Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-07

lawyers call the mesne profits. that is to
say, the interest and the various pro-
ceeds from the fraud during fourteen
years.
Whilst he was in this condition of
bodily collapse and mental horror, a
cold. cynical voice dropped icicles, so to
speak, into his ear.
I'm a fix, governor. eh? The girl
won't come back, and Hope won't hold
his tongue"
BARLEY looked round in amazement,
and saw the cadaverOuS face and dia-
bolical sneer Of Leonard MOncktOn.
Fourteen wears and evil passions had
fuTToWed that blOodleSs cheek; but there
was no mistaking the man. 1t was q
surprise to Bartleyto see him there, and
be spoken to by knaye who had tried
to rob him; but he was too full Of his
immediate trouble to think much of
minor things.
"What do you know about it," said
he, roughly.
"I'll tell you" said Monckton, coolly.
He then walked in a most leiSurely
way to the gate that led into the mead
OW, whose eastern boundary was Hopes
quickest hedge, and he came in the same
leisurely way up to Mr.. BARLEY, and
leaned his back. with his hands behind
him, with perfect effrontery, against
the palings.
81 know all" said ne. 'I overheard
you in your Office fourteen years ago,
when you changed children with Hope"
BARLEY utteredan exclamatiOnOf dis
may.
"And I've been lowering about here
all day, and watched the little game, and
now I am fly. and no mistake"
BARLEY threw up his hands in dis
may. "Then it's all over; am doubly
ruined. I cannot hope to silence you
both"
Don't speak so loud, governor"
"Why nOt?" said BARLEY: Others will
if ] don't" He lowered his voice for all
that, and wondered what was coming.
Listen to me-" said MOnckton, ex-
changing his cynical manner for quiet
and Weighty one.
Barley began to wonder and look at
him with a sort of awe. Fireworks now
dropped out of MOnCktOn'S thin lips as
if they were chips of granite, so full of
meaning was every syllable; and Bart
ley felt it.
ITS not so bad as it looks. There are
only two men that know you are a
fel0n."
BARLEY WINGED visibly.
Now one Of those men is to be
ought"-Bartley lifted his head with
faint CLEAN of hope at that-"and the
OthGr-has gOne-dOWn q coal mine."
what good will that do me?"
The villain paused, and looked Bart
ley in the face.
"That depends. Suppose you were to
offer me what you offered Hope, and
suppose H0po-WaS neYer-tO come up
again"
NO such luck" said BARLEY, shaking
his head sOrrOwfully.
Luck" said MOncktOn, cOntemptu-
Ously; eve make our own luck. Do you
see that vagabond lying under the tree?
That's Ben burnley"
"Ah!" said BARLEY; "the rufian Hope
discharged"
"The same, and a man that is burning
to be reVenged on him. He's your luck,
MI. BARLEY. | know the man, and what
he has done in mine before to-day"
Then he drew near to Bartley'S ear.
and Kissed into it these fearful words:
Send him down the mine; promise
him five hundred pOunds-if William
Hope-neYer comes up again-and Will
liam Hope never will"
BARLEY drew back aghast. "Assas
sinatiOn!" he cried; and by generous i'm
pulse Of horror he half fled from the
tempter. But MOncktOn followed him
up, and laid his handupon his shoulder.
Hush" said he; you are getting too
near that window, and it is open. Let
me see there's nobody inside"
he looked in. There was nobody.
Grace was upstairs, but it did so hap
pen that she came into the room soon
after.
Nothing of the kind. Accident. Ac-
cidents will happen in mines, and talk
ing of luck, this mine was declared
DANGEROUS this very day"
No, no." groaned Barley, trembling
in every limb. Its a horrible crime; |
dare not risk it."
1T is but risk. The alternative is GER
tain. You will be indicted for fraud by
the Cliffords."
BARLEY groaned.
They'll live in your home, they'll re-
vel in your money, while you wear a
cropped head-and a convict dresS-in
a stone cell at Portland"
mo, neYerI" screamed BARLEY. Man
man, you are tempting me to my perdi-
ton"
81 am saving you. Just consider
where is the risk? 1t is only an acct
dent, and who will suspect you? Men
don't ruin their own mines. Here just
let me call him."
BARLEY made faint gesture to for
bid it, but Monckton pretended to take
that as an assent.
lily, Ben" he cried, come here"
No, mol" cried Barley; "I'l have
nothing to do with him."
Wen" said Monckton, "then don't,
but hear what he has got to say; he'll
tell you how easily accidents happen
III mine"
Then Burnley came in, but stood at
some distance. BARLEY turned his back
upon them both, and edged away from
them a little; but Monckton stood be-
tween the two men, determined to bring
them together.
Ben" said he, "Mr. BARLEY takes you
on again at my request; no thanks to
Mr.. Hope"
mo. curse him: / know that"
Talking of that, Ben, howwas it that
you got rid of that troublesome over
seer in the Welsh colliery?"
Ben started and looked aghast for a
moment. but soon recovered himself.
and told his tale of blood, with strange
mixture of satisfaction and awe, wash
ing his hands in the air nervouSly all
the time.
We'll, you see, sir, we put some gun
cotton in a small canister, with fuse
cut to last four minutes, and hid it in
one of the old workings the men had
left: then they telt t overSeer they
thOWt t water was coming in by quick
ly. He got there just in time; and what
with t explosion, fire-damp, and fallen
coal, we never saw t Overseer again"
Dear me-" said Monckton; and Mr..
Hope has gone down the mine express
ly to inspect old workings. Is it not a
strange coincidence? Now. if such an
accident was to befall Mr.. Hope, it's my
belief Mr.. BARLEY would give you five