The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-01-21
The Hunchback

wns almost bald. and his voice was ~
harsh as a ravens
How Melville became possessed Of q
large sum Of money was another mat
ter that was never fully explained His
arrival In London was one Of the most
brazen things q man ever did. He had
q dozen forged letters, and, giving out
that he wDs Immensely wealthy, be
rented q large house and installed him
self and began to mingie In society.
He was called delightfully."- eccentric"
his gross ignorance was termed 'plc-
turesque." aud inside OF q 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 q
member of parliament and made love
to her 80 fast that she was swept on
her feet and gave hlm 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 lost him she determined on re-
venge. She had a cousin who was an
officer In a certain regiment then sta
toned In England, and she knew be
had served In New Zealand. She went
to him for Information. and the cat
was soon out OF the bag. Captain Bur.
ton had read and heard Of the million
aire hunchback. but owing to illness
had not met him. He had never met
any one Of that name, but when asked
10 set his memory at work he recalled
q certain incident. Ten years previous
while on hunting expedition on the
Ashley river. on the east coast Of New
Zealand. he had trouble with a squat
ter and his son. The latter was q
hunchback aud 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 that they were. He threw
himself In the way Of the man and at
once identified him. both by his voice
and his deformlty. Forty years ago
New Zealand was a long way OF
from England. There was no cable,
few steamships. aud letters took
months TO go and come. Their idea
was 10 expose the man at once. Tue
captain made up his mind TO blum him
down 10 his own house. He would
either compel him to leave London or
expose him. The officer did not figure
that the hunchback would attempt to
strlke back. but went almost at once
and secured an interview. He was
graciously received, and he felt that
be had made no mistake In the identl-
dcation. The bog Of fifteen who had
held a rifle within ten feet Of his head,
finger on the trigger ana eyes blazing,
had simply become ten years older and
changed his squatter's dress for fash
ionable clothing.
There Il NO doubt that the so called
Melville also recognized the officer.
This the latter had not counted ON. He
gave not the least align. however. The
captain had plenty OF moral courage,
and as soon as he could bring II around
he boldly charged Melville with being
an lmpoator, His charges were met
with smiles. Instead Of being offend
ed. the hunchback said that he was
only too glad that the officer had come
TO him, II there was the slightest
doubt In the nina Of any one. that
doubt must he set at rest. He would
welcome the fullest and closest inves-
tigatlon. II Captain Burton would call
at certain hour next day, birth Ger
tlncate. title deeds to lands. letters
from prominent psaIple, aud 30 forth
and 10 forth. would be placed before
him, The New Zealander would also
have present a banker and two prom
lnent merchants to Vouch for him In
bis faFofI home.
What we are the most certain OF IL
the very thing We can be tripped up
on. Let the man who has lived at 2dl
Blank street be told that the number
Ia 2liS aud that the other will bet him
10 70 and he can be blutfed out. He
10 too sure 10 be sure. The too sure
witness IL spelling cases In court ov-
cry day In the year The captain was
sure aud not sure. aud the result was
that he was soon Wishing he had not
meCidied with the case. He had made
his charge. however. aud must 70
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 a. the meF>
chants spoken of, On the table were
many papers aud the hnnchhack en-.
planned that the banker was expected
every moment While the four waited
Il was only natural that the wine
should b. passed around. All were
laxative aud friendly. and all drank.
Then QUE OF the merchants began TO
talk about an adventure he 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 be lost
/ consciousness
The wine had been drngged. Il was
two days later when the captain awOke