The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-29

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sassinates rue am booked for being the old
est inhabitaut OF Bloomsbury"
Mr.. Widgery did not return that might
| till Mr.. Flincher had retired to rest, anC
next morning Mrs. Nobler, white as th(
breakfast tablecloth. had something start
! ling to tell him. She had discovered a pts,
| tol in Mr. Widgery's rooml Not in {
| drawer, or cupboard, where the innocent
| possessor Of such a weapon would have de-
| posted it, but under the edge of the carpet
at the back of a couch. Widgery had goni
| to business. and the alarmed landlady
brought it down in her hand-holding i
with duster and at arms length. 1t wa
an old-fashioned pistol with a single barrel
and 1t was loadedl
Mr.. Flincher looked puzzled, and LITTLE
dismayed as well.
Upon my word it looks as though thu
vindictive little beggar meant mischief
Stay, thought For all we know it may
have been lying where you found 1t previous
| to our quarrel. He knows as much about
firearms as Of astronomy, and it may have
come into his possession in some odd way OF
other, and he hid it there because be wai
afraid of it,"
"But the carpet was taken up for beating
only yesterday, and my looking to see II
Mary bad laid it down properly led to my
finding the murderous thing"
Then he must have purchased it and
| brought it home last night. Mrs. Nobler, il
looks rather ugly. Something will have to
be done"
Something shall be done. Mr.. Flincher.
shall be sorry to part with Mr.. Widgery,
but can't risk the house getting a bad
name through a murder being done in it.
will give him notice to quit this very
night"
"You are very considerate, Mrs. Nobler,
especially as regards the reputation of the
house." returned Mr.. Flincher, laughingly
you might, perhaps. arrange with Wild
gerry to shoot me away from home, and
then YOU need not give him notice. But a
still better plan. think. will be for me to
withdraw the charge from the pistol-he
will never miss it-and for you to replace it
where you found it, and we will say nothing
about it and await results"
But Mr.. Flincher was not quite faithful
to this compact. 1t was such a good Joke
that he could not resist conhding 1t to Daisy
Dimpleton. 1t was late in the evening
when he and Daisy were taking q walk in
Regents Park.
but good gracious, Joseph" said she, as
with little shiver she frightened the link
ing of their arms, you don't think he
could be so malicious and wicked as to want
to shoot youp
Don't tell you he has vowed to shed my
blood. And such being seriously his inten-
ton | cannot see that he could adopt a
neater or more convenient means than by
putting q bullet in me. 1t is fortunate,
Daisy" continued Widgery's rival, merrily,
shat the deadly weapon is not double
barrelled, or there might be a bullet each
for us.
80. pray don't make fun of anything SO
dreadful"
Dreadful Why what is there to be
afraid Of in an empty pistol2 | tell you
what though, Daisy, it would no more than
serve him right if be were so malicious as
to attempt to make use Of it to turn the ia
bles on him."
Which tables What do you mean. Mr..
Flincherl"
Just this If he fred at me. and l
could any way manage it, l would fall down
fiat and pretend that"
And at the very instant, aud as though as
challenge to him to attempt the ulaneuver
ne was speaking of, came the bang of a
pistolshot, and as Daisy sDimpleton uttered
a cry of alright, down fell Mr.. Joseph
Flincher at full length on the grass, and
there stood MIR. Widgery, scarce dozen
PAGES off, with the smoking pistol still in his
grasp, and seemingly horror-stricken by the
CHASTITY deed he bad done.
Fortunately the part of the park where
the tragedy was enacted was not much fire.
Quented. No one was in sight, and the ex-
plosion had not been a particularly loud
one.
Overcome with terror, and scarce know
ing what she did, Miss Dimpleton knelt
| down by Mr.. Flincher.
20 heavensl Are you shots Has he
killed youa"
Her face was close to him as she spoke
he was lying at full length and fat on his
back-but his countenance, instead of being
death-like and pallid, became instantly over
| powered with broad grin.
II ara all right" he whispered. softly and
| quickly. Keep it up. Make him believe
| that am dead as door nail"
Miss Dimpleton, who was young person
of lively disposition, took the cue without q
moments hesitation.
20. how cruel, how cruelr' she exclaimed
in agony. 30, tell me you are not dead.
Say one word to meln
| Mr.. Flincher made no verbal response
He gasped, made a gurgling noise in his
throat, stared wildly about him, as for al
instant he raised his head and shoulders
| from the ground, and then fell back with g
| dull, dead thud.
30. horror, horrorw groaned Mr.. Wild.
| gerry in hollow tones The had not moved al
inch from the spot where he stood whom be
took such fatal aim, Il have slain him! my
dear friend and companion"
as no more, said Miss Dimpleton sternly
| as she rose to her feet. You have sacri
feed him to your insane jealousy, and il
| will be my duty to bear witness against you
however terrible the consequences"
But is it certain the vital spark has fiedF
exclaimed Mr.. Widgery, wildly; "medica
aid may save him. will run for a doctor
| while you stay with him.
And away he went with the speed of {
professional pedestrian.
But although half frantic with remors,
for the terrible deed he had done the instinc
of self preservation did not forsake him
de made a call on the first doctor he coulC
find, and left word that his services wer,
Immediately required in the park by gen
tleman who had met with serious accident
But he did not return with the medica
man. Indeed, he hurried off in an exactly
opposite direction, and made for the neares
station on the Great Western line.
Fortunately but few days previous h
had drawn quarters salary. Devonshire
be resolved, was a far-distant and quiet par
Of the country for one who presently would
be sought for by the minionS of the law Il
flee to, and within an hour ne was journey
ing thther at express speed.
CHAPTER II.
A convict had escaped from Dartmoo
prison. Taxing advantage of sudden fos
while employed with gang of out-doo
laoorers, he had made dash for hbert,
aud as was supposed, leaped from the cliff
into the sea. Within half an hour tn
scouts were out but as no trace, dead o
alive of Peter Wimble were discovered. /