The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-29

tIcs to come and scrub the bloodstains out or the floor, wildly urging them 10 hasten in their work, and now and then exclaiming fercely: More water, say. VIII you let the stagnant gore oozet and rot into the boards? Water. more water to wash out the stainsw
 A lew days after the attempted rob- bery the squire received a letter from Walter which filled him with the live Hest anticipations of at last getting news of his lost brother. He had given his nephew a letter of introduc- tion to an old friend of his whom he descried as a rollicking fellow. ''Yes. Walter" he had said, not a merrier rogue in England than Squire Court land. Walter stopped at the little town where Courtland lived, but be- fore visiting his house chanced to step Into saddler's shop, where his eve fell on riding whip bearing his own Family crest on the handle. Looking closer, he saw beneath the crest fhis fathers initials.
 All the saddler could remember was that the whip had been left there about fourteen years before by a stranger who stopped over night at Squire Courtland's. Repairing to the haU Walter was well received by his fla ther's old friend. but time had changed the rollicking Courtland into con hrmed hypochondriac and the youths visit was short. When he mentioned the incident of the riding whip Court land told him that fourteen or fifteen years before his father, travelling un- der the name of Clarke, had stopped with him on his way to Yorkshire. where, he said, he was going to re- ceive legacy left him by a colonel Courtland had forgotten the name whose life he had saved in India. He had not heard of him since.
 Walters letter told all this. and added that he now was on his way to Yorkshire following this slight clue.
 While Squire Lester was reading Walters letter Aram was closeted with noble lord. one of His Majesty's Ministers of State. This great man had once tried to lure the scholar from his retirement and attach him to his party. And now Aram was saying: My lord. the tempting offer you made me some time since I still do not see my way to accept. To do so would destroy for me forever the charm of that studious retirement for which feel am best fitted. When men once plunge into the great sea of human toll and passion they soon wash away all zest and love for innocent enjoy ments. What once was a soft retire ment becomes the most intoTerable monotony. But pensions are sometimes granted to students and men of let ters. and one of those I would willing ly accept-nay, I ask for one. My wants are small, but small as they are they must be supplied if I am to con tinue my researches.
 My dear Aram," replied the Minis ter, consider the thing done. How much would suffice you?"
 Ara m a small that his lordship exclaimed at his moderation. urged him. but in vain, to take twice the sum, and dismissed with him the assurance that he would attend to the matter at once.
 From the house of the Minister. Aram went to a street near the river in one of the most squalid sections of Lambeth and knocked at the door of a dilapidated house The next minute he sat in a dingy and dirty room alone with Houseman, the highwayman and burglar. A single candle shed It's rays over the high and composed features of the scholar and the dissipated, reek- less features of the professional crin- inSl.