Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-08-09
AUNT AND NIECE,
The Mistress Of
Hardwood.
by GERALD CARLTON.

garden door.
He crossed the road and looked at the
windows 10 an exquisite state of mind, rs
though he were on the point of making
some great discovery.
There were lights in two of the windows
apparently those of the din.ng-room and
bedroom.
Will looked at his watch-it was thirty
three minutes past eight. In the dining
room window, he saw on the blind the
shadow OF man--seemingly a man who
was pacing the room impatiently Was il
Jacks shadow? 1t looked like it. In the
bedroom window he saw the shadows of a
womln and girl-the woman was appar-
emily assisting the girl to Dress Was the
girls shadow Ada'sp
Still doubling he recrossed the road with
the fixed intention of ringing the bell of
No. 5, and of gaining admittance, if not by
fair means, by force. His heart began to
beat violently. When he was half way
across the road another cab stopped at the
corner of the grove, from which man
alighted, and walked huniedly in Wills d.
rection,
Tryfoil looked at the approaching figure,
and but for the fog would not have recoo-
nized him, changed as he had been; but the
fog hid the attentions, and only showed
the grim outline of the man who came for
ward.
Buckley" Will whispered to himself
and his heart beat more violently. and the
breathing steel" of his limbs quivered with
fierce excitement.
Yes; Buckley it was, returning from The
coffee-house near Billingsgate market. He
came on unsuspectngly through the fog
came on until Will was face to face with
him, and had seized him by the throat with
his left hand and shook his powerful right
fist in his ugly face.
You devil,' he muttered fercely. 81
have you at last"
For some seconds the ex-beggar was SO
staggered by Wills unexpected appearance,
that he could say nothing but stare idiotic-
ally at the fierce. excited young man.
Leave go, You're choking me-" he said,
at last.
Wills hand slackened its hold.
Do you know why am here, you scoun-
drel?' he whispered between his clinched
teeth. ,t.,
How should l? told you all about the
girl | amt got more to tell. I've got re-
spectacle situation now, and 1 amt going
to be bullied. Hands of, governor, said
Buckley more boldly, as the thought came
to him that Willis presence in Beresford
Grove might be compatible with his igno-
rance of the truth. Hands Off dye hear?"
81 haven't come to thrash you as you de-
serve, Buckley" replied Will. 81 have come
here tonight TO get at the truth of Miss
Wentworths disappearance, and / have not
come unprepared.
Il know nothing more than I have told
you, said Buckley, sullenly.
happy idea at that moment occurred to
Will. He had a little silver dog whistle in
his waistcoat pocket, and he took it out
saying:
If use this, two gentlemen whom left
in the public-house just by the corner will
Immediately come TO me. If don't use it
during the next half hour, they will leave
the public-house, and 20 away. Ineed not
tell you my understanding with these gen
tlemen. If you don't tell the truth at once
shall whistle, and they will answer it in
person."
"What then?"
/ will say. This is Buckley"
well, Buckley muttered, interested in
spite of himself, and deceived by Wills
false story, as Will had been deceived by
his.
They will instantly arrest you"
For taking away the girl?'
No; for numbering the coal merchant in
Wolverhampton Edward Reardon"
At these words the ex-beggars face grew
unusually horrible. CHASTITY pallor over
spread it; his cheeks were suddenly drawn in;
his hideous teeth chartered, and he tremb,ed
from head to foot. He thought he had been
safe from even the suspicion of having MUIR
dered Edward Reardon; and now that he
was on the eve OF another great crime, here
was man come to prevent it. by means of
the coal merchants murder
It's lie" hegasped, fixing his eyes with
blank stare on the silver whistle, on which
he imagined his life depended.
Very WE'LL" said Will, "but you must
prove it, or else you will he hanged. The
police have the clearest chain of evidence
against you. You were seen entering Rear
don's lodging were seen leaving it.
part of the money of which the murdered
man wassrobbed is traced to you. Answer
Shall | whistle, or will you walk with me to
the end of the Grove. and reply to what I
ask you truthfuliy?"
buckley hesitated for a few seconds, He
GO trast Wills figure with his own.
Clearly, he thought, with bitter inward
curse, that he must go to the end of the
Grove and ruin Jack Graham's scheme, OF
escape to the other end. only to be caught
aud hanged
viii caught hold of his arm and walked
him there. whore there was no likelihood OF
being overheard.
Fear sharpened Buckleys clever brain.
DE saw that his game was played, and that
be and Graham had lost. The question he
had to consider now was, How can es-
cape from death without losing the money
| have invested in Grahams scheme?n
Nov. z viii hurriedly whispered Il am
ready to sell you your life. The two men
a mn mt <,f