The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-24

1 contained woman gave way. For nearly ] two months no remittance had come from ] her husband Somehaw the thought of l appealing to her parents was a pain quite ] inexpresslble. The thing itself seemed 1 impossible. Caroline, who had taught so well her infant class at Ryan street, l loved her little girl far too well to leave her in the misery of dependence. She 1 therefore took her in her arms and they went out to die. As a girl Caroline had often found her way to Chillingham High l Cliff where the new lighthouse was l abuilding. She had sat there and thrilled 1 to the sound of the serges of the German | ocean breaking hushed and hollow be- | heath.
 Where are we going, mother?" Vida l questioned, none so sure of the meaning of these things. She had never been out | on the sea-edge by starlight before. Nor l was she content with her mothers an- swer that it was such a nice night. and | they were going to take bonny walk all | by themselves!"
 "rhen why not go into the town and | see the shops?" retorted Vida, practically.
 But this was quite another thing, past l all the docks and ships, across weary | common, then over the level crossing on the Clinton line, and so to the dark trun- l cated mound on the sea cliff, bristling l with crane and scaffolding.
 Then, suddenly seizing Vida in a close l embrace, and in hurried whispers be- seechng her pardon for what she was l about to do, Caroline crossed the road to leap out upon the black rocks and white l foam far below. But as they went Vida 1 struggled. She was taken with the quick access of fear which gives strength. She 1 escaped from her mother and ran scream- 1 ing along the cliff road.
 StRnnp6 from light. hooded vehicle, which he had been driv- ing. He caught up the little girl and l pacified her.
 My mother! my mother!' she cried.
 And where is your mother?" asked Dr. Hubert Salyeson, the young Thorsby doc tor. for he was the man with the ca poted vehicle.
 Wonder yonder' cried the girl; "she Is going to jump into the tide She tried to take me with her"
 Hubert Salveson paused a moment. The girl might be romancing, but again she might not. However, there was no hesi- tation as to the young doctors action. He reached the height of the lighthouse cliff, only In time to see the wait of a white dress go over the cliff.
 Here, hold my horsei" he called out to Vida, for he had been driving alone by himself The girl sprang to the mares head. As he rushed after the vanishing drift of white, Hubert Salvesson recalled the time when his brother and he used 10 come bird-nesting there-his brother to sit on the cliff top and name the eggs. He remembered the lodges. They were in series if he mistook not-one below the other, thick grown with gorse and heather. He doubted if anyone. with the worst intentions in the world. could leap far enough out to fall clear into the tide beneath. .,A.
 Nevertheless he let himself down, his fingers gripping the lodges of rock. He felt for the next shelf with his feet, for he was a married man now, and had no right to play fast and loose with his life.
 Presently he was on firm standing ground, and could catch a glimpse of the creepy phosjhorescence for beneath. where the breakers fell, flooded white. and retired roaring sullxly. For the space of long minute he could discern nothing distinctly. Then on the same ledge but little beneath him, he made out lump, huddled and indistlnct, but plainly human Living also, as he found the next moment. 1t was, however. al- together impossible for him to lift up Mrs Romer higher than his head. and Vida could not assist him. He therefore called to her to go and fetch assistance wherever she could find it.
 Jump In the trap and give the mare her head!' he shouted. There is no time to loser
 It was a pity for all the world, except perhaps for the being of this story that the help which Vida brought back was no other than her own uncle. Dr. Thomas Romer of Thorsby, a man like-minded with his brother Jacob. and the particular enemy Of Dr. Hubert Salveson.
 And from this ill-omened meeting flowed many things.
 Among others pr. Thomas Romer wrote to his brother that his wife was definite ly mad, and that she would really be much better in an asylum where she could be taken care of. She suffered from suicidal if not homicidal mania. The advice jumped altogether with Jacob Romer's humor. Tom was ready to as- cist him, on the usual terms as arranged between the brothers. But what to do with the child was the question. Tom Romer called her young wild cat, and steadily refused to charge himself with her on any terms.
 After the brief adventure of the Poor Side" of Thorsby asylum, the removal to certain distant dependency of the great Corn properties in Scotland, was planned. So that there wife and daughter could be kept well under the eye of the husband and father. without being allowed to show themselves too much in public.
 Jacobs scheme as vaguely outlined in his head. was simply to isolate his wife till-wel1-till death might release him of the burden. As to his daughter-well, he would see. For the present there was no need to disauiet himself about her.
 But by this time he had taken James Kahn, an adventurer of whom no one knew even the nationality, as his conf dant and second And James Kahn thought he knew quicker way to rid his master of his burden. And at the same time clear his own way to the heir ship of the possible incubus millions.
 He imagined therefore the scuttling of The Good Intent and the abandoning of the woman and child on the night of the storm. The crew were first sent off by themselves while the Captain and Kahn landed with their boat farther down the coast-only the two of them saved. Kahn did not lose sight of his accomplice till he had seen him safe on his way to the Argentine Republic. with couple of hun dred pounds in his pocket-the payment of which he grpdged, but considered a good investment.
 After that James Kahn felt secure till he saw the girl he had counted dead stand by the door of Dick Finnan's cot tage at Glebe End. Mordecai was once more at Haman's gate, and what is more, he had daughter with him-though only an adopted one.
 CHAPTER XI.
 Choirs and Christians.
 In spite of being "kirks," the three churches dwelled in unity-that is, for the most mart To remark that ComDptitiOn