The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-03-20

T /.
~ IR JOSEPH JUDSON, Of Arnley
Hall, sat in his library, alb
sorbed and strangely moved by
some grim thought The time
was long ago, and night-exactly Il
by the clock in the corner, which had
just finished Ginning.
Fifteen. years tonight" he NUT
tered. "Fifteen years Of torture, ter
rible dreams, dreadful whisperings
from the past. 1 wonder what became
of Hocllin"
AS if in answer to the words q panel
behind him slid back, and a man
stepped out of the cavity thus revealed.
He was short and thin. A broken nose
told of conflict and a heavy fist.
He carefully closed the opening from
which he had emerged and crept to-
ward the dropping figure by the table;
then touched him on the shoulder.
Wheeling sharply around the baronet
sprang to his feet, ghastly and quiy-
ering.
Horror he exclaimed. "You-
Hocklin-alivew
Il am afraid So" returned the other.
'What do you wantY
"You, or money" said Hocklin, grin
ming.
''Not a penny-not q cent shall you
have, unless to choke yourself with"
Hocklin folded his arms, stared
straight before him, grinned broader
and more sardonically, but said never
a word
He sank Imply into his seat, nerve
less and overweight, covering his
face with both hands, and shiyering rs
at sight Of a spectre
"NoW, listen, my noble braggart!
Five, ten, fifteen years since, there
lived a rich old man and his grand
daughter. She was an only child, and
an orphan-weak and delicate, yet
strong enough to come between her
cousin and the fine estate of Arnley.
This cousin did not desire either Of
them to live. Why should he? The
grandfather had already one foot in
the grave, and a little management
would soon help the other there with
out exciting suspicion. 1t did; and he
was buried. That alone is worth q
moose; or, to keep it from a tender
neck, $500 But there is more.
Heart broken and distracted at her
loss, the girl, maid of ten, pined and
faded rapidly, which was the very
thing she was wanted to do. Then
the doctors intefered. Fresh air, new
scenes constant travel might save her
they said; and had to be obeyed. Sc
a kindly, harmless gentleman was
found to take her abroad, and lose her
down a hole, in the sea, over a cliff
anywhere so she did not return. Ac
cordingly they went away together
with a blessing and fond wishes. Pres
entity the benevolent gentleman came
back in mourning, with a funeral card
and to report a painless end. The
cousin wept joyfully, planted a row Of
daisies, entered upon the property, now
his, and enjoyed it to the full. Which
/ venture to think is worth at leas
another $500, without expenses"
by all the fiends, not It is a mon
strous lie, devised to ruin me- Where
are your proofs? Produce them If yol
can. The old man died naturally il
his bed, and the girl-the girl"
"Ay what about the girl?" lnsinu
ated Hocklin, as Sir Joseph paused ant
hesitated. "Supposing the story I hav
Just told to be false, how is it you rec
ognized dear Mr.. Hocklin the blame
less, simple gentleman, who was bin,
with both eyes open, and too great
fool to know murder when he saw it
And why did the worthy physician re
quire to be drunk with wine and tn
prospect of a big fee before he woul
=, give a certificate for a natural death
Believe me, am most anxious t
learn"
docs any one know where you arc
or what is the object of your visit?"
"Not a soul besides ourselves" r.
sponded the other coolly.
"And no one saw you enter" HI
fingers were twitching excitedly nea
4 pocket.
Il guarded we'll against that cam
the prompt reply
"Then," Numbered the baronet, WIFI