hour did you Sc, Mr.. Joseph
Norbury on Saturday, and when did you
leave him? Please reply at once'
Wood to WoodriHe.
'Dined with him at 4, New Hummums
hotel lett him at o; why do you askr'
WoodriHe TO Wood.
did he mention Needham to you in your
conversation, and do you know where he
went after dinner! And if you do not
please 90 to the hotel and telegraph at once
the hour he went out, when he returned,
and what he did. Kate is disturbed, for
some reason, about him."
Wood, Ne,c Humnsl.nis hotel, London, to
Wooduille, Wyedale.
cam staying here tonight; return to-
morrow. Joseph did not mention Needham
to me- Tho porter says he went out about
9 o'clock, smoking cigar, that he returned
at about 1:30, said ho had been in the coun-
try, and had lost the locol train, seemed in
good spirits, was called in the morning at
!, had breakfast, paid his bill. and left by
10 tram for Liverpool"
Woodrule TO Wood.
Don't come down; will come up-wait
for me-"
Dick arrived IN London on Wednesday
night, read the evidence. given Mt the open
ing OF the inquest conferred with Lawyer
Wood, talked with the porter, and on the
next day asked permission to see the body
Of the suicide. The shell had been sore wed
down, but through the influence Of Mr..
Wood the coroner gave the necessary order
to remove the lid Decomposition had set
in, but the face had not much changed, and
Wood yille was shocked at this resembl ance
to his friend. Later in the day he had an
interview with Mr. Wilfred Green, the
member for Harwood, who stated that the
gentleman he met at Liverpool said he was
Joseph Norbury.
From Richard Woodrille, Ne,v Humn,una's,
London, to Miss Norbury, 1Vyedale.
ssNIY DEAR KATE: l have done as you de-
sired in all things, and come to the conclu-
sion that our dear Joe is all right. The
condolences which have made such an i'm &.
preston upon you would have only amused
you had not this miserable man committed
suicide. It was the shock of his death coming
upon joss mention Of him that set you
thinking of the tragic possibilities you have
imagined. Then that old fool Green his
constituents were Green when they elected
him) not taking the trouble in his letter to
The Times to say that the stranger gave
ais name and that it was Norbury; he. did
not do this because he wanted to make out
that he had really seen ghost-the idiot;
but now that he has been chaffed, and
people say the whole thing was an inven-
ton, he is very glad to have it shown that
he really did see somebody, and that the
stranger was very much like Neelham. a
pompous old ass, this Green, with great
wide struggling forehead, google eyes, and
very self-assertive manner. l can quite
understand Joe snubbing him-it was just
like Joe to do so.
''The ad journed inquest takes place to-
morrow, but there are no now facts. The
body was fully identified; and there does
not seem to me q single suggestion, my
dear Kate to bear out your alarming fancy
that Neejham had killed our dear Joe and
escaped in his clothes. etc. My dear child,
it is only bad dream 1saw the body this
morning. 1t startled mo for moment: 1t
was like him, but stouter and taller; and
well, thank God it was not our dear, great
heartsd joe. Furthermore, found Mt the
hotel that Joe had left some money III
charge of the landlady; that part Of his
luggage was in the bagga ge-room, and
that when he paid his bill he forgot mono
Of these things. I triel for the time to
think myself 4 detective acting upon in
formation he had received and following ul
your theory; but it would not work, thank
goodness, AMI WOOD, who leaves tonight.
Will tell you SO and give you the comfort OF
cur united opinions to this effect. Besides,
cs said before, Joes te,egra III from Liver
pool, mentioning Aunt Dorothy, shows
that he was not Neelham Or Needham, s
ghost in masquerade. No, no, my darling
Kate; YOU are not well. Joe's going has
troubled you; the shock of this mans death
following, as [ have said before, on JOS
genial mention of him: aud the sensati onal
novels you have been rcating late!y-these
are the causes of your morbid thoughts.
Forgive me FOR saying morbid. The truth
is you are lonely and fanclfu!; 50, also, am
I; and the best thing for both Of rs is to
set married. What 10 Tou say now to
this proposal-a honey moon trip to New
York! Won that benefit you: Then you
can tell Joe yourself what dear, silly
goose You are, and what u wid-soose chase
ycu sent me on to this great, busy, God
forsaken city, when ! would have much