Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-21
DARK DEEDS.
ny HENRY W. NEsrIELD.
CHAPTER VIM (CoXrINUEp).

dows rafting and The wheels joltIng over
the stones, neither the driver nor they
were aware Of an additional fare who sat
behind the cab.
At last they reached their destination,
q small, badly-lighted street in Camden
Town. The houses were mostly OF one
story, and were evidently the abodes OF
respectable mechanics. There were lights
in the house at which they stopped.
Mrs. Atwood tod lizabeth TO get out
and ring the bell, desiring the cabman TO
wait. Presently she heard the sound OF
Golts being drawn and the door opened.
''Does Mr.. James Martin lodge herep,.
inquired Mrs. Atwood.
"Yes, ma'am," the woman replied.
ale Is shocking bad to-nigh'. Tom -
that's my husband wanted him to see
doctor but he was so obstinate, and
wouldn't let him fetch one.
Mrs. Atwood entered he passage with
Eli abeth, and the street door was closed.
The house was small and smelled stulty,
but it had q neat and clean appearance
Notwithstanding.
MAY | go up and see him?" said
Blanche enlreatingly. 81 am very Old
friend of his "a very old friend"
Yes, ma am" replied the woman.
''You will take care not to excite him,
won't YOU? lie is mortal bad! lie only
came here vest rday, but we both quite
took TO him he seemed so gentle-like and
so sad. / thought somehow, though he
looked poor, that he had gentlefolks be-
longin' TO him. "
''Stay here, lizabeth, whispered Mrs.
Atwood. II must go up alone.
In a small scantily furnished room up
stairs lay John Deane. half undresssd,
upon truckle-bed.
Mrs. Atwood saw at a glance from his
surrounding what had happened to him
he had bars a blOOd-vessel
ii ting down noiselessly by his side, she
waited until the VI oman had left the room.
Jack, " she said softly at last Jack
do you know me- jack"
Turning his head painfully upon the
pillow, he ga ed Lovingly up into her face.
Yes-he knew her!
She took one OF his hands in her own
and stroked / soothingly. Neither of
them spoke but the tears cOursed down
John Delaney's face as his poor heart felt
the irst touch of love and sympathy
which it had known since he had left his
home,
At last he motoned as If he wanted
some water. She poured out some from
the Jug upon the washstand and gave il
TO him. Having drunk it, he lay back up
on his pillow for few minutes and ap
peared to collect his thoughts.
Mrs. Atwood, " he said presently, In a
faint, strained voice, "last night heard
everything! Observation-Disclosures -aIl-all
about my being suspected of-having
murdered SturgiS.'
She bowed her head, and kept her face
turned from him.
800 you think did it?' lie asked anx-
iously.
he could not reply, and again he re-
peated the question.
What else can | think, Tack?" she
murmured. "YOu have been told, su, =
pose, all that came o It at the in uest?"
''N es all-all that Eli aGeth co I'D tell
me" He paused for breath. "Mrs. At
wood, "he continued. you know how AL |
have been-yOu know all my wretched
fanatcsm but, in the old days when we
were all so happy, do you remember my
ever having told you lie? J you think
that | would do so now, when | am dy-
ing?"
mo, Jack-no" she moaned. Il am
sure that you could not
Then listen. AS lie here, within a
few moments perhaps of breathing my
last breath, l am innocent CT that crime.
Do you believe me?'
Believe you? oh, Jack, how happy
you have made me, However black cir
cum stances may appear against you, be-
lieve yen. upon your Wort, than you are
guiltlesS"
''Heaven bless you, Mrs. Atwood" he
said, ra sing her hand, which clasped his
own, to his lips and kissing it.
For long time the silence was unbrok-
| a Gan1paA inalinnI fn 10. oil.
sat by the bedside, bravely trying to sup
pres her sobs, not venturing to remove
her hand from his.
A happy smile seemed fixed upon his
fea ures as If his thoughts were far above
the physical Suiferings he g injured.
'N Cu-you are still there? Don't stay
not to night. Come early early to-
morrow! Early-or you will lee too late!''
Then he dozed o again.
Mrs. Atwood looked at her watch. II
was an hour since she had left hoMe. Her
husband might have re urned, and was
perhaps wondering what had become OF
her. She must 60, and come back at day
light; so, without disturbing him, she left
the room.
The woman of the house had not yet
gone 10 bed. Begging her to sit up with
him and fetch doctor in at once, Mrs.
Atwood slipped some gold into her hand
and said
II will be here early-sOon after day
light. loI will not leave him. will you?
| will be back early-yery early" and,
with her heart full OF grief, she hurried
home.
CHATTER TX. AND LAST.
Upon their return Mrs. Atwood and
Ell abeth found the house in total dark
ness.
Mr. Atw, Cd had evidently not yet come
home. Having paid the cabman literally,
Mrs. Atwood asked him il he would call
again at daylight, as she wished to 90
back to the house she had been visiting
to see dying riend.
ooGing in at her husbands bedroom,
she saw that there was fire burning
brightly within. She went in and sat
down beside it, for the LIT wet night had
chilled her. Then she sent Eli abeth to
bed.
John Delaney was Innocent" she
thought. She knew he would not lie TO
her. He had not committed the crime.
Who had then?
A fearful suspicion crossed her mind.
That was the very night upon which
George was out. He had not come home
until nearly daylight All the events of