The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-28

Il "hy oAeoA jaAAS ASoNAh6 3uih0 dbt
Bridget to rage at their detection ant
to bear alone the odium of their crime
To the wrath of the eastern official and
the stupefaction Of the sheriff, the birds
had flown and left no trace behind
But now Bridget began to give
tongue, and sharp one it proved to be.
Hitherto some fear or favor had made
her dumb as to the antecedents of the
pair and the circumstances that drew
them together. Now, it seems that, hav.
| ing considerable negotiable booty stored
away, the two had pledged their knight
ly word to Bridget that they would dc.
fray all expenses Of her defense and
Mikes if they would but stoutly deny
all previous knowledge of them, and
this they had done, claiming to know
them only as gentlemen who visited
Mikes saloon and were most liberal
with their money. Then it transpired
that one of them had paid Miss o 'Meara
fiattering attentions - attentions that
turned her head and brought her thrice
in one week III town, decked in finery
that had seen better days and wearers
in st. Louis. To him, in answer to
questions, she told all she knew concern.
ing the yaluables Of the garrison. The
officers and men were all away. Why
should not the cracksmen turn an hon.
est penny at their old craft instead of
rusting here while the big cities were
being searched for them?
Bridget made a clean breast of it now
that she had found her own case hope.
less, while the prime movers, the tempt.
ers, tho only ones who had profited
penny's worth by the robberies, had got
off scot free. "'Twas them that per.
suaded her through false promises and
fiattery to dope both Mrs. Barry and
Mary" to let them in at the kitchen
door and to profess utter ignorance Of
the crime. They were then to share
alike after the sale Of the booty, but all
she and Mike had got as their share was
the Jail, with the penitentiary ahead.
Again did Cook and the sheriff eager
ly ask the same question, "But how
about Boston?' And this was some.
thing she could not answer. nor could
Mike. All either could say was that,
after the row at the Empire, Boston
was brought in hack to Mikes place.
where he had been frequent visitor
for some little time previous, and Mike
hid him away in the back room of
wing Of his house, and there, too, I'M
der his roof, were temporarily secreted
these same fellows who later were so
silent about themselves but so danger.
Gus meantime to Boston, to Mike and to
Bridget. Twas Mike got Maloney to
go ont to the fort for the young lady of |
whom Boston Dragged he could get
money-for somebody had to come in
and pay for his lodging and keep-and
the poor girl had indeed come and had
raised the money for him, and if Mike
hadn't taken care Of it for Boston the
others would have got it, for Bridget
heard them abusing him fearful" The
moment he was we'll enough to move
Boston had slipped away, and that was
the last seen of him. But meantime the
burglary had taken place, and then the
fire, and Bridget's downfall was com.
plete.
All this. of course, was duly carried
to Anterior, who was an interested lis.
tener, and all this did Maynard learn
direct from Cook, for the question Of
tho identity of Boston and his relation
to Nathalie Baird had become vital in
eyes. Through him in great
measure had the girl he loved been
cleared Of all suspicion Of completely
in or knowledge Of the burglaries.
Through him, God willing and helping,
she should be shown to the men and
women Of that garrison, especially the
women, and more especially Mrs. Tur-
ner and Mrs Raymond. as one so pure
and good and noble that no one Of their
number could ever again think ill OF
her, and to do this he must solve the
problem Of her strange relationship to
hat unprepossessing stranger.
For Nathalie's letter had we'll nigh
made him desperate. 1t was brevity it.
elf. 1t was almost bitter in its hope
essness. Even had you no ties of your
wn," she wrote, II have been-and
or all I know may still be-so bound
hat the cruelest suspicious have at.
ached to me, and, though you are gen.
rous. magnanimous, and make no al
usion to this, know you know 1t, and
can be wife to no man.
What she meant by ties Of his own
Their than those that drew him to the
lther and sister at home he did not
nderstand. Never for moment did he
ream that Grace had gone SO far as to
lake Nathalie believe that there was q
we affair-an engagement with some
irl whom he had known long before
is meeting with her. What must be
one was to find that man Boston if
i've or the proofs Of it if he were dead,
I'd on this matter he talked long and
Igerly with Cook, who could give lit
o encouragement.
If Miss Baird has no idea what has
come Of him, I'm sure I haven't"
id the man from Denver with cold
CODED, matter Of fact and professional
untness. "You dropped on to mighty
od piece Of evidence by streak Of 4
ry good luck, Mr.. Maynard. Perhaps s.
ur luck will hold out still longer. I 4
pc 1t may" n
All the same he thought 1t wouldn't
d was willing to bet, for Cook had
) weaknesses as we'll as other men. If
couldn't find Boston, how would
ipling lieutenant be able to?
June came and with it q summons
1t Maynard could not but have ex- a
tied, yet that grieved him sorely. /
)ome at once. Failing fast, were the
EFF words of his sisters dispatch, and
horton kindly laid his hand upon the
lng officers shoulder.