The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-08

to the City, where she learned that m 49,
American railways in which nearly ali nor
money was invested had ceased ~ 80,
dividends. That, in short, the shareo ,,,s,,.o
almost unstable, as it was highly prohahle
that the concerns would be sold under go.
closure of mortgages. Mrs. Oswald ala on
she could under the circumstances She
gave up her house in Portchester Terrooa
and took lodgings in st. Paul's road. Cam.
den Town, where she devoted herself IN the
task of nursing her son, who was now fast
sinking in consumption.
PART II.
In the second week of the following r,,ne
Mr.. Heath, who had small house in Not.
ting Hill, was sitting in his parlor at a
little after eight O'Clock in the EVENING
when the servant camo in to say that Mr.
Bailey wished to SEQ him.
"Show him in at once" said Heath WIN
rose from his seat and went to the door 10
meet him.
A shabbily-dressed little man, who looked
something like lawyers clerk out Of en-
ployment, came into the room.
"Well, a." said Heath, in his usual gruff wav.
when he had closed the 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. l only heard of It
within the last hour, and came on at once
to tell you"
For moment there was silence, during
which the little man stood twirling his hat
in his hands.
At last Heath said: care you quite Ger
tain of this9n
"Quite certain, SIR" was the ansNx -
have it from the servant in the ~ q az "A
had been expecting the news al day anfl
directly Mrs. WiImot told me Ithougi11d
make assurance doubly sure by seiag the
servant myself. AS told you, knew her
before she went to live in st. ais road.
told you how l heard from MS Wllmot
every thing that went on in thelouse."
"Well, well, that will do pre- is SOW
ereign for your trouble in oming here.
Look into my Office next week, and shall
pay you what we have artnged, when
have the formal proofs of hi death. Good
night
Goodnight, sir, thank yu," said Bailey,
as he left the room,
Bailey was a nondescrpt character who
was occasionally employed by Heath, some
times as broker, sometimes as private
detective. In the present instance, by vlr-
tue of his having srme relatives living in
St Paurs road, he he'd been engaged to bring
Mr. Heath the earliest intelligence of Rob
ert Oswalds dea,h. When he had gone
Heath walked up and down the room for
some minutes in silence. At length he NUT
tered to himself:
tone hundred and two thousand pounds
in hard cash made at last! l shall sell
every thing / own within fortnight's time
furniture, bills, pictures, all. They will
fetch another six thousand but whatever
they bring, they shall be sold at once. am
determined to enjoy my wealth while |
have time, and to do that l must cut the
life have been leading at once. Yes, my
pile is made. ] have at last what, years
ago, said would make, and 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
fool into my clutches! l managed him prop
erly, there's no doubt. But yet it was a
lucky chance that brought him to me. otill
it's strange tho presentiment | have always
had about him. o, bother such nonsense!
What have to do with presentimeltss |
shall be believing in ghosts and hob.oollns
next! Yet seem to be sorry ins4Ss9 50
glad, and there is that fear Of some ases-
ing evil which I seemed to have every time
1 saw him. What on earth can this bep'
The last question was caused by sharp
knock and ring at the hall door, In few
seconds the servant came in with tele
gram Mr.. 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
evidence of his eyesight, Then he put the
telegram in his pocket, whispering to him
self 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. Paul Road, Stanhope Terrace,
Camden Town. Noting Hill.
1T is Of great Importance that should see you
tonight. Robert Oswald died at five O'Clock
this evening. Please come here at once on re-
ceiving this telegram"
>OAlN ~ W oOLllC NOlLolIlldCy W SOV ihO
into the house and murder me!" thought
Mr.. Heath, as he walked about the room
with the telegram in his pocket 80, non
sense! | 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, OF
that there is some screw loose about the
policy of assurance. Curse it, Like my
usual luck. But had better be off there a
once. What curious authoritative way
she telegraphs in, thought
He left the house, and, hailing the frs
hanson he met, was driven radidly to st
Pauls road. A servant opened the hal
door before he could knock, and, having
asked if he was Mr. Heath, conducted hin
up stairs to the drawing room Though
was just $50 o'clock, and getting rathe
dark, no lamp or candle was lighted in tn,
room, and as Mr.. Heath entered he coult
just discern through the deep twilight TIN
figure Of tall woman who was sitting b!
one OF the windows, dressed in black. Sh'
rose as he entered and asked him to take
chair which was few yards from where
she was sitting. From the position in WHO
she sat, and the darkness of the room, Nh
Heath could not discern her features yer,
clearly, and to tell the truth he felt exceed
ingly uncomfortable. He was pretty wei
case-hardened of course; few men had haC
more curious experiences, and some of thu
scenes he had witnessed in the pursuit n
his vocation were not little appalling. Bu
just as one of the first things that is laugh
to every medical student is that he mns
disregard the pain which he has to inflic