Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-05-13

COUSIN NORRIS.


HefrfsSaRce made him fee ~difer.
ent being, h,ppier than he had ever
been in his life before. Sh, hal II
truiy sympathetic nature, ald his
heart went out to her at once with n
passionate longing, an Intense desire
to do something for her sake, and
Morris for the first time in his life
knew what il meant to fall suddenly
and despara ely in love.
There was an awkward silence on
his part which was broken at last bv
her geatlo voice:
You will come back tonight. Cousin
Morris, as ia her wishes, and do exactly
what he desires by letting the past be
forgo temp
Before he could reply or thi TX of an
answer there was knock at the door,
and footnan appeared.
The carriage is waiting, Miss
Alice, he said, respectfully.
Thank you, Reuben; good bye,
cousin, till the evening. Tell the
coachman where to leave YOU. and in
the meantime l will pra ,tics some
songs for your especial benefit" " and
gently pushing Morris she lei the
way TO theifeoat door, the old gentle
man warmly grasping his hand, giving
him significant glance to keep ST
lent.
In a half-dazed condition he en-
tered the carriage, telling the coach
man to drive to Fleet street. Dis
missing the conveyance close by the
Bank of England, he hrrriedy walked
to Holborn, entering the hotel and
going directly to his rooms.
What did it all mean?" he solilo.
quized. Evidently they have mis-
taken me for some one else. cousin
Morris how the name seemed to
ring in his ears Like flash of
lightning it crossed his mind that
he had been taken for the person who
had answered the advertisement to
the personal, and, drawing from his
pocket the copy. he again read it.
* Y q; Meet me tonight at s
O'Clock at the entrance to st. Gather
ines docks. Fail at your peril. This
is to our mutual advantage. "
That sounds like threat. 1 will
never believe that the old gentleman
and that beautiful young girl have
ever done anything wrong. l will
keep this appointment.
1t was cold, damp night, with
plenty of mud and fog. but exactly
at 8 p. m. Morris was standing
close by the entrance to st,
Catherine's docks II was so dark
that he could scarcely distinguish the
faces of passers-by, most of them
being sailors and dock hands, who had
been drinking.
At last young man, similar to him
self in height and appearance. took up
such position that he knew it must
be the person he was looking for.
Suddenly he was startled by a great
eommotion. Cries of stop bim!"
Runaway resounded on all sides,
and horse aud wagon came thunder
ing along. The man he was watching
spraug forward, attempting to stop
the terrified animal, but slipped and
was dashed aside. 1t was so quickly
done that no one noticed the accident,
and Morris Immediately went to his
assistance.
'Are you much hurt?" he said,
helping him to his feet.
He groaned and in dazed manner
said; "My arm is broken; help me
to cab; there's good fellow. But
who are you?" he gasped, suspicious
ly. 81 had the pleasure of your COM
panv on the steamship about three
weeks ago.
Il remember you now. wish
now that 1 had never left New York
city.
Morris hailed cab, and they were
driven to boarding house at Black
Heath, and it was found that severe
ly sprained arm was the full extent of
his injuries,
'Supposing | stay for tonight.
There are two beds, aud You and are
not strangers, both hailing from New
York" said Morris.
His offer was thankfully accepted,
and after half an hours chat the band
ages We're carefully arranged, the
sleeping draught administered to allay
the pain, aud Morris had the pleasure
of seeing him sink into a deep slum-
ber
This is just what he desired and
thought it no harm to make a careful
examination of this individuals pa
pers aud effects.
In an hours time he had possession
OF the true facts of the case. This
hmposter was formerly bank clerk,
whose correct name was Robert Moore.
The president of the institution, one
Ebenezer Burton, had persuaded his
brother to sigu bill of exchange for
el5, 900 ms an accommodation. A for
gerry had been perpetrated, the figure
having been raised to 925. 900. In
the meantime the bank went into lilui-
daiion The president committed sui
eide when he discovered that his son,
Morris Burton, had committed the for
gerry.
This young man then attempted to
m he his uncle. Erasmus Burton of
Russell square, London, pay the full
amount of this forged bill A number
of the true facts coming to light dur
ing an investigation, the nephew alb
seconded to parts unknown, but wrote
a letter charging his uncle with the
full offence.
This communication was never sent,
being in the possession of Moore, VIII,
in some manner secured all these doc
uments and came to London to act tn,
part Of the nepheM and andaaynr 1.