Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-10-21
CHAPTER WI

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS.
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 the mulattress. A little later
Andrew Hollister called at 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 perceptible, and when Andrew
Hollister stood in Molly's presence her
condition wrung from him the admis-
sion that her mind was irrevocably lost
Lew Barker's position now became
more and more desperate. Mrs. AL
laire'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 If 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-
come known to Manson, Lew Barker
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-
ment at its best, Edward Manson led an
outdoor life on these vast tracts of field
and forest, working of his surplus vi
tality by fishing and hunting, now on
foot, now on horseback, managing these
extensive estates without taking coun-I
sci of anyone. He was the true type Of
those sturdy North American farmers
who live to be 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, 1t looked as If the
uncle would outlive the niece. ALI
hopes which Lew Barker might have
built up in this direction were mani
festly toppling over, and he found him.
self face to face with inevitable disas-
ter.
At this moment two-thirds of Mrs.
Allaire's fortune had already been ex-
hausted and there now remained in
Barker's hands but fifteen hundred dol
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
hS pursuers- And the time had come
to act. Actions at law were now insti-
tuted against Lew Barker, both for
swindling and for breach of trust, and
1t was not long before an order of ar
rest was issued against him, but when
the officers presented themselves at
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 Hollister
made the discovery that t-Molly's fortune
had been entirely wasted. She was
left without a penny in the world. Her
dishonest guardian had not even left
her enough to provide for her imme-
date necessities. Mr.. Hollister was
not long in deciding upon the only
course left open to him. 1t was to
transfer Mrs. Allaire to some private es-
tablishment where she would be well
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.. Hollister was the private
establishment of DR.. Bromley who had
already attended her. Would these
changes cause any alteration in her
mental condition? 1t was hoped SO, but
all in vain. The same indifference was
noticeable under her changed surround
ings, and yet there was slight modif-
cation of her condition which the keen
eye of the expert did not overlook, a
coming to the surface of shred of ma
ternal instinct amid this wreck Of rea-
son. 1t was noticed at times that she
was engaged In murmuring lullaby as
II she were occupied in putting to sleep
. babe which lay on her bosom. But
the name Of little Walt never passed
her lips.
No tidings of John Allaire came dur
ing the year 1876. And the same thing
could be said of the Barkers All ef-
forts to unearth them had proved fruit
less. No one knew whittier they had
gone or under what name they had con-
cealed their identity. The truth was
Lew Barker had good cause to cry out
against fate for not being able to main
tain his position in his Fleet street
Office, for only two years after his dis
appearance the contingency upon which
his grand scheme was based, became a
certainty and it may be said that he
reached port only to go to the bottom.
Towards the middle of June, 1878,
Mr. Hollister received letter addressed
to Molly Allaire. This communication
informed her of the unexpected death
Of Edward Manson, who had been ac-
cidentally killed. While out hunting a
rife ball, fired by one of the party,
had glanced and, striking him in the
breast, had killed him instantly. Upon