The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-12-12
The Hunchback

don from New Zealand a hunchback
named George Melville. aged twenty
four lie was not only a hunchbaek
but there was cast In one eye, he
was almost bald. and his voice was MS
harsh as rayen's.
How Melville became possessed of
large sum OF money was another mat
ter that was never fully explained. His
arrival in London was one Of the most
brazen things man ever did. He had
dozen forged letters, and, giving out
that be was Immensely wealthy. he
rented large house and installed him
self and began 10 mingie in society.
He was called delightfully."- eccentric
his gross ignorance was termed s'pic-
turesque," and inside Of month he
had the run Of three or four clubs and
had been taken up by society.
He determined to marry. Perhaps
he fell In love, perhaps not. At any
rate, he selected the daughter OF
member Of parliament and made love
to her 50 fast that she was swept off
her feet and gave him her hand.
a certain widow not yet thirty years
OF age had set her cap for Melville,
and when she had made sure that she
had last him she determined on re-
venge- She had cousin who was mn
officer IN i certain regiment then sta
toned In England. and she knew he
had served in New Zealand She went
70 him for informationy and the cat
was soon out Of the bag Captain Bur
ton had read and heard Of the million
aire hunchback, but owing 10 illness
bad not met him He Lad never met
any one OF that name but when asked
to set bis memory at work be recalled
q certain incident. Ten years previous
while on a hunting expedition on the
Ashley river, on the east coast OF New
Zealand, be had trouble with squat
ter and bis son. The latter was a
hunchback and had shot at him.
The captain had little idea that the
millionaire and the squatter's son were
one and the same, but he took his
chances thar they were He threw
himself In the way Of the man aud ut
once identified him, both by his voice
and his deformity. Forty years ago
New Zealand was long way OFF
from England. There was no cable
few steamships, and letters took
months 10 20 and come. Their idea
was to expose the man at once. The
captain made up his mind to bluff him
down in bis own house lie would
either compel him TO leave London or
expose him. The officer did not figure
that the hunchback would attempt 10
strike back, but went almost at once
and secured an interview. He was
graciously received. and he felt that
he had made no mistake In the identi-
fication. The boy OF fifteen who had
held a rife within ten feet OF his head,
finger on the trigger and eyes blazing.
had simply become ten years older and
changed his squatter's dress for fash
ionable clothing.
There is no doubt that the SO called
MELVILLE also recognized the officer.
This the latter had not counted on. He
gave not the least Sign. however. The
captain had plenty OF moral courage,
and as soon as he could bring il around
he boldly charged Melville with being
at impostor. His charges were met
with smiles. Instead of being offend
ed. the hunehback said that he was
only too glad that the officer had come
60 him. II there was the slightest
doubt in the mind Of any one. that
doubt must be set at rest He would
welcome the fullest ard closest inves-
tigation. II Captain Burton would call
at a certain hour next day. a birth GER
tificate, title deeds to lands. letters
from prominent people. and so forth
and 10 forth. would be placed before
him. The New Zealander would also
have present banker and two prom
inent merchants TO youeh for him In
his faroff home,
What we are the most certain OF is
the very thing we can be tripped up
on. Let the man who has lived at 264
Blank street be told that the number
Is 28S and that the other will bet him
10 10 ] and be can be bluffed out He
is too sure TO be sure. The too sure
witness is spelling cases In court ev-
cry day in the year. The captain was
sure and not sure, and the result was
that he was soon wishing he had not
meddled with the case. He had made
his charge, however. and must 60
through with the affair. He was at the
house at the appointed hour and there
found two respectable looking men who
were introduced TO him as the mer-
chants spoken OF On the table we're
many papers. and the hunchback ex-
planned that the banker was expected
every moment While the four waited
it was only natural that the wine
should be passed around. All were
talkative and friendly, and all drank.
Then one of the merchants began to
talk about an adventure be had had
with the natives OF New Zealand The
captain was following him closely
when all at once he lost the run Of the
remarks Then the room began to
dance around with him. Then wheels
began to turn in his head, and he lost
consciousness