The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-26

admitted to the force.
 Mrs. Dodd succeeded because of her ex- ceptional skill, in getting work as dressmaker; and the family now being provided for with Edwards salary what Mrs. Dodd could earn and the part of her income which was not necessary to maintain her husband at the expensive private asylum, Julia gave up her un- successful attempts to become a gover- ness ard, with a broken but humble heart settled down as a district worker among the poor.
 Captain Dodd was confined i'm Dr. Wolfis asylum Drayton House. in London sub urb, and thither Julia and her mother used to go at stated intervals on mourn full pilgrimages. The captain was a mild, harmless lunatic and called himself "Wi- liam Thompson, able seaman. captain of the foretop. sir. just come abroad" In that asylum, too, after being shifted about from one wretched prison to another, was now lodged Alfred Harde.
 Alfred learned that Able Seaman Thompson" was Captain Dodd and that he was visited by his wife and daughter. But whenever the ladies came to Dray- ton House Hardie was locked in his room, and the captains mind was too much of a blank to be able to carry any message.
 One night Drayton House caught fire. In the confusion Alfred and Captain Dodd
 
 who rescued them from the burning build ing but before he or any of the at tendants could interfere Alfred bent only on liberty had mingled with the crowd and disappeared followed by Captain Dodd.
 Edward had recognized Alfred, and, overcome by amazement had Inquired at once of the asylum authorities what he was doing there. In answer they showed him the records which certified to AL freds insanity.
 When he told the news to Mrs. Dodd that energetic woman at once said. My hausband will make for the sea-" and, accompanied by a private detective, she started at once for the coast Alfred had at first fled without any l definite objective point and so had al- l lowed the captain to direct his course. I But, arrived at Folgestone, he set about maturing his plans resolved to return at once to London, seek out the Dodds, explain matters to Julia and engage an attorney to begin suit against those who had wronged him.
 While he was off his guard Captain Dodd gave him the slip, seized a boat and went out to sea in her. Alfred saw from the cliffs the boat put into a neghboring port. He hurried thther, but all trace of the captain naG disappeared. The young man then hastened to London, but did not arrive there before note from Mrs. Dodd came to Edward saying that the two fugitVes had separated and that track of the captain had been lost.
 Arrived in London. Alfred found out the home of the Dodds, where the faithful Julia received him with transports of affection. She now learned for the first time what her brother ana mother had kept from her-that Alfred had been
 confined in an asylum.
 Alfred's story convinced both Edward
 and Julia of his sanity and of his wrongs.
 While they were talking Mrs. Dodd ar
 rived from her frultless search. She
 started at the sight of Alfred, but he | poured out his story to her and begged | her compassion.
 All that you say is evidently true, young man." sternly replied Mrs. Dodd, but what have you done with my hus- bahd?" And she swept majestlcally from | the room.
 This attitude toward Alfred was steadily
 maintained by Mrs. Dodd. She persisted
 in holding him responsible for the dis | appearance of her husband, and whenever | Alfred called she would leave the room. | sAlfred's case was at once put In the 1 hands of a good lawyer, and 1t was de- | cided that he should return to oxford
 and complete his course, the laws de- l lays giving him abundant time to do so N'--+N f'etB
 be reached.
 1 The best Alfred's attorney could do was 1 to bring suit for damages, and this
 suit lawyers engaged by Richard Hardie consistently fought from coming to d trial. So a year dragged away. Now among the people visited by Julia fin her work as a district missionary was an old man, a crossing sweeper. who called
 himself Barklngton. The name struck Julia as 1t was the name of her native town. When Barkington learned the name of his benefactress he gave utteranee to some exclamations of remorse, which
 startled the girl and she related her ex-
 perience to Green the private detective
 who had been employed from time to time upon Alfreds case.
 One night, just before the day when
 Alfred's case was to come to trial. this old crossing sweeper appeared at the
 house of Richard Hardie.
 You know your old clerk, sir?" he | said
 "Ah, yes. Well, what can I do for | you?" asked IIardie in secret terror. Why, l have lost that five thousand | you gave me and 1 am sure you will give
 me another five thousand | Absurd" cried Hardie. You are
 dreaming. Why should |? What can you ! prove against meY'
 Well" replied Skinner, for Barkington i and skinner were one, 'I have got the receipt Oh. yes MT Hardie, you may
 start; but l picked 1t up off the office l floor and have held 1t all along. l only | just found out you were in London, sir. ' l Thoroughly trapped, TIardie made an | appointment to meet Skinner the next night and pay him the money. But Skin
 ner tid not keep the appointment. The wretched man. trying to warm himself | with a charcoal fire in his attic room,
 had suffocated himself and lay there life | less.
 On that same day Alfred got his verdict | and was officially a sane man once more. Meantime Green, the detective. had been | following clues relating to Skinner. Call | ing with Edward al the old mans squalid | lodgings and getting no answer to hIs knocks he broke in to find a corpse; and | in it's hand was clutched the missing re- | ceipt
 "who will take charge of this?' said | Green
 | dep voice behind him replied. 'l will 1t is mine.
 | The intruder was Captain DOdd. restored ! to his right mind. When he had disap-
 peared 1t was because he had shipped as
 an able seaman on a man-of-war. Not