The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-01-19
CHAPTER xxx.

Montgomery was alone. lie tred 10
think out his situation: he found u a
din,cult task. He was utterly In Rod.
wells power. Once In the hands OF the
police. what would the story he could
tell avail against the word Of a gentle
manf While thus revolving In his mind
his p~erilous position. he took out his
pipe. Searching in his waistcoat pocket
for q match, he felt some smooth. hard
substance.
IL vas the locket that Mr.. Porter had
handed him. and which he had entirely
forgotten. His thoughts were ton grave
~ engaged 10 give any heed To IL now.
But Ia taking Il out OF his pocket. the
better TO catch hold Of q match that
eluded his fingers, his gaze fell upon
the back. upoa which was engraved the
initials 4. Il. and +. NJ. joined iogeth-
or by q true lovers knot. A cry OF as-
constituent burst from his lips: he took
IL TO the window. infinitely examined IL,
passed his hand across his eyes. a.
though doubling their evidence. Then.
with trembling fingers. he tried for the
spring. Al last he found it, Upon one
side was the miniature OF a beautiful
woman: upon the other, which had once
contained another portrait. u lock or
dark hair.
He sank into n chair. trembling as
with an ague at, 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. lilo
kissed the picture. and murmured words
OF passionate love over II. In trying for
the spring. Mr.. Porter had bent the case
q little. As Montgomery pressed IL TO
his lips tho portrait fell out and dis.
closed. neatly fitted ut the back. n scrap
OF paper. There was writing upon IL:
but tho characters were so minute that
he had great difficulty In d~eciphering
them. At last he read these words:
Tho child upon whom this Is found Is
Silas Morant. sou 81 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 conius'
ed. This portrait OF his vito in Mr..
Porter's possession. How came IL there
"A child Of whose existence he was ig.
noranti Silas Morant-Silns Carston
and Madame Bernc interested In him.
Great heaven. this boy. then, whom he
had given up TO his bittercst enemies.
whose lifelong misery he had scaled,
whom he was on the brink OF c~onsigning
10 no awful death. was his own son!
Back upon his soul like the blast Of n
trumpet rushed the parting words OF
Madame Berne-that vengeance was
held by a 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, ut
what had been. what might have been,
and what might he yet. prayed TO heaven
for pardon and for succor.
What was 20 be done1 III he could get
clear III the house. there would he no
d~inBculty. But he had heard Rodwell
lock the door behind him. All, the win
dow. IL was n French one. opening
rpon n garden: IL was unfastened; he
could sec the back door before him. The
next moment he was there. lie could
not open L..
THE door Is locked. sir" said a voice
behind him.
Montgomery started. and upon look.
Ing round saw n bury looking fellow.
dressed like n groom. sitting under a
tree. Wi you have the kindness 20
open IL for met" he said. in rs uncon.
terned n tone as he could assume.
Cant, SIR" was the nsw MAS
ter has left me here with the key. TO
see that nobody passes out whatsom-
ever"
For n moment. Montgomery entertain.
ed the desperate idea OF trying n tussle
for the key, but the powerful build OF
the fellow. and the thought Of the noise
IL would create. quickly dispelled Il. An
other and more feasible plan crossed his
Brain.
Would you like to earn a dollar, my
manl' he said. Il don't mean by let
ting me out OF that door. or by disobey-
Ing your masters orders. Will you take
n message for me to the telegraph once
close byy'
The fellow considered for a moment.
swell. ! wasn't told anything about mes-
sages. 40 I dare say | can get IL done
for you by somebody"
IL was an enormous hazard 20 trust 20
this man: but IL was the only chance
left. There were writing materials In
the room he had just left. He FASTENED
back. and upon n sheet Of paper wrote
addressed 10 Jonathan Rodwell, Nor
ley's Hoicl,'-the following words:
III YOU wish TO see your ~granddaugh-
ter alive. lose not a moment in going TO
Manor House. Essex, John Rodwelrs
house"
As n double security. he would send
another 10 Bow street station. Thr see
ond telegram ran thus:
The young girl for whose discovery n
reward has been offered Is at Manor
House, Essex. She Is In imminent dan.
gcr-lose not n moment"
He sealed these up in separate envcl-
opes. and went back TO the man. A
youth. looking like n stable lad. was by
his side: this was 10 be the messenger.
No person was in sight. The lad de-
parted upon his crraud. and Montgcm-
cry returned TO his room.
The next thing 20 be thought OF was
his wi course OF action. or rather. what
answer he should give to Rodwell when
he returned. lie must feign TO assent to
his diabolical propositions dificult
task In the present agitation Of his mind.
but the only one. but would Rodwell
Implicitly trust 20 30 sudden a CONVEX
aionS