The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-12-08


trace of his lost granddaughter. He
lent some tramp money upon suit Of
clothes. and out of one Of the pockets
had dropped a miniature of Clara. This
tramp fellow had told him that he was
going to the city, and thither my uncle
had set off at once to endeavor to gain
some tidings of him. He had not been
in town many days before he CHANGED to
see a picture of his own cottage in
print sellers window. He bought 1t, and
found the name of Clara in the corner.
That l might check any further search
upon his part, undertook to send round
to every picture dealer to make inquiries.
called at a number of shops myself,
and l sent you to others; you know
with what result"
But / did discover her, after ALL in
terruptsd Montgomery. although in
quite another way; and had l not stay
ed at Bury so late into the Monday, you
would have known of it. However, moth
ing could be heater than the way we
managed it. Luckily you had such a
snug place to take her to-"
Yes; / have found the house useful
more than once An old maiden Amt.
who used to reside there, left it to me
as q legacy. Fortunately, it had only
been recently vacated. As soon as l
| had secured my fair cousin, l began to
| consider what was the best thing to do
with her. After a mature consideration,
| came to the conclusion that marriage
was the best solution of the difficulty.
| By making her my wife should seal her
| lips regarding the past, and secure my
uncle's fortune in the future. To my
surprise, she received all my advances
with the utmost repugnance. The cause
of that, / have discovered, is connec-
ton she has formed with some low fell
low, who actually turns out to be Judith
Stokes husband By the bye. how came
you to think of introducing those peo-
pie at my house? You must have been
made to have entrusted my secret in
| the hands of a woman who has a spite
against mey'
"a spite against you?'' echoed Mcnt
| gomery. This is the first l have heard
of it. Now, l was deeply interested
! in getting him back into Judith's hands.
L bethought me of the house that had
taken the young lady. to the night before.
There must be plenty of spare rooms
there, l thought; and as Judith and Mr..
4
1 don't see that he can possibly object
| to oblige her so far"
And do you not think such an act
was a piece of impudence upon your
partTs
| Not at. air.. answered Montgomery
/ coolly. II had my own private interests
to serve in the matter-vital interests.
1 thought of myself first, as you did
Of yourself when, years ago, you enticed
| away from me the girl who was making
my living. Tit for tatr'.
RodweIl glared. at him fercely.s IF
that is; your mode Of dealing with me-"
he said, ''how do 1 know that you may
not one fine morning call upon Mr.. iona
than Rodwell and blow the whole thing
! to him?''
mo, l shall not do that" answered
the other. quietly: honor among thieves.
If the plot succeeds. 1 know that
shall get more out of you than possibly
could out of him. Besides. there is a
stronger bond even than interest that
/ binds me. to you-revenger'
/ Upon whom
Upon Silas Carston."
in that case, l think we can work to-
gether better than l suspected; but as
You have greatly complicated my diff
culties by introducing Judith into the
same house, it is but fair that you should
be the more ready to help me in any way
out of them"
What do you mean?'
I'm the first place, my marriage with
Clara would have to be brought about
Immediately; and as she is not likely to
consent, and as the days of enforced
marriages are all gone by. it is more than
probable that the whole plot will have
to be abandoned. | am convinced that
Judith fully intends to betray me- Her
evil disposition would never let such an
opportunity of revenge escape. Such n
revelation would overwhelm me with de-
struction. My father, at his death, left
me property to the value of two thou
sand per year. Bit by bit. it has been
sold and mortgaged. / lost thousand
OH the last Derby; that was the last
straw. My debts amount to some eight
or ten thousand; my doors are besieged
by Guns; my credit all but stopped, and l
am all but penniless. If l could once
show proofs that l was my uncle's heir.
my creditors would cease to press, and
/ could raise more money. On the other
hand. il things remain as they are, /
should have to fly the country, a beggar."
But how do you propose to induce
your uncle to alter his will while he be-
lieves that his granddaughter is alive?'
Suppose it could be proved to him
that she was dead?'
The two mems eyes met in a long,
searching look; each one was trying to
read the others secret thoughts.
Surprising" Rodwell went on, 81
could hit upon plan to silence-to re-
move both Judith and Clara at the same
time? Nothing could then stand in my
way"
What do you meant" asked Mont
gomery, with a scared look.
You seem excessively dull to-day
exclaimed Rodwell irritably: especial
ly when your own interests and safety
are as much concerned as my own Could
not the girl prove that it was you who
abducted her?-and as you could not
furnish your judge with unexceptionable
references as to your moral character.
that would be enough to give you two
years on the treadmill. besides the loss
of all the money l have promised you.
Let us carry my plan to a successful
conclusion, and will sign a deed to pay
you five hundred year for life- I should
not think 1t would take you long to de-
eide between the two pictures"
Speak ont, and let me know what you
want" said Montgomery, uneasily.
"You-to help me to get rid of both
Judith and Clarar cried Rodwell, bold
~ Suppose that the house should catch