The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-14

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 Nearly nine years passed Then one day | a young man of remarkably prepossess- 1 ing appearance, tall and robust, his fea- 1 lures regular and finely formed, his com | plexion clear and blooming, though ! slightly shaded by travel and exposure to the sun, took his way along Wynch street and stopped at the house formerly l occupied by MT. Wood, over the door of which now appeared the sign; William Kneebone, Woolen Draper" The stranger was almost afraid to state the object of his visit. He was overjoyed when the draper informed him that Owen , Wood was not dead, but that on the con- trary, he had prospered greatly and was now living on an estate which he had | purchased near Wilesden called Dollis l Hill
 And his daughter?' asked the stranger. | Isis she nlarriedT
 "Married?' replied the draper. "Oh. no; nor is ever likely to be unless the grave 1 gives up Its dead. When mere child | she fixed her affection on youth named Thames Darrell who perished, it is sup | posed about nine years ago. "If I remember, there was another boy beside Darrell whom MT. Wood brought
 up," said the young man. What became of him?''
 "Oh. Jack Sheppard? Why, have you
 
 housebreaker in the country and is un-
 der the protection of Jonathan Wild, who will one day hang him as he did his fa- ther. For some reason of his own, they say Wild resolved upon the destruction
 of both of MT. Woods apprentices. It Is
 certain that he tried to marry Mrs. Shep- pard after her husband was hanged, and mas tried since. But she, poor woman, Is now almost beyond the reach of even Wild's cruelty-she has become insane through grief over her sons course and is confined In a mad-house.' Shortly after this conversation the young man was riding away in the direc- ton of Dollis Hill He had halted his steed for a moment at Tyburn gate to gaze at the place of execution, with us
 several lofty gibbets still bearing their ghastly burdens, when two horsemen rode by him and proceeding to little dis tance stopped likewise. One of them was l a short stout. square man. with sinSu- lar bluish complexion and harsh, forbid ding features. The other rider was showily dressed in a blue and scarlet riding habit heavy with gold lace. Ills
 form was that of young man slightly
 but well built. He turned to look at the stranger and the two recognized each other with a mutual start of surprise For an instant Thames Darrell and Jack Sheppard gazed into each other eyes, and then Jack, turning his horse, rode swiftly away, with Blueskin at his heels.
 Of the meeting between Darrell and MT Wood nothing need be said. The lost was found again. and they killed the fatted calf for him; and If the faithful Wnifred wept her tears were those Of iov Darrell had indeed been thrown over board but he had been picked up by a. fishing vessel and taken to France. where he had made friends and found patrons. Finally he had become an officer in the French army under the patronage of the
 Duke d'Orleans: and on the death of that prince had resolved to return to Winifred and his native land.
 The family at Dollis Hill sat long that night, talking over the past and the pres ent and planning for the future. But for one of them the world was over. That night the house was entered and robbed by Jack Sheppard and Blueskin Thames. aroused by a noise descended from his room to find Mrs Wood lying dead on the floor and the thieves fled. The woman had discovered Blueskin making off with a bag of silver, had attempted to stop him and had been stabbed. in spite of Jacks strict injunction that there should be no bloodshed.
 Jonathan Wild in the audience room of the thief-taker's mysterious house oppo- site Newgate.
 "I am tired of this sort of life." said Jack. "I will live 1t no longer. l shall go abroad"
 "Tll go with you. captain" said Blue skin. who had begged hard that Jack would forgive him the accident of Mrs Woods death "I'll follow you like a dog"
 Jack Sheppard" said Wild, calmly, 'T will neither allow you to leave England or the life you have engaged in. You are my slave"
 T defy you" cried Jack. But one mo.