The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-08-17
CHAPTER xI.

nooert Luke, the brother, and had long
since ceased to take any interest in
what had become of him.
Leisurely mounting his horse that
afternoon, he rode down to the public
house.
There he was received by an expect
ant crowd of loafers, foremost amongst
whom was the landlord he so much de-
tested.
Take Mr.. Halls horse. Bill, can't
yer" cried Sullivan. VERY good of
you, sir, I'm sure, to have taken the
trouble to come. This business has
quite upset me-it's awful!"-and the
man really did look as if his nerves
were in a more shattered condition
than usual. will you step inside, sir?"
he asked respectfully. Il have let
ter you had better see at once"
Mr.. Hall followed the landlord into
the little baek-parlor, which was so far
in advance of the rest of the estab-
lishment as to boast of a calico ceiling.
Closing the door, Sullivan pulled out
letter from the depths of one of his
pockets. 1t was the letter written by
Robert Luke to his brother in England.
Mr.. Hall read the letter carefully
through.
Il can't make head or tail of it," he
remarked at last. 1T is dated on the
day the man disappeared, see; but
what was the trial, and what was the
thousand pounds reward he seemed so
keen about getting?"
You'll remember, sir, surely! 1t was
the great Froyles murder in England
This man William Luke was taken up
on suspicion. He was the butler to
the old gent who was killed"
Yes, yes; l remember now reading
all about it," replied Mr.. Hall, becom-
ing more interested.
We'll, this William Luke was con-
demned to death, and there seemed no
doubt that he committed the murder.
Shortly after the execution was to have
taken place, however, the police got
upon another scent"
Il remember-and he was pardoned.
Yes, sir; and the people who were
wanted in his stead were two of the
servants who gave evidence against
him at the trial. Here is a printed
handbill describing them.
Mr.. Hall took the paper in his hand.
1t was headed "One Thousand Pounds
Reward" and contained the descrip-
lions of Edward Bartlett and Anne
Dodson.
i cannot say that this in any way
enlightens me- he remarked presently.
Then, referring to Robert Luke's let
ter to his brother, he said, Luke SEEM
ed to fancy that he traced a likeness
in Tom Baynes to the woman who is
here wanted This is absurd!'
HE had his own reasons, no doubt"
replied Sullivan.
Possibly he had, or thought he had:
but-which is more likely-he was
carried away by the hopes of gaining
the reward, and so allowed himself to
suspect people without just cause"
He may have been right, anyhow"
growled the landlord.
Il don't think so, and I'll tell you
why. l have seen Baynes' wife, and
she in no way answers the description
of the woman here"
"Oh, you have seen her?"-"Yes. y
And what was she like?"
I'm the first place she was not near
ly so tall as this Anne Dodson who
seems to have been much above the
average height of women. Then her
hair was very dark"
THAT might easily be managed, /"
argued Sullivan.
'Of course; but her features in no
way answered the description here In
fact, / am certain she could not have
been the same person"
"Oh!" grunted Sullivan, in disap-
pointed tone. well, perhaps, sir. Won
would like to see the man Luke. He is
in the next room"
"You wished to see me-" said tbe
squatter, taking seat by the bedside.
Eyes, sir" said Luke, "if you are Mr..
Charles Hail."
THAT is my name!"
81 have come out all this way to see
my brother Robert"
Eyes; l know all about it. You have
heard how suddenly he went awav9"
"He never went away, SIR" replied
the sick man.
what, then, do you suppose has be-
come of him."
Raising himself with difficulty upon
one arm, William Luke looked wildly
about him.
my head-my head!" he exclaimed.
"oh, don't mind me, sir! I'll think d.
rectly."
my belief-is-that he has been put
away!"
Put away?"
Yes, sir-murderedr
Nonsense, man; you are imagining
things which we know cannot be true
BY whom could he have been MUIR
dered?"
by them"
"Whom?"
Edward Bartlett and Anne Dodson y
"My good fellow" said Mr.. Hall
soothingly, there have been no such
people in this neighborhood. Your
brothers suspicious as to Baynes were
quite ridiculous. He and his wife were
nothing like the people here describ-
ed" and Mr.. Hall held up the printed
handful as he spoke
This Baynes-can l see him? Win
you have him brought to me here, SO
that 1 may be satisfied"