The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-01

door, which he did very carefully, as if he were afraid that somebody might be listening outside.
 "Mr. Oswald's dead, sir. Died at five o'clock this evening. only heard of it within the last hour, and came on at once to tell you."
 For 8 moment there was silence, during which the little man stood twirling his hat in his hands.
 At last Heath said: "Are you quite certain of this2"
 "Quite certain, sir," was the answer. "I have 1t from the servant in the house. had been expecting the news all day, and directly Mrs. Wilmot told me I thought I'd make assurance doubly sure by seeing the servant my self. AS told you, knew her be- fore she went to live in St. Paul road. I told you how I heard from Mrs. Wilmot everything that went on in the house."
 "Well, well, that will do. Here is 8 sovereign for your trouble in con- ing here. Look into my office next week and I shall pay you what we have arranged, when I have the formal proofs of his death. Good night"
 "Good night, sir, thank you," said Bailey, as he left the room.
 Bailey was a nondescript character who was occasionally employed by Heath, sometimes as broker, some- times as a private detective. In the present instance, by virtue of his hav- ing some relatives living in St. Paul's road, he had been engaged to bring Mir. Heath the earliest intelligence of Robert Oswald's death. When he had gone Heath walked up and down the room for some minutes in silence. At length he muttered to himself:
 "One hundred and two thousand pounds in hard cash made at last I shall sell everything I own within fortnight's time-turniture, bills, pic- lures, all. They will fetch another six thousand but, whatever they bring, they shall De sold at once. I am determined to enjoy my wealth while have time, and to do that I must cut the life I have been leading at once. Yes, my pile is made. I have at last what years ago said I would make, and I shall be out of England this day fortnight. What may not do yet, with over hundred thousand pounds and the brains and knowledge which l possess! Good heavens, how suddenly the last ten thousand has come! What lucky chance it was that threw the young tool into my clutches I managed him properly, there's no doubt. But yet it was lucky chance that brought him to me. Still, it's strange, the pre- sentiment I have always had about him. Oh, bother such nonsensel What have I to do with presentiments? Il shall be believing in ghosts and bob- goblins nextl Yet seem to be sorry instead of glad, and there is that fear ofsome impending evil which seemed to have every time saw him. What on earth can this be?"
 The last question was caused by a sharp knock and ring at the hall door. In few seconds the servant came in with telegram. MT. Heath looked at the envelope nervously before he opened it. At last he took out the telegram, which he read two or three times over, as if he doubted the evil dence of his eyesight. Then he put the telegram in his pocket, whispering to himself in trembling voice as he /! did SO:
 "What can it be? What can it be?"
 The telegram, which evidently | caused him so much uneasiness, was as follows: Mrs. Oswald, To James Heath, Esq,
 st. caJ.ss.s raars EEosd, Eo, stanhops Terrace,
 It is of great Importance that should see l you you to.n night. Robert Oswald died st o'clock | ceiving this telegram
 "Could it be some conspiracy to get ] me into the house and murder me2" thought MT. Heath, as he walked | about the room with the telegram in | his pocket. "Oh, nonsensei need not be afraid of that. They are very respectable people in the house. No, depend upon it, it is either that the | mother wants to beg or borrow from me, or that there is some screw lose about the policy of assurance. Curse itl Like my usual luck. But I had l better be off there at once. What 6 curious, authoritative way she tele- graphs in, though"
 He left the house, and, hailing the | first hansom he met, was driven rap- idly to St. Pauls road. A servant | opened the hall door before he could l knock, and, having asked if he was MT. Heath, conducted him upstairs to the drawing room. Though 1t was just half past nine o'clock, and getting rather dark, no lamp or candle was lighted in the room, and as MT. Heath entered he could just discern through | the deep twilight the figure of tall woman who was sitting by one of the windows dresaed in black She rose