Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-09-08
THE CALIFORNIANS,
BY JULES VERNE.
Copyright 1891 by the Authors Alliance.
BY JULES VERNE.
CHAPTER VII.
TNFpoRTA A Nj,

With the coming of March Mrs. Al
laire was permitted to resume her
walks in the immediate vicinity of
the cottage, in company with Kate
and tho mulattress. A little later
Andrew IIollister called ut the house
and satisfied himself that the health
Of the patient left nothing to be
desired-that her physical condition
was in every way satisfactory. Mental
ly, it is true, there was no improve
ment pcrccptible, and when Andrew
HOLSTER stood in Molly's presence her
condition wrung from him the admis-
sion that her mind was irrevocably lost.
Lew Bankers position now became
more and more desperate. Mrs. AL
lairc's fortune, which he had converted
to his own use, had not been sufficient
to fill the pit gaping at his feet. There
was one way in which he might save
himself, but it didn't seem as # the
thing could be accomplished in time
enough to do any good. While it was
true that Mrs. Allaire was alive and
well, it was also true that Edward
Manson was in the very best of health.
In the wariest and most underhanded
way, so that his action might not be-
COLllc hIlO"n W MuLSOIs Lew odThcI
had succeeded in unearthing this
strange character hidden away in the
depths of his wild lands in Tennessee.
Strong and vigorous, hardly sixty yet,
with his mental and physical endow-
mcnt at it's best, Edward Manson led an
outdoor life on these vast tracts of field
and forest, working off his surplus vi
tality by fishing and hunting, now on
foot, now on horseback, managing these
extensive estates without taking coun-
sci of anyone. He was the true type of
those sturdy North American farmers
who live to be a hundred, and the only
wonder is how they can bring them
selves to die at all.
There was, therefore, no use expect
ing any immediate results from this
source. In fact, it looked as if the
uncle would outlivo the niece All
hopes which Low Barker might have
built up in this direction were mani
frstly topping over, and he found him
self face to face with inevitable disas-
ter
At this moment two-thirds of Mrs.
Allairc's fortune had already been ex-
hnustCd and there now remained in
lars Pressed as he was on all sides by
demands, this fifteen hundred dollars
was like drop of water in the bay
of San Diego But while it might be
insufficient to enable him to meet his
obligations, yet in case flight should
become necessary there was quite
enough to put him out of the reach OF
his pursuers. And the time had come
20 - Aa1iAnc Of Low fnSfi
tuted against Lew Barker, both for
swindling and for breach of trust, and
it was not long before an order of ar,
rest was issued against him, but when
the officers presented themselves al
his Office in Fleet street, they were in
formed that he had not been seen since
the day before.
They at once went to Prospect cot
tage in search of their man, but he had
left the house in the middle of the
night.
On that day, May II, upon reaching
Prospect cottage, Andrew Holistel
made the discovery that Molly's fortune
had been entirely wasted She was
| left without penny in the world. Hel
dishonest guardian had not even lef
her enough to provide for her imme
date necessities. Mr.. IIollistcr wa
not long in deciding upon the only
course left open to him. 1t was K
transfer Mrs. Allaire to some private es
tablishmcnt where she would be wei
cared for, and to discharge the Negro
woman, whom he had always looked
upon with suspicion.
The retreat to which Molly was trans
ferred by Mr.. IIollistcr was the privat
establishment of DIR. Bromley who ha,
already attended her. Would thes
changes cause any alteration in he
mental condition? 1t was hoped so, bu
all in vain. The same Indifference wa
noticeable under her changed surround
ings, and yet there was n slight modif
, cation of her condition which the lIce
, eye of the expert did not overlook,
= coming to the surface of shred of ms
ternal instinct amid this wreck of res
son. 1t was noticed at times that sh
was engaged in murmuring lullaby q
II she were occupied in putting to slice
u babe which lay on her bosom. Br
the name of little Walt never passe
her lips.
No tidings of John Allaire came du
ing the year 1876. And the same thin
could be said of the Bankers. All e
forts to unearth them had proved frui
less. No one knew whittier they ha
gone or under what name they had col
cealed their identity. The truth Wa
Lew Barker had good cause to cry OF
agaj nst fate for not being. able to mail
- thin his position in his Fleet stree
office. for only two years after his di
appearance the contingency upon whic
his grand scheme was based, became
certainty and it may be said that
r reached port only to go to the bottor
o Towards the middle of June, 1877
Mr.. HOLSTER received a letter addresst
to Molly Allaire. This communicate
, informed her of the unexpected deaf
of Edward Manson, who had been a
- cidentally killed. While out hunting
rifle bali, fired by one of the part
had glanced and, striking him in tt
breast, had killed him instantly. UpC
Il 4 FWT~ J,K1I