Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-05-08

possibly could to instill into his mind
that she must be dead. to which belief
| really inclined: but he obstinntely
chung to the idea that she still lived, and
that he should find her some day. In
the meantime. | kept on the best Of
terms with him. If she never turned
mp, | felt pretty confident that the bulk,
at least, of the old mans fortune would
| fall to my share. Years went on. and l
began to feel quite certain that Clara
would never again be heard of: when.
fancy my CONSERVATION upon one day
receiving letter from the old man.
which informed me that he was in the
city. consequent on having obtained some
trace of his lost granddaughter. He
lent some tramp money upon suit Of
clothes. and out of one of the pockets
had dropped miniat ure 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 tdings OF him. He had not been
| in town many days before he CHANGED to
see picture Of his own cottage in n
| print sellers window. He bought it, 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.
I called at number Of shops myself.
and l sent you to others; you know
with what result"
But l did discover her. after all" in
terrupted Montgomery, although in
quite another way: and had | 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 aunt,
who used to reside there, left it to me
as n legacy. Fortunately. it had only
been recently vacated. AS soon as |
had secured my fair cousin, began to
| consider what was the best thing to do
with her. After 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 a 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 me?'
"A spite against you:" echoed Mcnt-
gomery. This is the first have heard
Of II inf Tod
in getting him back into Judith's hands.
| bethought me OF the house that | had
taken the young lady to the night before.
There must be plenty of spare rooms
there, | thought; and as Judith and Mr..
Rodwell are old and confidential friends,
| don't see that he can possibly Jet
to oblige her so far"
And do you not think such an act
was piece Of impudence upon your
part?'
Not at ALL" answered Montgomery,
coolly. II had my own private interests
to serve in the matter-vital interests.
| 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 tat.''
Rodwell glared at him fiercely. IF
that is your mode of dealing with me-"
he said, how do | know that you may
not one fine morning call upon Mr.. iona
than Rodwell and blow the whole thing
to him."
NO. | shall not do that" answered
the other. quietly: honor among thieves.
| If the plot succeeds. | know that |
shall get more out of you than | possibly
could out Of him. Besides. there is n
stronger bond even than interest that
binds me to you-revenge."
Upon whom"
Upon Silas Carston."
"In that case, | think we can work to-
gether better than | suspected; but as
you have greatly complicated my diff
rulties by introducing Judith into the
same house. it is but fair that you should
he the more ready to help me in any way
cut of them
What do you mean?'
''In 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
OIL the last Derby; that was the last
straw. My debts amount to some pigh,
or ten thousand; my doors are besieged
by duns; my credit all but stopped. and
am all but penniless. If | could once
show proofs that | was my unces heir
my creditors would cease to press and
| could raise more money. On the other
hand. If things remain as they are,
should have to fly the country, 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 long
searching look: each one was trying tt
read the others secret thoughts
'Supposing." 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 m,
way"
What do you mean?' asked Mont
.sI laNl-