The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-04-06

For once the clever detective made q
mistake. He should have said The
windowsi" Van Blarcom darted TO the
nearest, raised the Venetian blind, flung
up ths % ~-r sH.a ana disappeaTod into
the Gnkn--s ~..aort before hand conld
be rA.sod 10 prevent h.rn.
B.ns rushed after him Just in time TO
seize heel, which, OF course, slipped
from n. grasp.
"yHhere Is he ? He hasn't fallen ;"
exclaimed the bafiied Bing, foaming with
rage 1t " hat looked very like the escape
OF one OF his prisoners.
There he is on the vine outSile-l
see him re ried Reginald, who had like
wise flown in pursuit. "GOOd God he
viii be killed The vine is breaking
away T.
As h spoke a tearing, wrenchins sound
was heard, twigs snapped, branches bent
AMI broke-a huarSe cry burst upon the
still night air-2 heavy thud sent \ dull
echo from the terrace below.
"He is down " said the detective and
Reginald in the same breath.
They were right. He WIS down, in
deed. He was dead
At first no one exactly realized what
had happened The catastrophe had
been 80 undrcamt of, so sudden, 80 com
ple,e. A rush was made for the terrace
bv Mr.. Davenport, Reginald, and BIng
who were Joined on their way tIIthcr by
several startled servants, aroused 10 the
fact that something unusual ~.ls occurring,
burglars being. OF courst, the prominent
idea. an impression which h:li the effect
of causing them 10 shine more brilliantly
IN the rear than in advance guIrl-
"R.In Tor doctor. som. of YOU :" cried
Mr.. Davenport A. they disautIugicd the
contogtcd, mutiunltss form oi ticr.l!d Van
BlarCom from the mass OF leaves AMI
branches that covered IL
YES, suppose il will be better 10 do
50, for forms sake" observed the dctec-
tive quietly.
What DO You mean? You DO not
think lac - beyond the reach OF hope
y 10, though. Ii h didn't beg for
riycness for his sins on his WAY from the
window 10 tn. ground, he has lost his
last chance OF uttering prayer IN tins
world"
Il am afraid YOU ar right" whiSp red
Reginald, rising from his examination Oi
the dead man. Ills heart dos 40. give
the iaintesi sign of = thruh-'
We'll, lit him carefully into I'll.
house, and place him IN the hrSJ roOIa
where there l. a sofa. Perhaps the vital
spark i not entirely extinct, said Mr..
Davenport.
Th r. was something so dreadful in
standing before this shattered ruin of his
enemy that the old mun experienced a
thrill Ot compassion. A lev moments
ago his rage against him was burning
Ike furnace seven times heated. lie
would have chased him with unrrlemt-
iu., nerciiesS steps to any doom oi dis
grace or misery. But now the king OF
tcrTOrs arOSt, black and awful, between
ia m, hurting him back, snatchIns re-
vcns' from his grasp, and forcing him TO
remember with 4 shudder those words
of dread and Irresistible powcr-''N Nengc-
ance i niiDs 1 will repay
When the doctor made his appearance,
his inspection OF the body was o. the
br!eicsr. lie simply lifted the head
once or twice and immediately delivered
himself OF 4 verdict which set all doubt.
at rest for evrrmore."
'-Ncck broken"
By tins time the entire household was
aroused Kate and Edith came down
stairs trembling 10 make inquiries. The
former WAS prepared for = dcI,Js-lH,if OF
some kind, ior she was, of course, To
great extent IN the detective : confidence.
lie hal revealed to her that this night
was to witness the execution oI his a.
Siga-that he was about to strike blow
Gt their cunning enemies Viii n would
render them powerless, and bring upon
them 4 punishment too long dyirrrc -
| that on tine morrow her beloved husband
would be set free, unsullIcd III name and
| honor.
The exact means by which all this
was To lie brought about she did not
| know. Bius was very sccretive in his
nature, and never conEded his ultimate
| plans To- anyone ii he could avoid IL lie
| told Kate To leave that part of the busi-
| ness in his hands, for her share in the
| difficult task WIS ended, and he advised
/ her To- retire early and endeavour to get a
1 f.sNE pf W htrh h,a
| girl, She w:us greatly IN need.
She ObcYcd him, Us she had done all
| through in the smallest matters. But
| sleep WAS out Of the question; and when
the noise and confusion consequent upon
| the events Just described had somewhat
subsidized, she could contain her burning
anxiety no longer. SO, rousing Edith,
who hal fallen into slight dozc, they
| Crept forth from their chamber together
-nervously-h hand in hand.
Tn v came upon Reginald and Bing
engaged in whispered consultation.
| w lat Is the matter - inquired Kate
| "IIush :" said Reginald. We thought
| You might come down. SO we stool hc.c
20 intercept you. There has been al &C
cidcnt, and your presence can do no
| good
1t Is all right, so far as We are con-
] cerRed,' said the detective, with reds-
/
| birds-Onc OF them, 1T ieast-:,ni the
other trapped himself very efTertually
| Tomorrow, rs l told YOU, Mr.. Lawrence
| Will be irce."
thank God,' she exclaimed, clasping
| her hands fcrvcntly. But what Is the
accident You spoke OF, Reginald -
Better tell her" said Bing, .or 1 Will,
] If You like. Well, miss - madam,
| should Sly-thc worst Of the two precious
| scOuntrcls We came 10 capture has es-
| capped the claws OF human Justice
! How AIR. Van Blarcom -
"Nou have guessed correctly. He Is
| the worst When he fouui how neatly
| We had blutiei him he made a desprrat .
I attempt 10 get away through the window.
| Eut fortune did not favor him very far.
| The old vine ne clung 10 broke away,
and he came To the ground with Il crash. >
| And he was hurt ?'
NO; ne could not have suffered very
much, except from the first shock OF the
! fall. lie WIS killed on the spot"
Neither Kate nor Edith could suppress
| the cry - hIll-hurror, half-pitty - that
| sprang to their lips. They, too, in that
| moment could forgive the wretched man
/ whose wickedness had well-nigh encom-
passed their utter ruin and that OF all
| they cherished and held dear.
Oh Death, thou great leveller of
| earthly dcstinies, before whose tremend-
| Gus stroke all our enmity, and passion,
| and resentment must be swallowed up
| for ever-Surely thy victories are not all
covered by the grave? Thou canst dig a
tomb in the hearts OF the living and bid
the sweet flower OF Pardon bloom upon
| the ashes of bygone injuries, however
| deep.
| "And now I'll he off and attend to the
safe keeping OF the prisoner | have sue
/ cceded in securing. / am afraid Mr..
John Checketts won't pass such a cJm-
| Portable night rs he anticipated. The
police sutton IS rather dreary lodging
| Tor gentleman accustomed toi.jollier
quarters"
II