The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

 name-a-is Henry Scaddon."
 Christians start and gasping breath were a sufficient answer to the cunning lawyer.
 "Scaddon," said he, q know all about you. You fled from this country in a military disguise 24 years ago to escape Imprisonment for forgery, and were taken prisoner by the French. During an ex- change of prisoners the lot fell to you to be returned to England. You gave up your chance willingly to a fellow pris- oner of your age and size. You ex- changed clothes and names with him and he passed over to England as Harry Scaddon. Shortly afterwards you es- capped, but 1t was reported that you, still bearing his name. had been drowned while trying to reach the Maltese coast" Suppose I deny it?" said Christian, doggedly.
 'Why, In that case" replied Mir Jer- myn, pleasantly, you would not prevent me from exposing you with proof that hold You would merely end the present conversation. On the other hand, if you answer certain questions this thing may take a good turn for you, and I will keep your secret. How did you come to have these articles of Bycliffe's in your possession?''
 "We changed clothes in hurry,' said Christian, surrendering impotently. "Ev- erything was done in hurry. We ex- pected to meet again soon, but never saw or heard of him again."
 In reply to other questions he answered that he knew little of the man, except that he had married a French woman both civilly and by church ceremony. Having extracted all that he could, the lawyer dismissed him, warning him to keep his mouth shut.
 ESQ. MT Harold" said Jermyn to him. self. q can shut this matter up in se- I cret drawer till you force me to bring it out. Push me to chancery and ruin, will you? I can use this evidence to punish you, or I can hold 1t over you to save my self No one but old Lyon knows about the girls birth. No one but Scaddon can clinch the evidence about Bycliffe, and I've got Scaddon No soul except myselt knows that there is one half dead life which may presently leave the girl a new claim to the Bycliffe heirship."
 Standing with his back to the candles, looking out into the dim lawn, he medi- tated. Quick thought gleamed over 35 years of a career filled with devices that were clever and pleasing enough for pri- vate reflection, but not desirable for pub lie knowledge. And now this Harold Transome threatened to drag it all forth threatened to sHe him for an accounting of his administration of Transome affairs! If it came to question of right or | wrong, thought he, the least admirable things were those he had done for the Transomes It had been deucedly un- pleasant thing for him to have Harry ! Scaddon arrested and thrown into prison, hastening his death, when he knew that the man was Bycliffe. Yet, if he had not done it, where would the Durfey- Transomes be now? If the truth were known the very possession of the estate by the present Durfey- y-Transomes was | owing to the trickery of nearly century ago, when the original old Durfey got his base-fee
 Thinking 1t all over, he grew more and more indignant that he, who had saved ] the title to them, should now be threat l ened with ruin because he had repaid | himself in a somewhat irregular manner. And his indignation verged into exasper- ation that Harold, precisely Harold Tram some, should turn out to be the instru- l ment of visitation. He thought of the time when in brief season of uncal culating, foolish softness and passion he had laid the foundation for this very i'll luck. He was a handsome, soft-eyed, l slim young Jermyn then. The portly, still handsome, but gray and unsenti- mental lawyer of SO hated Harold Tran some in that moment of retrospection.
 MT. Jermyn's reasoning was as perfect as that of a chess player. He saw the whole board before him, and knew just what knight and bishop and pawn to move to win. But unfortunately fol him, human pawns are not quite as de. void of volition as are chessmen. There was one such human pawn which Jer.