The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-11-12
;ome extent given me her confidence,

some extent given me aer commence,
which ! looked upon as an assurance
that, although a perfect stranger, she
she felt that she could trust me. This
she assured me she had done from the
first, and said how glad she felt when
7 entered the carriage. We exchanged
cards, and I then learned that her
name was Una Wetherby. So after
some laughing and pleasant chat, 1t
was agreed that we should assume the
characters of "Una and the Lion"
After studying the position for a
short time, I came to the conclusion
that the first thing to be done was to
ascertain, if possible, what Hardy's
movements were likely to be. Accord.
ingly, when the train stopped, I made
my way to the carriage where he and
his companion were seated. Forum
ately, as it happened, the compart-
ment was full, so I took my seat in
the next one, which was empty. The
carriage was one OF a nearly obsolete
class, in which single lamp, when
lighted, did duty for two compart-
ments; consequently the opening
made for its reception formed {: con-
venient Judas hole for listeners. At
the next station many passengers
alightcd, sn1 Hardy and his friend
were left by themselves.
"Alone at last" said Hardy, "and
We must make the most o. our present
opportunity for a quiet tals. ASS
as we reach York, we'll leave the train
and I'll run up into the city to see
about old Betty Wilson's funeral. [
am glad she has gone, as T. never felt
sure of her, Notwithstanding the hush
.Aoney that I have paid her for the
last fifteen years. At 7.35 We take
train for Aston, where We arriva
about 8, the church We IRE boall for
being only 4 short walk from the sta.
ton. As soon as that is reached /
place myself under your direction, as,
of course, your professional expert
ence will at once Indicate the course
70 be pursued"
ssTrust me-" SAID his companion,
whose name was Bill; ''therc; not
church or a chapel either that I could
not break into or out o., for thc mat.
ter Of that
"But to business, Continued Hardy.
s'What 1 have got to do wort take
long, as removing a !e.f OIL OF n
register can't occupy muah TIM. Il
seems to me the real difficulty is, how
are we to get at it?"
s'Nothing easier If you go to work
the right way. I always chooses night
when the orgnuist is practising. [
then slip in, and the rest follows in
due course"
"Wel], I don't care how it is Gorc,
provided / get what want, anl that
mean to have if I burn The ch,rch
down"
ESQ that's your piaa Of operations,
is it," I thought to myself, as left
the carriage AID hurried back to Miss
WetherbY, who was anziously await
ing my return. Unahle to restrain
my excitement, I seized both her
hands, eSclaiming:
,"Allow me to congratulate the mis-"
tress Of Wetherby. I have learned
everything you wante I 10 know, and
that from the lips os Hardy hinS
The old lady you proposed to visit is
dead, so now I would sugses5 that we
ct once proceed to Aston, in the par
ish church Of which is the register
that contains what you want I then
told her what Hardy WAS contemplate
ing, and pointed out to her that, with
the two hours start that We should
have, we ought to bo prepare / for
him at all points.
On arriving at York, Har!ly anl his
companion left the train and went at
once into the city, and Miss iYctherby
and I started from Aston, which we
reached in about half an hoa-. The
first thing we did was to 60 to tho po-
lice station, and having lail the case
before the superintendent, he pl5 on
his lat and requested US to acc onpan7
him to the rectory. On sending in
his card, we were at once shown into
the library, the rector appearing
shortly after. In few words the off,
GER put him in possession Of the facts
in the case, and requested his kind as
sistance. This was readily promised.
and then the superintendent pro-
ceeded to lay his plans before him.
''The first thing" he said, "will be
to furnish Miss Wetherby with the
copy Of the register she requires.
Next, We must get the orgauist to
have practice from s till 9. The