The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-05-25
CHAPTER xxx.

dificult task He was utterly in Rod
wells power. Once in the hands OF TIL
police, what would the story he coul,
tell avail against the word of a gentle
man? While thus revolving in his mine
his perilous position. he took out his
pipe. Searching in his waistcoat pocket
for a match. he felt some smooth. hart
substance
1t was the locket that Mr.. Porter had
handed him, and which he had entirely
forgotten. His thoughts were too grave
~ engaged TO give any heed TO il now.
But in taking it out OF his pocket. the
better TO catch hold OF match that
eluded his fingers, his gaze fell upon
the back upon which was engraved the
initials E. b. and E. NJ. Joined togeth-
er by true lovers knot. A cry OF as
constituent burst from his lips; he took
1t TO the window. infinitely examined il,
passed his hand across his eyes, as
though doubling their evidence. Then.
with trembling fingers. he tried for the
spring. At last he found it. Upon one
side was the miniature of beautiful
woman; upon the other, which had once
contained another portrait. a lock of
dark hair
BIZ 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, and murmured words
OF passionate love over it. In trying for
the spring, Mr.. Porter had bent the case
a little. As Montgomery pressed il TO
his lips the portrait fell out and dis
closed. neatly fitted at the back, a scrap
of paper. There was writing upon it;
but the characters were so minute that
he had great difficulty 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 4
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
norant? Silas Morant-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,
TO an awful death. was his own SOM
Back upon his soul ike the blast OF
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
haI ~
and what might be yet. prayed to heaven
for pardon and for succor.
What was to be done: IL he could get
clear of the house. there would be no +,
difficulty. But he had heard Rodwell !
lock the door behind him. All. the win f,
dow, 1t was a French one. opening
upon a garden; it was unfastened; he
could see the back door before him. The
next moment he was there. He could
not open it.
1.-THE door is locked, SIR" said a voice
behind him.
Montgomery started, and upon look +
ng round saw a bury looking fellow. II
dressed like a groom, sitting under a q
rec 'Will you have the kindness to h
,pen it for mey he said. in as uncon- 7,
erDed tone as he could assume. a.
Cant. SIR" was the answer. Mas q,
er has left me here with the key. to :.
zee that nobody passes out whatsom- a,
YER"
For a moment, Montgomery entertain .,
d the desperate idea Of trying a ttIssle y,
or the key, but the powerful build of n
he fellow, and the thought of the noise n,
would create. quickly dispelled it An n.
Their and more feasible plan crossed his
rain =,
Would you like to earn dollar, my n,
ian?" he said. Il don't mean by let 90
ing me out of that door, or by disobey W
ig your masters orders. Will you take w
message for me to the telegraph Office IN
lose byY Oh
The fellow considered for a moment. br
Well, wasn't told anything about mes kr
ages, so 1 dare say / can get it done ca
,r you by somebody" II,
1t was an enormous hazard to trust to ! 90
lis man; but 1t was the only chance cd
IT. There were writing materials in
lie room he had just left. He FASTENED nj
ack, and upon a sheet Of paper wrote nj,
addressed to Jonathan Rodwell, Nor wl
Us Hotel, The following words: W.
If you wish to see your granddaugh- ra,
r alive. lose not a moment In going to nm
amor House, Essex, John Rodwell's In
,use" on
As double security, he would send
iother to Bow street station. The sec wa
I'd telegram ran thus: or
The young girl for whose discovery a ma
ward has been offered is at Manor for
ouse, Essex. She is In imminent dam of
lose not a moment" n
He sealed these up in separate envel- its
'es, and went back TO the man. A Dol
nth, looking like a stable lad, was By the
5 side; this was to be the messenger. 9or
D person was in sight. The lad de- ere
rted upon his errand, and Montgom- noe
y returned to his room. all
The next thing to be thought Of was wa
! own course Of action, or rather, what fuI
swer he should give to Rodwell when tity
returned. He must feign to assent to \
diabolical propositions difficult vii
SIX In the present agitation Of his mind, GOV
I the only one. But would Rodwell for
pliciuy trust to SO sudden a CONVEX yer
N? on
All this time he held the portrait Of TO
wife in his hand. never taking his ton
20 from off It, And amidst all these 4
king doubts and fears Of the present aro
roaa ~, in. 0oo 80 - ....s