The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-22


 the door below. 'In the Kings nameP cried a voice. and instantly hoarse cry arose outside. Footsteps that seemed countless in number began to sound through the night, all coming toward the house. Silses leaped to cupboard and snatched a long rope. Racing to the roof he fastened it to a chimney and then ad- yanced to the edge, preparing to lower himself into the river.
 At sight of him the throng below set up a furious cry that might well appall any human ear. Some shouted to the police to set the house on fire. Others screamed to shoot him dead. Fifty pounds" cried an old gentleman on horseback "50 pounds to the man who takes him alivel"
 There was another roar. The door be- low fell with loud smash The crowd surged in. Sikes, working with hands and teeth, looped the rope over his shoulders and lowered himself down the side, to escape before a boat could be brought. Suddenly his hands slipped and the moose ran around his neck tight as a bowstring. He fell S5 feet. Then the rope fetched up short there was a terrific convulsion of his limbs and he hung dead. swinging to and fro. A white dog clambered to the edge with Q dismal howl, collected him. self for a spring and jumped for the dead mans shoulders. Missing his aim he turned over and over and dashed out his brains against the masonry below.
 A few weeks afterward Mr Brownlow sat in his library, confronting a tall, dark man who had been brought in by two men who appeared to be watching him. With an assumption of anger, he demanded: By what authority am 1 practically Kidnapped on the street and brought here by these dogs?"
 Because" said Mir. Brownlow calm ly. you know that it was better for you to come here, even against your will. than to wait till the police sought you. If, however. you wish to appeal to the law. go, sir; and I, too, will ap- peal to 1t. You know what awaits you if you do; and even after what you have done. I would save you for your fathers sake"
 The man muttered some unfntelligi- ble words and sank into a chair.
 You know already" said MT. Brown low, that we know all about your dealings with Fagin under the name of Monks That you shall understand how much r ore I know, Edward Lee- ford, will tell you that I was your fathers oldest friend. Before he went abroad he told me of his sin, and he told me how he intended to right the wrong he had done, so far as he could. He left with me, too, picture of the unhappy girl who had trusted him too well. And it was that picture hang ing over the bedside of the waif that came so providentially into my hands, that first aroused in me the suspicion that Oliver Twist might be her son. You got'the boy away from me before I could learn his story, and could not find him again. But since we have had his story we have been able to trace him. The miserable couple that sold you his mothers trinkets, fright { ened by our search, confessed to us in turn. We know from your talk with Fagin that there was a will. Now. coward and liar, do you still brave me? /Fagin will hang in a week. Will you confess or will you force me to appeal to the law that has already snatched your accomplice. who would sell score like you for one minutes repreve from the gallows?"
 No. Nor' cried the man who had passed for Monks, "I will tell the truth. You have cornered me- damn you, and can dictate terms"
 Slowly, hesitatingy, with his face work ing and livid, he continued:
 My father did leave a will. It was in a wrapper directed to you, and with it was a letter to that girl Agnes Fleming. In the letter he prayed for her forgive ness again and told her how he had hoped to make all right, as all the guilt was his. The will left my mother and myself only an annuity of eS00 each. The rest of the property was left to Agnes Fleming, to go after her death to her child if 1t came of age without having stained it's name with any wrong or dishonor. If, however, it were guilty of such an act, the money was to go to me- My mother did what woman should do She Suppressed the will. After her death I searched in vain for the girl Agnes. Chance brought me face to face with the boy when he was arrested for theft As you were struck by his resemblance to his mother, so was I struck by his resemblance to my father. l followed him to your house. Then, though I was fairly sure that he would never know who he was, I determined to make assurance doubly sure by turning him into thief Fagin was known to me- I hired him to get the boy into his clutches and found that he had already had him. Through this I managed to trace him back to the workhouse, and thus ascertained that he was indeed the son of my father.''
 few days afterward Oliver, Mrs. May lie and Rose heard the story from Mr. Brownlow, who laid down before them tho written and sworn confession of Edward Leeford, alias Monks, together with his surrender of the remnants of the prop erty amounting to about f6000, half of which, MT Brownlow suggested to Oliver, he should let his wretched brother have that he might begin new life if he would To this Oliver acceded willingly.
 And now" said MT. Brownlow, turn ing to Rose. T have strange news for you. Although we could not trace the Flemings after they gave up their home when Agnes fled, hatred succeeded where love faded. Monks and his mother discov- cred what had become of MT. Fleming. When he died, in a strange place, without being able to tell his name, and without leaving a scrap of paper to tell it. his infant daughter was cared for by the cot tagers until u wealthy lady, then residing at Chester, saw her and took her. That iady's nanie was"
 'Mayle"' cried Mrs Maylie, putting her arms arOund fhe faiptinp qirl ssE2ut