The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-31
PART II.
CHAPTER l.


1t is time TO drop the mystery which has
hung over this second heir now TO the baro-
uetcy Of Huntingford, and the Rat, the
prescribed thief and housebreaker.
His past life he himself told in his con-
versation with Royal, as well as his motive
for the course he had 80 far followed, and
his share in the latest felony the sacking Of
Brandon Hall
He had gone to London bridge with the
view of travelling at once TO Germany 20
see his child. He had half an hour to
spare. While waiting he had begun to
think with pity OF the unfortunate Giri
whom Royal had entrapped.
Deliberate as he was in waRiug his war
upon society his strange nature gave way
readily to the impulse which prompted IL TO
try to save her. The very obstacles in his
path only confirmed his.
To assume a dark" which should inspire
the girl with confidence was an easy task.
But his difficulties were by no means les
sened In his new character. Royal never
moved from Madge's side, while Mr.. Fer
ret kept SO near that any attempt to force
an interview was undesirable.
In this state OF indeoision the Rat caught
sight of his cousin. The bullying pocket
book, which told how, while the innocent
had fallen, the guilty had prospered, made
him long to snatch it from the hand that
had sent him to his doom.
rOTbuuhbol1 lOL hAu no uau udplcueu W
detect Royal also cycling the booty.
Into the Rats mind leaped the idea TO
give his cousin fright over his ill-gotten
gains, and at the same time to save the girl,
by stealing the pocket book from the bunch
back, passing 1t into Royals possession, and
then raising the cry against him.
lt was a dangerous trick, but Just the
kind In which the Rat delighted
Once get Royal away, il only for a time,
the girl was safe. But the trick did not
succeed.
Itwas lucky for him that the pocket
book the Rat had meant to transfer to
Royals possession had been so carelessly
fastened that few Of the dwarfs cards
had remained in his hand, but he had had
20 exert all his dizziness to hide them in his
pocket in time. The daring with which he
afterward turned them TO account was
thoroughly characteristic Of him.
He had calculated the pitch of the hunch-
backs rage, and saw that before he could
be calm enough TO explain matters he the
Rat would be safely out OF the way.
Once in the train, the false hair and beard
removed, the felt hat battered out OF shape.
and the reversible suit turned, the clever
trickster might have defied detection even
more completely than before.
Still the affair delayed his journey for
some hours. bis thoughts again few to the
beautiful victim OF ROYALS perfidy. IL
1T might be my little one, herself" he
thought, forgetting that ''the little onen
must now be a woman, land it will be a
blacker bit Of work than even have soiled
my hands with to leave him to marry her.
/ stole her fathers plate, but il l save him
this that would break his heart-to lose her
and In such way-perhaps it will be a
sort OF atonement Somehow one good 40
ton between the past and the future NAV
make it easier for mo tn meet the little one
make it easier 70 hide all the rest abe
mustn't know
Confident OF his own skill he decided IN
follow Royal to Narrow lane, whittier he
had taken the girl his own rooms at the
the top Of the house being a safe place Tor
her lodging The himself had a fine set OF
chambers, which he had rented in the frst
tide of his successful partnership with the
Rat, to speak TO him openly on the sub
ject, and if be still refused TO forego his de-
signs upon the girl, to use force ia order 10
give her the necessary warning.
The sight of his cousin revived all his ILL
feeling. Yet he mighs have passed over
this, had not the hunchb4ck dared to force
bis way into the house. which be had made
a shrine Of his vengeance, 20 try as IL
seemed 20 make atonemsnt for his crime
with money. Such q bare-faced insult.
hoaed to injury, was more than the Pat
could stand. IL was the sudden recollec-
tion Of Royals victim upstairs that had