The Springdale news., 1889-02-08
LAWRENCE LOVEJOY
A Romance of English Life During
 the Free-Trade Movement.
BY FRANK !. MARTIN AND ". H. s.
 ATKINSON, AUTHORS OF THE MILLS OF Cop AND OTH.
 FIR STORIES.
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 eeiA atS aatAorS
CHAPTER XVI.
RFFusAE NUMBER TWO


 When the shooting took place at Mill Hill, followed the next day by the dis covery of Randolph's dead body between there and Weirdale, considerable excite ment prevailed, not only at Mill Hill, but in all the immediate Heighborhood Many were the surmises as to who the dead man was and who shot him and George Foster One thing was sure, | strange gentleman had been killed and robbed on the highway, and. as it was hardly thought that George had enemies who would shoot him simply to kill him or dc him bodily injury, the eonelu- sion arrived at in most minds was that the culprit was some desperate foat-pad The home department offered the usual reward for the discovery of the murderer, but no one claimed Il tHawkins beng already iu iaih aud m a lew weeks public curiosity in regard to the affair died a natural death
 George roster was himself. as might be expected under the impression that Perci- val shot him. but, as ne had escaped much harm and as PerefYal had left the neighbor- hood. he thought Il best to say nothing of what he thought he knew, Us 1t would only bring his sisters name into the newspa- pers and create q public scandal. As for the man found dead near Weirdale George looked upon that as merely singular coIici- dence and did not for moment connect his own adventure with what appeared t0 be nothing but common highway murder and robbery. By the time our friend Hawkins came out of Newgate, after his eighteen months vacation, the encounter and Perci- val himself were almost forgotten by Eos ter
 But he was soon 10 be rudely reminded of all the circumstances, for Hawkins, short of cash, at once went to Perciyal. who was now res:5ing at fercivalthhrpe, 10 see if he was still willing 10 keep to his bargain in regard tn George Foster. Now, PercIval found life al his country mansion exceed mgly duh without company, and at the same time Percivalthorpe without a mistress was poor place to entertain guests Add to this the fact that the slighter the chances grew of ever securing Rachel Foster for hIs wife the more Percival fretted, fumed and kicked, and his willingness 10 keep to his part of the arrangement will be under stood
 ''Yes. he sad to Hawkins, get the boor of brother out of the way and think can manage the rest
 Hawkins at once proceeded to Stagshre, and, with the aud of accomplces, including our one-eyed friend from the Seven Dials, soon managed 10 work up cham of dark evidence against George. It was proven that George quarreed with Randolph al the Saracen's Head at Weirdale upon some trivial matter on the morning before the murder. lt was also suggested and made much of by some, that he had fired the pistol near his own house as a blind. These as sertlons, with a little false swearing by some of Hawkins hired witnesses. were sufficient for the bench of magistrates, and 4rY1ftt taI t. afrb jail to await his trial. without giving him the privilege of baIl. With the county jus tices the Wilson's and Fosters dId not stand in very high favor just now. They were known to be freetraders; and with such men as we met upon one occasion at Lord Ogiivies dinner table, who for the most part filled the bench at the Werdale petty sessions, 10 advocate or even beheye in the Anti-C Corn Law doctrine was foul crime in itself.
 Any way the grand lury at the Stag borough quarter sessions took a different view of Hawkins X Compauy's evidence. threw out the bill charging George Foster with murder on the Queens highway and the prisoner was liberated. But, between the day he was committed by the magis. trate and the day he was acquitted by the jury, two months had passed away Two months when were made the most or by Percival.
 As soon as Percival heard that George was safely lodged in jail he made his way to Mill Hill. where he was welcomed by Matthew Wilson, who knew nothing of the rupture between the two men, and the sec. ond day had an opportunity to speak with Rachel
 The meeting was in Matthew Wilson house and was not very cordial on Rachel part. After very cool greeting Pereival proceeded Allow me to offer my sym pathies, Miss Foster; I am indeed sor- ry to hear this sad news about your broth CT, and trust it may prove all q mis- take. At the same time l must say, and think you will yourself admit, that the evi- dence aganst hlm is very strong. Now, have some little influence among those who might be able 10 help hIm, and 1 wish to throw that influence with all the weight l can give 1t on to your brothers sde-on one condition
 Il can anticipate you, Sir James, (he had explained his true social position to them) said Rachel, sand 1 think it should be