The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-09-27
THE
LITTLE |! " AIF.
A Story Of Absorbing Interest.
By BERNARD Heassar.
IcnAprER xIrr.-.oon1,,,rn, !,

ICHAPTER XIII --CoNTIsuEp.J
Despite her repugnance Of the dnty
before her, half IN hour later little
Oracle entered q carriage, in company
VIII. tho lawyer and the detective, and
was driven rapidly away in the direc-
tlon OF Bellevue Hospital, on the edge
OF the river, within whose shadow
stands that temporary resting place of
the unknown and unclaimed dead.
Naturally, the report of the mysteri-
GUS murder up in Harlem had got into
the papers, and had been duly aired
Consequently the melancholy room, was
throngcd with idle and curious s.nsn-
tion seekers. Among these came Mr..
Max Boydcn, attired in tho deepest
black, to look upon the grewsomc. hnl
eous face of the dead.
Though he know full well what he
had TO expect, he shrank back with a
shudder of horror, as his eyes rested
upon the distorted features, upturned
TO the garish light of the noontide sun.
Seoing au attendant, he beckoned
MIN aside, and said. assuming look of
can bear to have eli. .,s there
any longer. Let me ],Avo him re-
moved" ~ F.
.eWho are you 2" demanded the man,
eying him suspiciously.
"a friend of the deceased"
Have you got permit?"
'No. Is it necessary"
~Of course it is."
Is Casting about desperately in his
mind for the means of effecting his OBJ
ject, Boyden produced twenty dollar
bill, and attempted to thrust it into the
attendants hand
Here" he whispered, "take this and
give me his clothes There are some
letters from-from his wife in his
pocket, which she wouldn't caro- to
have examined"
down to the floor nnnoticed, and the
actly pleasant for Mr.. Boyden to SEQ.
"Send his wife round here, and IN
give her her husband and oil that be-
longs to him. We don't want any part
of him, you know"
And turning upon his heel, he left
the gentleman to digest his chagrin as
best he could. He was not long left to
his own thoughts, for soon after raising
his eyes he saw the group of bystand-
ers part, to admit Oracle and her com.
panions to the side of the dead man.
With violent start, he skulked to the
edge of the crowd and strained his ears
to listen. >$ $500.
He heard Detective Bancker ask:
"Do you recognize this man."
EYES," came Gracie's voice, in o
phuddering whisper.
@"Who is iii"
Nicholas Garland"
"Thank you; you may stand aside, if
you wish, while we examine the cloth
ing:".
The circle parted again. and little
Oracle staggered out, pale and sickened
at the sight she had seen.
In trice Boyden was at her side,
his hand upon her arm. III
"Gracie J. lie breathed; mot q word
On your life, not word! Step aside
here have something to tell you of
vital importance-someth which af.
fects your life and the life of the man
you lovew
She was faint and nearly overcome
with conflicting emotions, and she
looked ut him hardly comprehending
whe. he said, scarcely realizing that il
was he.
Still keeping fast hold upon her arm,
he drew her gently with him toward
the door, whispering:
Come, come j will keep you hut
q moment; but no ono must hear what
] have to say. Come!"
And sho, as though under a spell,
followed him mechanically, and not an
eye noted them rs the door closed be.
hind their vanishing forms. I,
Passing ON, he knew hot just whith.
or, and cared not so long as his victim
accompanied him, Boyden swerved
aside from the usual avenue Of on
trance, and, trusting to luck, he thrust
z open door upon his right hand.
There wns here little, dim, chilly
i inner court. walled in by the walls OF
tho surrounding buildings; useless
spnt where boxes were stored away
where the wind lowled dismally in the
winter, and where the patter of the
rain echoed mournfully in ipSlemen,
weather.
Across, on the other side, disused
gate hung open. affording entrance. tc
a lawn of sunlight, and granting O
glimpse Of the street bexond.
Having reached this forbidding look,
ing retreat, Oracle came to her senses
rnl paused.
Speak r she said; II will 60 no far