Middletown transcript., 1904-04-30

the grass under Maxwell's feet yet.
Tom took the $50 train back TO Ern-
dale, and arrived at the Dover House
just in time for dinner. He found that
Betty had crept back into his mothers
heart once more, and fad jnst left her
sleeping peacefully in the nur>e's care.
| don't like those lawyers, he told Sir
Jasper as soon as the servants had left
the room. And, SO far as / can see,
there is no chance OF the claim to Erll-
dale ever being proved. You see, it
reefs only ON the letters my father had Of
the late Earl's, and the defense threw out
grave doubts as to the manner in which
they had come into his hands. I've got
however to advertise for a man named
Callagan, who seems to have possessed
my fathers confidence and, il he cannot
be found, nothing more car be done.
After all, the young man said, glancing
at Betty in her white gown, with her
shining hair piled high and her eyes full
Of sympathy and interest-after all. ] am
alone in the world, save only for my
mother. Why should | try to gain a
position for which I am not in the least
fitted?
My dear boy, the Baronet answered
kindly, you're as like the Erndafes as
two peas are like one another, and I'll
answer for it that you'll fill the position
as an Erndale should. Besides, you will
not always be what you call alone in the
world. You'll marry some day or other
ard here's health to your bride!
As Sir Jasper drained his glass to do
justice to the toast, TOMS eyes, by some
magnetic attraction, sought Betty's lovely
face, and under his gaze it turned scarlet.
A wild thought, wilder hope, sprang
suddenly into his heart, and for the first
time he wished for rank as well as money.
And, when, a few moments later, lie
held open the door for Betty to pass and
noted new sweet confusion in her man.
ner, great light came into his eyes, and
the strength Of great resolution filled
bis heart with courage.
will win Erndale and lay it at her
feet ! he said and the words had all the
solemnity of an oath.-
CHAPTER V
In miserable attic in the slums that
lie near the London Decks man more
than fifty years of age was sitting on box
which served both for chair and table.
"A straw mattress by no means clean and
blanket stained by tobacco and bear all
the furniture" the room contained, and
the window was obscured by smoke and
dust. If any lodger in this undesirable
abode had sufficient decency left to wash
his hands and face, pump in the back
yard was at his disposal, for neither soap
nor towel was ever thought of in the
place, and the man, who had evidently
just come home from voyage, looked as
| if he did not care about such luxuries.
He held in his hand rumpled and dirty
newspaper, and his eyes were fixed on
the advertisement inserted not many
months before by Messrs. Cadican 4
Cooper Of Lincoln's Inn, for tidings Of
one David Callagan.
They're the lawyer-chaps he told me
/ to 60 to if ever that case turned up again
but I guess I'd make more money in
another quarter if tried. But it's q
risky job. I wish now I'd never taken
his money or done his dirty work; but
| was too hard up to be squeamish then,
and / did it. l was struck in heap
| when heard he was married and when
he registered the newborn child as
| Thomas Seaton, wur witness, and
wondered if it'd soften his heart to the
kid had with me. But it didn't. He
hated the little un like p'sod, and WASN'T
over civil to me, seein' as how I'd got to
like the youngster, and he me, in spite Of
odds. So ses, Just hand me the cash,
mate, and won't trouble you no more.
And whiles he wur a-fetchin' OF it, beg
ged of his missus to be kind to the kid.
| She seemed soft hearted kind Of woman,
and the child took to her at once. But
I'd my doubts about Thomas, and the
last time / saw him he said the kid had
died of fever, and he'd sent the missus
and her little un to Cape Town. SET
naught; but I made tracks there, and
never rested till / found 'em out. But
if it wur Toms kid ] seed, and not the
kid brought with me the night I wit
messed the register, Til be hanged! But
ses notl,in', only lookin' on as stranger
might, and wonders what Toms little
game might be. Tom, in course. never
knowed as how I'd seen the kid in Cape
Town so, arter writin' one bit of letteI
he jest dropped me and | him. And
now, arter all these years, I'm wanted
and pretty igger l am to show up Al
lawyers crib but it's got to be done
and then perhaps / shall see daylight.
And the dirty shabby creature sham
bling down the wretched stairs, and aftel
tranping miles, entered public hous.
ior his mid day meal Of bread and cheese
poring over the days paper meantime
The first thing that caught his eye wa
the now familiar advertisement Of Messrs
Cadican & Cooper. But little farthe
down came another more remarkable.
WANTED-The address OF David Gala
gan, to be forwarded to the son Of Tboma
Hurst Ssaton.
And the address given was the Dove
House, Monk Hampton, Oldsllire.
The mans whole countenance changed
and he clenclled the grimy hand lying OF
the table.
I'll 60 there fust, and see what thi
here meens he said excitedly. But III
not disgrace meself before Toms son, a
| he calls hisself-not II knows it
| So, paying for his bread and cheese, b,
asked il the barmaid could tell hin
whereabouts Monk Hampton was, ant
what station he must 60 from.
| Tt,s an tha Midland Railwav was tb