Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-01-20

pies motives for such extraordinary
Behaviour" The poor fellow dutiful-
~ pushed on.
Il am able to do so now. from their
own confession, Just as / have given
You the last particulars of the trans
action had got two or three black
mailing letters during the winter and
spring, evidently written by the same
hand. with the object of extorting
money from me. But wasn't to be
got at that way. consulted my friend
and man of business, Mr. Sayernake
lnow presen). and with his help We
gained pretty good idea who the
scamps Were and we're able to threat
en- them with the police.
Partly through motives of revenge,
partly through their obstinate deter
mination to see the color of my money
at any risk. they decided on a grand
coup. 1T seems a queer thing, in these
civilized and enlightened days, but
they actually succeeded in 1t. too.
was kidnapped. taken TO America. and
letter written to Mr.. Savernake de-
handing ransom of ten thousand
pounds. You can get all the rest out
of him, II you like"
For the present, il you please. I
would prefer to continue my question
ing of you. Pray go on with your
statement"
"All right, then. II the ransom was
refused or If steps were taken to trace
the conspirators, was TO be immedi-
ately wiped off the face OF the earth
killed. Unfortunately. the wretches
were in a position to dictate terms. and
as Mr.. Severnake and my aunt. Lady
Mary Blandon, who was at once taken
into his confidence las you can assure
yourself by questioning her). were
weak enough to care a good deal for
me than they did for the ends of JUS
tice, they promptly forked out the
money.
Part of the stipulation was that
nothing should be said in public about
the affair till the ransom had been
paid. and the chaps had got safely out
of the way, leaving me TO be claimed
by my friends. You can understand.
therefore, why Mr.. Severnake was only
vaguely able to say (when ] was
thought to be dead, that it was q
mistake which should be cleared up
by and bye. He went to America, dis
patched the required sum to the ad-
dresses mentioned, and I--still more
like a drunken man than anything else
after my long diet of drugs--was oblig-
ingly left at his service, like bale Of
damaged goods.
I'VE caught the first steamer home.
the sea voyage picked me up no end,
and, after all, trust that at present
I'm none the worse for wear"
AS Maynard finished his sentence.
with Enthusiastically jaunty
glance, inviting Seyernake's approval.
Randall Palgrave followed his sons
late example, and caused a folded pa
per Ton which he had been making
notes from time to time) 20 be passed
up to the coroner's table.
May / venture to suggest for your
consideration a short list OF certain
questions which in my opinion might
advantageously be put to the witness?"
the official read. IF he be the Duke,
as we all must devoutly hope, his
identity will thus be the more salts
factorily established before all present.
II not, the sooner an imposter is I'M
masked, the better for all concerned"
Beneath was appended a small cata-
logue, numbered line by line, The cor
oner glanced carefully down the page.
and then laid the paper down, writing
uppermost, on the table. as though for
future reference.
The thing had been quietly done. but
both Lady Mary and Savernake had
seen it, with quickening pulse.
The young feneer was handling his
foil well-miracuously we'll, II seemed
to these two who watched him--yet he
had his vulnerable points. and now, IL
ever, they would be reached with his
adyersarys blade.
Savernake might have protested had
he chosen, at the interference Of an out
slider. but it was not his meter TO dc
this He must appear TO be at his ease,
good-naturedly scornful Of all doubts.
secure in the strength of his cause TO
confute them, every one.
So he sat still. with curious tight
ness in his throat, his eyes half shut.
while Lady Mary had recourse TO her
smelling salts, and Anne O'Neill watch
ed the Duke with keener interest than
she had ever felt before.
After a parting glance AT the docu-
mentary suggestion Of Palgrave. the cor
oner fastened keen gaze upon his wit
ness. ut was really much more enter
among the spectators had bargainsd forD
Have you any OF the matchmaking LETT
tiers you mentioned In your posscssioAf'
Maynard shrugged his broad shoai-
ders. II turned them over 20 Mr.. Saver
Make" he said, with a twinkle Of hui
Tnour In his eye IF he has kepf them