Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12
no. I do not SAID Grace. 81 think

cutting, only he s0ftened 1t down once
or twice out of what 1 took for good
feeling at the time. He's an imp0stor
and a villain. Dear sir, don't agitate
poor Walter or my dear father with this
vile thing (she handed him back the GER
| tificate). 1t has been a knife to both
our hearts; we have suffered together,
you and [, and let us get to the bottom
of it together"
1--WE shall soon do that" said the
| Colonel, for he is coming here tO-mor-
row again"
] "All the better"
with the lady"
what Lady,"
"The lady that calls herself Mrs. Wal
ter Clifford"
"Indeed!' said Grace. quite taken
aback. "They must be very bold'
"Oh, for that matter" said the Colo
mel, Il insisted upon it: the man seemed
to know nothing but from mere hear
say. He knew nothing about William
| Hope, the witness, SO | told him he
must bring the woman: and, to be just
to the man, he seemed to think so too,
and that she ought to do her own bust
ness"
"She viii not come" said Grace. rath-
er contemptuously. "He was obliged to
say she would, just to put face upon
| it. Tomorrow he'll bring an excuse
instead of her. Then have your detec-
| tives about, for he is villain; and, dear
| sir, please receive him in the drawing
room; then [ will find some way to get
sight of him myself"
1T shall be DONE" said the Colonel.
Il begin to think with you. At all
| events, if the lady does not come L shall
| hope it is all an impOsture or a mis-
| take"
With this understanding they parted,
and waited in anxiety for the morrow,
but now their anxiety was checkered
with hope.
Tomorrow babe fair to bea busy day.
Colonel Clifford. little dreaming the
condition to " IIich his son and his guest
would be reduced, had invited Jem
Davies and the rescuing parties to feast
| in tents on his own lawn and drink his
| hOme-breWed beer, and they were to
| bring with them such of the rescued
miners as might be in a condition to
! feast and drink copiOusly. When he
| found that neither Hope nor his son
could join these festivities, he was very
sorry he had named so early day; but
he was so punctilious and precise that
he could not make up his mind to
cOnfectiOner at Derby who sent out
feasts was charged with the affair, and
the ColOnel'S own kitchen was at his
service too. That was notall. BARLEY
was coming to do business. This had
been preceded by letter which Colonel
Clifford, it may be remembered, had
offered to show Grace Clifford The
letter was thus Worded:
COLONEL CLFFORD,-A penitent man
be@S humDly TO approach you, and offer
What compensation IS III his power. [ de-
sire to pay mmed ately to Walter Clifford
the sum of $50 900 l have SO long robbed
him OF, with five per cent. interest for the
use of 1t. 1t has brought me far more than
that IN money but money now find is not
happiness.
The mine in which my friend has so
nearly been destroyed-and his daughter,
who now, too late, | find is the only crea-
tura in the world | lOve-that mine is now
odiOus to me. | desire by deed to hand it
over TO Hope and yourself, upon condition
that you follow the seams wherever they 60,
and that You give me such share of the
profits dmilm my lifetime as you think [
deserve for nv enterprise. This for my life
Oniy, since ! siIall leave all | have in the
world to that dear child, who will now be
your daughter, and perhaps never deign
again TO look upon the erring man who
writes these lines.
/ fNOuiu Ike, II you please, TO retain the
farm, or at all events a hundred acres round
about the house to turn into orchards and
gardens, so that may have some employ
m3nt, far from trade and its temptations,
Tor the remainder Of my days."
In consequence of this letter deed
was drawn and engrOSsed, and BARLEY
had written to say ne would come to
Clifford Hall and sign it, and have it
witnessed and delivered.
:. :, - .,::,2 clock IL the evening one
of the detectives called on Colonel Cliff
ford to make private communication:
his mate had spotted a swell mObsman,
rather famous character, with the
usual number of aliases, but known to
the force as Mark Waddy; he was at the
Dun Cow; and possessing the gift Of the
CAB in a superlative degree. had made
himself extremely popular. They had
both watched him pretty closely. but he
seemed not to be there for a Job. but
only on the talking lay, probably So
Letting information for some gang of
thieves or other. He had been seen to
exchange hasty word with a clergy
man; but as Mark Waddy7s acquaint-
ances were not amongst the clergy, that
would certainly be some pal that was
in something or other with him.
What shrewd girl that must bel"
said the Colonel.
Il beg your pardon, Colonel" said the
man, not seeing the relevancy of this
observation.
"Oh, nothing" said the Colonel, "only
I expect visit tomorrow at twelve
O'Clock from doubtful clergyman; Just
hang about the lawn on the chance of
my giving you signal"
Thus while MoncktOn was mounting
his batteries, his victims were prepar-
ing defenSeS in sort of general way,
though they did not see their way so
clear as the enemy did.
Colonel CliffOrd's drawing-room was
magnificent room, fifty feet long and
thirty feet wide. A number of French
windows opened on to a noble balcony,
with three short flights of stone steps
leading down to the lawn. The central
steps were broad, the side steps narrow.
There were four entrances to it; two by
double doors, and two by heavily cur
tanned apertures leading to little sub
sidiary rooms.
At twelve O'Clock next day what with
the burst of color from the potted flow
erS on the balcony, the white tents. and
the flags and streamerS, and d clear sun
shiny day gliding it all, the room look
ed a palace of pleasure" and no Stran0-
er peeping in could have dreamed that
it was the abode of care. and about to
be visited by gloomy Penitence and IN
durable Fraud.
The first to arrive was BARLEY. with
a witness. He was received kindly by
Colonel Clifford and ushered into
small room.
He wanted another witness. SoJohn
Baker was sent for, and BARLEY and he
were closeted together, reading the
deed, etc.. when foOtman brought in
a card. THE Rev arend AlieYn Mere