The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-09-02
CHAPTER XXI.

JOhn IL. LLOYD. ecnoeu tue Noiees VI
many in the court room.
"Mr. Sheriff." said the judge, place
chair beside me and assist my old frIeno
Lloyd to position here, if the LORD mas
mercifully spared his life"
Sheriff Cobb looked very gloomy, but
he obeyed the order of the court with
alacrity.
Yes, judge and friends" said MIR.
Lloyd, as the sheriff, after shaking hands
with him, assisted him to the Judlclai
bench, 1.-The sea has given up its dead-the
asylum its mental wreck. John ID. Lloyd
is with you once again. Nor has he yet
greeted his own family. He is IN the
hands ot the great detective
Il can well believe you, old friend,
said the judge as he grasped his wasted
hand. But if you have not visited your
family, we must not long delay you.
Mr.. Sellars has made me acquainted
with the contents of the will, SAID TO De
the bankers last and final one, sad MI.
Lloyd. If such is the case, and my name
and that of my lost friend Elliott appear
as witnesses to the same, there has been
forgery committed"
A groan burst from the breast of Her
man Craven. He sat the picture OF ADJ
ject terror-a living, breathing wretch.
Miss DeRosette sat with pale face,
clinging to the arms of her companions.
Your names signed to the will consti-
tute the forgery" asked the judge.
mo, your honor the signatures, L pre-
sumo, are valid; but in the body of the
will Herman Craven was left but the
sum of five thousand dollars. | am told
that the will now shows that fifty-tve
thousand dollars was the bankers be-
quest to his nephew. There was no adj
minstrator named in the will. A space
was left vacant with the understanding
that if | returned safely from my trip to
Europe my name was to be filled in. At
Mr.. DeRosette's solicitation l had con-
sented to act, should l survive him.
Neither was there guardian named;
but the understanding there was the
same. He desired me to constitute that
guardian and my name would have ap-
peared there but for my trip abroad
Miserable wretch, what have you to
say!' asked the judge, turning his gaze
on the features of Stephen Craven.
What can | say, judge was the
sneering reply. Except that Sellars has
got me dead to rights. knitted the bank
er, and my delectable son there-the
Sraven coward-forged the will. That is
all there is about it. A Craven need
not die a coward. Die game. Be game
sport to the last; that's my motto. and
it's all | have to say"
Are there any here who recognize this
man as Stephen Craven, the man who
married Alvin DeRosette's sister, asked
the judge.
Il do, your honor" said Attorney
Dobbs. Il never saw him but once. The
marriage was an elopement. Miss DeRO-
settle was a school girl, and this villain
eloped with her from Hillsborough, where
she was attending school. At Alvin De
Rosettes request | visited Richmond, to
which place Stephen Craven at first con-
veyed his bride, and there begged his wife
to abandon him and return to her brother
with me- She would not do so, how
ever, and Stephen Craven, entering the
house and surmising my object ordered
me out l cannot be mistaken in the
man
No. you are right, old dufferr' cried
Stephen, with another sneer.
This man is a monster.' exclaimed the
judge, shuddering.
NO, no, You are wrong, judge, wrong.
L [.
Life is a farce-a field in which we each
play our part, then make our exit to be
seen no more. There is no hereafter.
This is the end of life; that is all, and |
will die as | have lived-a dead-same-
sport, Yes, without a fear for the pres
ent or the future; but look at that livid.
Woe begone picture. That is my SON.
Amt he a beaut? He denies his own
father. now that day of peril is at hand
He put up this job. He forged the bank
er's will and was too cowardly to remove
his uncle from his path. | willingly aid
ed him. Look at him! The bell-rnger
of Wilmington. His hand from the stair
way pulled the wire that drew Robert
Campbell to the door, leaving the coast
clear for me. | thrust the blade of the
sheath knife home, secured the bag of
coin and ran upstairs and secreted myself.
During the commotion below l secreted
the gold where Selars found it not an
hour ago Herman had provided me with
a key to the attic, and | remained there
three days and nights. When | took nv
departure | left the coin behind beneath
the hearth in Miss DeRosettes room.
You have everything dead to rights now.
What are you waiting for? Why don't
Il
bell get out of that box and put my
sneaking son and myself in it. Do some
thing"
This man must be an incarnate fiendr,
exclaimed the Judge
I'm a beaut. | am calculated the as
sasSin. But I'm not a coward"'
Gentlemen of the jury said the
Judge. turning to the twelve men in the
sod
der verdict of mot guilty in the case of
the State against Robert Campbell, and
no one can more regret than does the
court the unfortunate position in which
an innocent man has been placed. but
through the efforts of Mr.. Sellars an hon
orable name has been indicated and the
murderer Of our old friend and his ac-
complice are before YOU
What say you. gentlemen of the jury
guilty or not guilty. asked the clerk.
Not guilty. responded the foreman, in
a loud voice.
\ cheer went up that reSounded
through the building.
Order, Order in court" cried the
sheriff
Robert Campbell, You are discharged
from custody said the judge.
The young man arose to his feet, and
with happy smile on his countenauce
passed within the bar. where his first act
was To grasp the hand of the great detec-
tive. My preserver.' he cried. May
God bless You. Lang Sellars.'
And he WILL were the words that fell
from the lips of the Widow Campbell.
Hattie DeRoSette had arisen to her
feet as Robert approached. Her face
WAS marhle-like i'll its whiteness, and she
had sat throughout the proceedings as
one in i trance.
The effort had been too much for her
and with the word Robert she fell for
ward. 10 be clasped in the arms of the
man she loved
Another cheer went up from the lips of
the vast rhronC in the court room.
Order in COURT. cried the sheriff.
Conduct your prisoners 10 the box, Mr..
Sellars," said the judge, that they may
be arraigncd for a trial that will speedily
follow. | judge its duration will not be