Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-03-19


stances, at Garments 1evity, but her
friend was not aware how much she
knew about the apparition that had ap-
peared in the library, and tried to carry
off matters with a high hand. But, in
reality, Margaret knew as much as
Carmen did. Ruthven had thought 1t
right to see her before leaving Abbotts-
vile, and explain the cause OF her
alarm, urging her, at the same time,
to keep her own counsel. But he said
nothing of his contemplated journey
to London, at which Margaret was as
much surprised as Carmen.
Meanwhile Sir Frederic and Ruth
ven were not idle. The first place to
which they went was, of course, the
wOrkhouse where Margaret had been
reared. Ruthven had been able to ex-
tract no information of consequence
from the officials there before; but he
returned.
BEG your pardon, sir" touching his
cap, "but amt you the same gentleman
as came here some two or three years
back to make inquiries about a girl
cafed Peg Reilly?"
II am: and I've come on the same
errand again."
"Then I've got news for you, sir.
We've found her father. He's been here
after her several times
Found her father!'
The intelligence came upon the two
men like a thunder-bolt, but Ruthven
felt it much the more severely of the
two.
"Impossiblev' he calculated.
ooh, no, sir, il amt; and he's most
respectable man as never came in the
parish himself nor wished his wife to
be tramp; and he's willing to take
the girl home and provide for her.
@ "Who is he? Where is he?"
His name is Dan O'Reilly, and put
down his address for you. sir, in case
you should be calling this way again,
and require it. Is the gal living, sir,
asking your pardon?'
ooh, yes, she's alive and WELL"
"The old gentleman only lives in a
poor way naturally, sir. being a cos
termonger, and he wants his daughter
to go and look after his home for him,
and keep things a bit straight, and
he'll be really glad to hear where she
is, I know"
"Ruthven, this can't be true" said
eyes, the color of her facial so like
those of my poor wife, she must be
mine'
flush, my dear sir! Don't agitate
yourself. I do not believe her to be a
costermonger's daughter any more
than you do; but we must have pa
thence, and search the matter to the
bottom Give me O'Reilly's address,
-he continued to the official, "and here
is something for your trouble
They found O'Reilly to be a small,
wizened fellow, looking more like a
tailor than costermonger, and resid-
ing in one of the lowest parts of Lon
don.
What may you please to want, sir?'
he said, lifting his eyes from off his
work as the gentlemen entered his
dingy abode.
Ruthven had determined to take the
bull by the horns.
your name is Daniel O'Reilly?" he
commenced. in an authoritative man
ner, as if he knew everything about
him beforehand.
'At your service, SIR
And some years back you had a
wife called Nan, who tramped the coun-
try with lucifer matches?"
Against my will, gentlemen; against
my will. She was always a wild 'un,
was poor Nan, and never kept at hum
but there wasn't no real harm in her. %
What made her pass off the child
she carried about as her own, them"
At these words the old man seemed
paralyzed.
why it was her own, wasn't it?''
he inquired, with feeble attempt at
bravado.
1T was not her own, and you know
1t. 1t was a stolen child, ind you had
put your foot nicely in itt5y aiding and
abetting her in aEeI.5nous act
"Oh, no, sir; she never stole it. She
found the poor thing thrown in a ditch,
and she picked it up for charity's sake,
and nurtured it to her bosom as if it
had been her own. The law can't have
us up for doing a work Of charity, sir,
hard as it is upon the poor"
TT can prosecute you for obtaining
money under false pretenses. Why did