The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-26


 was indeed insane.
 He was we'll treated; but every attempt to prove his identity naturally confirmed his keepers in the belief that he was mad on the subject. Thus he was kept for one year and eight months, during which time ne tried in vain to send letters to his sis- ter and to O'Brien.
 At last lie became utterly Respondent and gave way. He noted time no more. Day and night followed each other with out his notice
 So he sat one day, too indifferent to look up even when the door opened But we'll remembered voice caught his ear He sprang up and the next moment was grasping the hands of General O'Brien
 The general was a prisoner on parole, having been captured when the British troops took Martinique He had visited the asylum with his friend Lord Belmore. IL did not take many moments for him to convince the asylum authorities that Peter had been wrongfully confined, and IS Lord Belmore bound himself to care for him he was released at once in their care.
 In a few hours he was in the arms Df Celeste, and the general was blessing their union.
 A lawyer was sent for at once and a legal action prepared against Lord Privi- lege for false imprisonment. Then Peter set off to look for his sister. He arrived at the vicarage to find a new tenant there who could tell him only that Ellen had set off for London when he took possess sion and had left no address
 He searched in vain for a clue. Nothing had been heard of her since He returned to London in despair and employed a so- licitor, who set inquiries on foot every where and advertised widely but without success.
 While this was going on Lord Belmore took him to the first lord of the ad- miralty to whom Peter told the full story of his persecution by Captain Hawkins. The result was that two days afterwari he received his promotion to the rank of commander.
 The story of his imprisonment and of the action against Lord Privilege spread throughout the town, and Peter found himself the object of much attention, es- pecially as the rumor of foul play in re- gard to the succession had begun to cir cu1ate among the nobility. Just then O'Brien's ship arrived from the East h. dies and he came up to London post haste with great news.
 Among some soldiers who had been in- valided and were sent home in his frigate was one accompanied by his wife, whose name he recognized as being similar to that borne by the young woman who had been engaged by Peters uncle in Ireland and whom they had searched for in vain. He sent for her and told her that he knew all that she had done. She was fright ened and he pressed his advantage by asking her what she had done with the girl child that she had taken away in place of her boy.
 Tt was drowned at Portsmouth" said she, and my husband was saved at the same time by a young officer whose name I have here" and she pulled out Peters card.
 The moment O'Bren told her that she was helping to rob the very man who had saved her husband she not only confessed everything, but swore that she would tes- tify to the full truth And O Brien had her safely hidden away to produce when she was wanted.
 Another bit of news did OBrien bring. Captain Hawkins had been ordered to the East India station. One night he abused Peter in public, whereupon O Brien in- formed him that he was a liar and a scoundre Much against his will, Haw- kins had to challenge him, and o'Brien very quietly and neatly shot him dead next morning, to the great satisfaction of the other naval officers.
 It was as if all the evil fortune that could come to Peter had now worked it. self out and as if his good star were to mount higher and higher. Not many nights after OBrien's arrival the party went with Lord BeImore to hear a new singer, Miss Henderson. She was led out on the stage, looking very timid and frightened. She glanced at their box, screamed and tainted. The next moment o'Brien had leaped to the stage and car ried her off. It was Ellen.
 She had been left quite penniless when Peter disappeared. He had sent her e15oo prize money and she had been forced to use it all to pay their fathers debts. When she could obtain no trace of her brother she had accepted the offer of a teacher of music to train her for the stage.
 The suits against Lord Privilege were now carried on with full vigor, there be- ing nothing to distract the minds of Peter and his friend. Lord Privilege. very much alarmed, sent for his solicitor. They were walking on the terrace, dis cussing the affair, when Lord Privilege broke out fiercey, declaring that he hated Simple. "Would,' cried he. "that he were lying dead at my feet!'
 At that instant there came the swift shadow of something falling. and the poor little heir crashed down at their feet He had leaned from the window to look down on them and had fallen to his death.
 The two men stared at each other with horror. Then the lawyer muttered hoarsey: "A judgment!'
 His lordship covered his face with his hands, glared for a moment and fell in an apolectic fit He never spoke again. Thus it was that the next morning Pe- ters solicitor called on him with letter and said: Allow me to congratulate your lordship.
 fortnight afterward Celeste O'Bren was married to the fool of the family, who had a commission as post captain in his pocket made out to Viscount Priv ilege, and Ellen Simple was married +1,a eap,o tivpo to au Irish gentleman