The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-10-11

~ SelUOM uSeU. IL was almost the
only thing in the library that was not
open to his hand; but of this Mr.. Med
licott always kept the key.
His curiosity was aroused, and by
and by he learned that it contained
family correspondence.
Thinking 1t might throw some light
upon many things he desired to know,
he had great desire to explore the
contents of this box, but never got the
opportunity.
On the night Of Mr.. Medlicott's death
he obtained possession Of the box and
emptied 1t of its contents. He had
now been examining them. What had
he found there7
Tho first letter Of importance that
lle had lighted upon was a letter from
the matron Of the Marlborough work.
house In answer to one from Mrs.
Medlicott, detailing Rosamond's story;
how she had been brought thither
with q brother and how the father had
been found upon heap Of stones
upon the roadside.
Then 1t was his own sister whom he
was charging with his crime. Re
mOrseless wretch us he was this was
u terrible revelation to him.
But other, and 10 him, even more
terrible revelations were at hand.
Among the letters were two or three
signed Edward Lingham, and there
We're copies of letters written by Nj.
Medlicott. 1t was only after perusing
several Of these that the strange story
they revealed began to dawn upon
him; and 1t was only after reading
them again that he could realize all
that that story meant for him.
First and foremost he learned that
the man whose life lie had so cruelty
taken was not the one who had de-
frautlcl his father of his birthrlght,
but only his brother. Nay, more, that
this murdered man had strongly con-
demned his brothers. conduct, been
Edward Lingham5s friend, had more
than once assisted him from starva-
ton, and had never refused him help
when he applied for 1t, but no help
could save that man from the cOnsc-
quences of his evil life. And how
evil that life had been was abundant
~ proved by this correspondence.
But the torn letter that. had been
given him by the dying man, surely he
could not have purposcly wished to
flAe4cuu Hill 3 Ou, uOs Ocs1lu @u1U 4ulSE.
rened before the explanation was
complete, and what terrible conse-
quences had thus been brought about
Here, before proceeding further in
his discoveries, lie paused to think and
to look back upon his life, from that
terrible night when lie had stood alone
upon the high road with the dead.
What that life had been It you'd
be useless to relate.
Envious and malignant By DISPOSE
ton, lie had Rugged the poisonous
thought that. instead of being the out
cast and vagabond he was, he might
have been living in luxury but for one
man who had robbed him of his birth
right.
Soon after his fight from the work
house he had got over to America MS
stowaway, and there remained until
he grew to manhood.
Ever haunted by the prompting to
revenge he by and by returned to Eng
land. Evil and dissolute as his life
had been. he had picked up tolerable
education.
An advertisement in the Telegraph
for a young man to assist a gentle
man as amanuensis was one Of the
first things that attracted his atten-
ton upon landing.
The gentleman's name was John
Roberts, and he lived at Croydon. A
willy tongue and any number of lies
obtained him the situation.
1t was now that he took the name
of Abershaw. one of the many aliases
his father had assumed. He soon dis
covered that Mr.. Roberts was q friend
of Mr.. Medllcott, and when the former
was about to depart to America lie
obtained from him the letter of rec
ommendation which has been already
given in these pages.
In the States Luke had served in
many capacities; among others he had
been an assistant In drug store, and
had picked Up some knowledge Of the
business. ~
one day be happened to oyerhear q
conversation between his employer
and a doctor of the city CONCERNING
the peculiar properties OF q certain
drug. which. Il administered In large
doses, would produce all the symptoms
Of the disease for which II was fire.
quently prescribed, and act as a slow
poison that almost defied analysis.
What prompted the action it would
be difficult to say; perhaps he had no
idea hlmself-perhaps, unknown, even
to himself, there was some subtle con-
nection between It and his ever-brood-
ing thoughts of vengeance. Be that "a
it might, he secretly possessed himself
at different times Of quantity of this
dangerous drug and of others yet more
deadly, and carried them about with
him wherever he went.
should enter NE. MedlicotEs employ
with the question how should be
wreak the vengeance that he had "a
long thirsted for, and which was now
within his grasp, came the memory oil
that conversation.
Blindly led on by Fate, he had never
thought Of making inquiries respect
ing Mr.. MedlicOtt 80 as to verify hif
fixed idea that he was the man wht
had Wronged bis father: he had &c
ceptea that fragment Of letter ~ M !,
concerned him to know. '''''' " N" :
With his thoughts still broodipg or
his critical position. he resumed hi
perusal Of James Medlicott's letters
in one of which, dated twenty-five
years ago, he met sentence abiding
to the kidnapping Of his infant son
The child was described az having q
physical defect, the third toe On the
right foot being abnormally short and
undeveloped. His left foot was sfmi
larly deformed. The truth flashed
upon bis MIND. Ana this &as the re
suit Of hls vengeance 6gqindt A}R.pWr
father and his sister:
Maddened by these thoughts, the
impulse Of flight came Np0n him. III
unlocked the door, but was startled hy
(;odfrey's saying:
"You cannot leave this house."
"WhO'll prevent meg" he shouted.
II Aud up the stairs, nttering demon
lac laugh, he ruslled,
Al Of . sudden y dull heavy thui