Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-06-16
CHAPTER $3.50

wells power. Once In the hands Of the
police, what would the story he could
tell avail against the word OF a gentle
manl While thus revolving in his mind
his perilous position, he took out his
pipe Searching in his waistcoat pocket
for a match, he felt some smooth, hard
substance.
It was the locket that Mr.. Porter had
handed him, and which be had entirely
forgotten. His thoughts were too grave
" engaged to give any heed to it now.
But in taking it out of his pocket, the
better to catch hold OF a match that
eluded his fingers, his gaze fell upon
the back, upon which was engraved the
initials r. B. and r. NJ, Joined togeth-
er BY a true lovers knot Al cry OF as
tonishment burst from his lips; he took
It to the window, infinitely examined 1t,
passed his hand across his eyes, as
though doubling their evidence. Then,
with trembling fingers, he tried for the
spring. At last he found 1t. Upon one
side was the miniature Of a beautiful
woman; upon the other. which had once
contained another portrait, a lock of
dark hair.
He sank into a chair, trembling as
with an ague fit, and gazing wildly upon
the miniature. But soon his face soft
ened, the tears gathered in his eyes, and
his chest heaved with deep sobs. He
kissed the picture, ard murmured words
Of passionate love over it. In trying for
the spring Mr.. Porter had bent the case
a little. As Montgomery pressed It to
his lips the portrait fell out and dis
closed, neatly fitted at the back, a scrap
Of paper. There was writing upon It;
hmf the n ~, 10
he had great difleulty IN deciphering
them. At last he read these words:
"The child upon whom this Is found is
Silas Morant, son Of Francis MOrant,
whose portrait this is, Of The Willows,
Herts."
For some seconds, both strength and
consciousness deserted him. At first his
thoughts came back broken and confus-
ed. This portrait Of his wife in Mr.
Porter's possession! How came It there
"a child Of whose existence he was ig-
norantl Silas M0rant-Silas Carston
and Madame Berne interested In him!
Great heaven! this boy, then, whom he
had given up to his bitterest enemies,
whose lifelong misery he had sealed,
whom he was on the brink Of consigning
to an awful death, was his own son!
Back upon his soul like the blast Of a
trumpet rushed the parting words Of
Madame Berne-that vengeance was
'held by higher power than that Of
puny man.
For the first time since his childhood
days, this hardened man of sin knelt
down, and trembling and appalled, at
what had been, what might have been,
and what might be yet, prayed to heaven
for pardon and for succor
What was to be done? II he could get
clear Of the house, there would be no
difieulty, But he had heard Rodwell
lock the door behind him. Ali, the win
dow! 1t was a French one, opening
upon garden; 1t was unfastened; he
could see the back door before him. The |
next moment he was there. He could
not open It.
"The door is locked, sir" said a voice
behind him.
Montgomery started, and upon look
ing round saw a burly looking fellow,
dressed like a groom, sitting under a
tree. "Will you have the kindness to
open 1t for met" he said, in as uncon-
cerned a tone as he could assume.
Cant, sir" was the answer. MAS
ter has left me here with the key, to |
see that nobody passes out whatsom-
ever"
For moment, Montgomery entertain |
ed the desperate idea Of trying tllssle |
for the key, but the powerful build Of
the fellow, and the thought Of the noise |
1t would create, quickly dispelled it, An
other and more feasible plan crossed his |
brain.
would you like to earn dollar, my |
manT he said II don't mean by let |
ting me out Of that door, or by disobey- |
ing your masters orders. WIN you take /
message for me to the telegraph office
close by?'
The fellow considered for moment.
"Wel, wasn't told anything about mes
sages, 50 ! dare say / can get it done
for you by somebody"
1t was an enormous hazard to trust to /
this man; but it was the only chance
left. There were writing materials in
the room he had just left. He FASTENED
back, and upon a sheet of paper wrote
addressed to Jonathan Rodwell Nor
ley's Hotel, the following words:
II you wish to see your granddaugh-
ter alive, lose not moment in going to
Manor House, Essex, John Rodwell's
house"
As double security, he would send
another to Bow street station. The sec
0nd telegram ran thus:
THE young girl for whose discovery a
reward has been offered is at Manor
House, Essex. She Is In imminent dan
ger-lose not a moment"
He sealed these up In separate envel-
opes, and went back to the man. A
youth, looking like a stable lad, was BY
his side; this was to be the messenger
No person was in sight The lad de-
parted upon his errand, and Montgom-
cry returned to his room.
The next thing to be thought Of was
his own course Of action, or rather, what
answer he should give to Rodwell when
he returned. He must feign to assent to
BIS diabolical pronoaition-a difHculf