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

money to his daughter Aliva who was l betrothed to her cousin, Sir Cecil Traf- | ford.
 Rowland did what any sensible peYson
 would do: broke off his sisters match
 and did 1t so skillfully that he still re-,
 tained the friendship of Sir Cecil But
 one day he learned that Aliva had pri- | Vately married-though he could not | certain the name and rank of her hus-
 band-and was living in an obscure dwelling in Southwark where she had ! given birth to a child. You will remem- { Der the attack of Rowland and Sir Cecil on that home with the intention of murA 1 dering the husband and child and the l flight of the father with the child in his arms to the sanctuary of the old Mint. | You will recollect the pursuit on the river 1 the night of the great storm when, un- l mindful of the terrors of the elements, 1 Rowland consigned his sisters husband
 and his sisters child to the waves. Aliva, | after the death of her husband, was in- | duced to marry Sir Cecil on terms sug-
 gested by her brother. conditions strange
 and unprecedented. Sir Cecil was to be 1 her husband In name only. Sir Cecil is l no more, Lady Trafford Is dying, ere long 1 the estate must revert to Sir Rowland | Are you man or fiend?' cried Sir Row | land.
 My name is Wild-Jonathan Wild"
 replied the visitor blandly. | The knight started at the name of the | great thief-taker and laid his hand on l his sword MT. Wild" he said in a sar- 1 castle tone, but with great frmness, "a person astute as yourself must be | aware that there are secrets which are | dangerous to the possessor.
 sir Rowland does me only justice" l returned Jonathan coolly, "but some of | my-my 1anizaries, l call them-are with | out and one of them Is furnished with | 1 course l have just had the honor to de- 1 liver. If l do not return within a certain | time he was instructed to take the packet
 to the proper authorities. Besides, l am l accounted a toIerable shot and a fair l swordsman, as you probably know 1 What do you expect to gain by this in- terview?" demanded Trenchard. "Ah, now we come to business" re- | turned Wild. Give me thousand pounds and am silent and will also agree | to free you forever of the boy" "The boyi exclaimed the knight. Yes" returned Jonathan with leer. Your sisters son was not drowned on | the night of the great storm. but was res 1 cued by one Owen Wood, carpenter; and under the name of Thomas Darrell i the boy is now that carpenters ap- | prentice.'
 | Sir Rowland caught at chair for sup , port, and Wild suddenly changing to savage manner and looking at his victim 1 as bulldog looks when about to spring, | said; 'If it were my pleasure to crush | you I could do so in minute You are l wholly within my power. Your piottings ] with the exiled house of Stuart are known. I have In my pocket a warrant | from Walpole for your arrest as traitor. But put up your blade. King James III will have need of 1t. Instead of arresting you I offer you my assist ance"
 By the time the boys arrived at the Trenchard house, Lady Trafford had al ready departed for her country seat, nav ing set out before her intended time; and Wild and Sir Rowland had come to an agreement.
 This is most opportune," said Wild when an attendant announced that two boys from Mir Woods were inquiring for Lady Trafford. Bring them in" 50 you have something which you ! want to give to Lady Trafford, have you?" inquired Wild; and snatching the 1 packet containing the miniature he glanced at It's contents with deep inter- est and continued: You stole this!" "I did not" replied Thames. l Sir Rowland also took the miniature 1 and regarded 1t .ntently. He had never <, seen it before, for his sister had always l kept it from his gaze. "Dou you know whose portrait this is?' | he asked
 1 T do not" replied Thames, but sus- pect it is the portrait of my father" Do you know this picture, srrah?" asked Jonathan of Jack. "I should think so." replied sheppard | 'It came from Lady Trafford's jewel ] box
 Who stole it?"
 '.Thames Darrell, the boy by your side.' "Liarv' cried Thames. But Jonathan called in his janizaries and was giving 1 both lads into their custody when great ] commotion was heard in the ante-room l Lady Trafford too weak to continue her 1 Journey, had returned in dying condi- ton and was being brought into the house.
 Sir Rowland was suddenly and terri ply affected by this sight of his dying sister. Bitter remorse and sorrow over powered him. He stood, shaken by an un- controllable emotion that overwhelmed him.
 ''I could die content" said the unhappy | lady. If I could but behold my child.'' You shall behold him. Aliva," cried the remorseful knight. He is alive! He is | here Behold him!' And taking Thames | by the hand he led him to his mothers arms.
 Sir Rowland now demanded of his ss- ter the name of her husband, the boys
 father, but her emotion had been too i much for her. Before she could reply she fell back dead.
 ! Jack Sheppard was taken by Wild to l the old Mint, where he was started upon | a careet Of crime as Jonathan had once ] started his father, Tom Sheppard. And 1 Thames Darrell was delivered to the cap I tain of a Dutch trading vessel in the pay | of Wild, who agreed to throw the lad I overheard at sea-and kept his word. "At last I am my own master" said | Sir Rowland as he and Wild were re- | turning from seeing Darrell on board the trading vessel.
 Not so," rejoined Wild. you are my prisoner. Here is my warrant to arrest you for high treason ..Traitor," shouted the knight, drawing his sword.
 Away with him." cried Jonathan to his janizaries, who were in waiting. All the evidence against Sir Rowland was in the possession of Wild and it was rumored that it cost the knight one third of his fortune to suppress that ev- dence and keep his own shapely head
 from rotting on Temple Bar.