The sun., 1893-02-23
CHAPTER IV.-ooNrINUED.

i
ent's Park tragedy was all a silly
hoax, for which "Flinch" was very
sorry, and begged of ''Widge" to re-
turn that his friend might make every
reparation in his power.
| Not word about the marriage,
! though! Mr.. Flincher was aware how
sensitive his friend Widgery was on
that point, and it was not impossible
if he was in hiding anywhere, and
learnt that Miss Dimpleton was in
deed lost to him forever, he might
rashly put an end to his miserable ex-
istence without further reflection. Mr..
Flincher was eagerly scanning the
newspapers mentioned one morning
at breakfast hoping to find some re-
ply from the absent one, when ne
! calculated, "God bless my soulp' in
such startling tones that his pretty
wife in alarm dropped the egg she was
in the act of handing to him.
Good heavens, Joe, dear! What's
the matter?"
"WelI, my love, the most amazing
news in the world is the matter, if
this precious paragraph concerns our
friend. 1mosU sincerely hope that it
does not. But the name! 1t is such
an uncommon one, you see?"
"What name is suncommon?"
"Why, Widgery."
Gracious goodness! And in the
newspaper" and young Mrs. Flincher
went as white as the tablecloth.
"You never mean to say, Joseph, that
the poor fellow has committed"
Burglary! Somebody of the name
| OF Widgery has attempted to do SO
anyhow. Listen to this my love:
Singular attempted hotel robbery at
Heybridge! On Tuesday morning, at
an early hour, the proprietor OF the
Crown and Dolphin was aroused from
slumber by hearing within his premises
a cry of thieves, Immediately followed
| by the discharge of fire arms. Hur-
rying to the spot it was found that
gentleman staying at Ethe hotel had
been awakened by finding a man in
the room, and in the act of endeavor-
ing to abstract a pocket book con-
tanning large sum Of money from be-
ne ath the pillow of the owner. The
latter fired a pistol at therobber, who
| thereon flung open the bedroom win
dow and leapt out into the garden
| below, and so escaped. The most
singular feature of the affair is
that an adjoining bedchamber was
occupied by gentleman, likewise q
guest at. the Crown and Dolphin, with
whom the other guest had been on
friendly terms the evening previous.
| They both retired at the same time,
and judging from the significant fact
that the only other guest at the hotel
had not occupied his bed, and that
l when the alarm was raised it was dis
covered that he had disappeared,
there can be little doubt that he and
/ the would-be robber are identical.
| The latter left behind him an umbrel-
la, and in his room a cardcase con-
tanning cards, bearing the name of
MIR. Samuel Widgery.'"
Mr.. Flincher dropped the newspa-
per, and he and his wife regarded each
other in silence and dismay for sever
| oil seconds.
GAS you say, my dear, Widgery is
an uncommon name" remarked Mrs.
f., shaking her head.
coupled with Samuel too. But
then, on the other hand, it seems ut
terly impossible. Why, poor Sam
was nervous as a mouse, and with no
more of the burglar in his compost
ton than I have. 1t is q pity they
don't give a description of his appear
ance-of his clothing, at any rate.
He was wearing that plum-colored
coat with q velvet collar, as you may
remember when he rushed away in
the park. l could swear to that
among q Thousand. Besides, why
should he be tempted to such q
course2 To my knowledge he had
money with him-twelve or fifteen
pounds"
perhaps he has gone mad" said
Mrs. Flincher with shiver.
"And much better, perhaps than
that is that, after all, it is not poor
Sam at all. Anyhow, I will run
down to Hey bridge and make inquiry
quietly, you know, and without
saying even that I am acquainted
with him" #E
And to Heybridge Mr.. Flincher
went, and to the Crown and Dolphin.
There was no difficulty in cleaning the
| required information. The attempted
| midnight robbery was the current
| topic OF conversation.
"And was he really dressed like q
gentleman?" Mr.. Flincher inquired of
| the waiter.
"Oh, yes, sir. Sort of claret-colorA'
ed coat with velvet collar, and tan.
Colored gloves and silk umbrella.
That he left in the stand, sir-a brown
silk one, with a dogs head carved in
Ivory for q handle"
That was clincher! The two
friends were together, when Mr.. Wild
gerry purchased that Identical UNI
brella in Oxford-street. It was i'm
| possible to arrive at any other con-
| Clusion than that Sam Widgery was
the robber, and Mr.. Flincher' s melan-
| choly summing up of the case was
that, brooding on the sanguinary deed
OF which he supposed himself guilty,
his brain had become affected, and he
was not responsible for his actions.
And all through the foolish prank he,
Mr.. Flincher had played on him
in the uneviable frame of mind in
duced by his dismal reflections Film
cher took train and returned to Pad
dington Station. and there, hail
ing cab, commenced his homeward
journey, when, CHANGING TO glance
from the window OF the cab, 10! there
was Mr.. Widgery! on the opposite
side of the way, and about, to turn
into q dingy side street. There could
be not the remotest doubt about it.
AS Flincher had remarked to his
wife, he could swear to that plum
colored coat among thousandl
In IAN instant he leapt out of the
vehicle, and might easily have over
taken Widgery, but that the cabman
leapt down from the driving seat and
overlook him as he had c ossed the
road
mo you won't, if / know It'll" ex-
claimed the irate cabman, getting be-
fore him. I've had 'em try it on after
dark, but"
My good fellow have no wish to
cheat you. am merely anxious to
speak with someone saw passing
along. Ny overcoat is in your cab.
That's all right, then"
n d. - Il