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

made acquainted with its parentage. Be
fore It left the care Of the nurse a friend
OF the lovers, and who frequently paid
a secret visit to the child, sewed up in
its frock locket containing its mothers
portrait and lock OF her hair, adding
thereto the scrap Of writing which Mont
gomery had now so strangely discov-
cred. The locket had been given her by
poor Frances on her deathbed. 1t was
all she could do-dared do. Slight as
was the link, It might one day prove use
full to the boy in establishing his iden-
tity.
When, after his death, Mr., Morant's
will was opened, Madame Berne was dis
covered to have inherited his estate and
fortune; but attached was codicil of a
very recent date, making chargeable up
on the same an annuity of $500 a year
to Silas Morant, known as Silas Cars
ton.
The unlocking and opening Of the door
aroused the dreamer, calling him back
from ghosts Of the past to the horrors
of the future, In the person of Mr.. John
Rodwell, who at that moment re-entered
the room.
W eAAt was AAOuWGh AAoh WOAAt w
you cOnsentT
Needs must" answered Montgomery
sullenly; he feared to change his tone
too suddenly, "By the bye" he added,
Il am forgetting all about the, Corin-
THAN. I am due there at seven, and is
Is now FIVE"
1.-THE public will certainly be deprived
Of your brilliant talents this evening,
sneered Rodwell. 1--WE shall start about
ten. You do not suppose that would
trust you to go alone after what has
passedG The night air might affect your
delicate conscience II you had not a
friend by your side"
"But who will carry ont the second
part Of your scheme? Who will be your
messenger to your unc1e?'
would not a telegram serve the pur-
poser
Montgomery started. Was It a stray
shot? or was he discovered2
There was dark, malicious smile up
on Rodwelps face. Whatever clever
plots you may have been revolving in
your fertile brain to overmatch me, will
only rebound upon yourself. But in the
meantime, dinner is waiting for us in
the next room. Let us eat, and be
thankful. Who knows whether we shall
ever eat another2 Life is SO very UNI
certain"
Montgomery was not coward, but
there was something in the callous-heart |
ed levity Of this man, who could thus
Jest upon the eve Of an awful crime,
that made his blood run cold. Added to
which, he did not feel by any means GER
tain that the telegram had not fallen into
his hands. If so, what thenf He shUd-
dered at the thought.
Before the dinner was half over,
strange, drowsy sensation began to steal
over him. Ten minutes more, and he
had fallen senseless from his chair unto
the floor.
Cease Of an overdose" said Mr.. Rod
well to the servant who was waiting,
coolly continuing his meal. Lay him
gently upon the couch, and then tell |
John to put the mare into the dog-cart.
III drop the gentleman into his home
as l go along. / shall drive myself, and
shall not require any one with me-"
About 8 o'clock Montgomery, still In
sensible, was lifted into the dog-cart.
MI. Rodwell took the reins, and drove
away. But not in the direction of Cam
den Town; on the contrary, he made
towards the open country, taking the
same road that Montgomery had travers-
ed in the opposite direction few hours
before. He stopped at a wooded, soli-
tary spot about half a mile off the road
way, and, about three miles from the
Manor House, embarrassed the mare,
took ont saddle and bride that he had
concealed in the boot, and, by the light
of bulls eye lantern, put these upon
her. Then he dragged out his helpless
companion, threw him across the front
of the saddle, leaped into tn sat, and
after casting look at the vehicle, which
was ensconced under a tree and quite
hidden by the darkness, he galloped
away.