The broad ax., 1896-04-04

4
Imust explain that at the back OF inc
house was a courtyard, shut In on three
sides by the kitchen premises OF the
house. II was a small window-that
of the pantry-which was to be the
mode of ingress. Young Mr.. Geoffrey
that was the sons name-was to lead
the burglars in their enterprise. He
would conduct them through the win
dow, and then. with the aid Of myself
and Sir Mortimer. whom I was to ap-
prise Of the robbers advent, would help
to overpower the others. two desper-
ADDE'S, for they had not wished to have
too many concerned IN the job.
Friday came, and IL was, am bound
to confess, with no slight feelings OF sp-
prehension that looked forward T.,
the work which was before me, for i
am no fighting man. OF course i had
not mentioned the meditated robbery TO
the old baronet, for that would have
spoiled everything.
| At II o'clock stole noiselessly down
to the kitchen and quietly waited TIL
the burglars should arrive. had not
1
which warned me that they had com"
menced operations, and, slipping away
as noiselessly as had come, / departed
to apprise my master Of the outrage on
his property.
found him sitting In his bedroom on
chair, clad In his dressing-gown and
slippers. His face was buried In his
hands and he was evidently lost IN
thought At my entrance he started
violently and gazed with wonderment.
not unmixed with anger. at me as ! in
truded myself on his solitude. al
once came to the point.
"Sir," said, there are burglars try
ing to force an entrance at the back"
Now, my masters bedroom was at the
extreme wing of the building, so had II
not been for the fact that already
knew Of the contemplated robbery he
would probably have heard nothing of
the burglars. taking 1t for granted that
they succeeded in reaching the dining
room, where the family plate, their OBJ
ject, was secured.
He gazed at me curiously for few
seconds and then calmly walked across
the room to his chest Of drawers. which
he opened. taking therefrom a small re-
yolver. which he slipped into his pocket,
handing another to me at the same
time.
Sir Mortimer took the lead, and. fol-
lowing close behind him, noiselessly
stole along at his heels. Arrived al |
the kitchen door, the sounds inside tolG |
us We had come on the scene at the |
right moment. The baronet threw |
open the door. The gas had been
lighted and, standing in the middle Of /
the room were three men. young Mr..
Godfrey. apart from the other two. pal
lid and haggard-looking.
And then I do not rightly know what
happened, II was all done so quickly.
Sir Mortimer. stepping calmly into
the room, raised his revolver and fired
at his son. who was waiting for me.
who had lost all presence Of mind, &c
act on the initiative. With a groan
he threw Up his arms and fell for
ward with dull thud on the stone
floor. The other two did not wait for
more. with incredible swiftness darteh
through the pantry, and, locking the
door behind them, made good their es-
cape.
Just then a white-robei figure
appeared at the open kitchen door and
sazed wildly about her. AS her eyes
Tell on the body Of man lying prone
and lifeless on the floor Miss Linda
for it was she, rushed for
ward and with a moan threw herself
Town beside her brother, apparently 3
lead. killed BY his father!
My sin has found me outp she
noaned. My sin has found me outr'
And then, her eyes wandering to the
title pool Of blood, which was crimson.
ng the cold flags, she cried out: 81
an bear 1t no longer! Father. father,
he forgery was my work. q
Casting one look Of concentrated Hato 8
md anguish on the wretched girl AZ
lis feet, he brushed her tremblingIy
side, and knelt down, moaning softly
o himself. beside the body OF his an.
'arently lifeless son.
Mr.. Godfrey did not die. His father
ad shot somewhat high, and the ha1
ad glanced down the collar-bone, max
ng long jagged wound. But still hs
vas seriously I'll. brain fever setting
afterward, and for some time he lay
overing between life and death.
explained fully to the baronet ths
cheme his son had formed for thwart-
'g the burglars. who, by the way, were
aptured some weeks after the attempt
burglary. and Sir Mortimer's feel.
igs OF remorse and sorrow at the way
which he had wronged Mr.. Goeffrey =
ere terribly poignant. T
AS Tor Miss Linda, her story can be
rieny summed up in the following:
ears ago she had a worthless lover. 4
I'm whom she was completely infatu.
ed. Gambling and other forms Of ex.