The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

T will no doubt have the pleasure of
 trying him." said Brandon q believe
 that a live nobleman is better than
 hanged highwayman. After he has gone
 we can break the news to her gently and
 she will, no doubt, be glad to forget him and turn to you"
 Meantime Lovett lay in prison suffering
 from his wound. His rescued comrades, hard pressed had barely succeeded In
 making their way to hidden dens in Lon
 don and could not venture to make any
 move to assist him.
 Disguised in a smock frock, one of them
 lay concealed in a low drinking place when a small thin man entered and
 looked at him with a gleam of recogni- tion.
 It was the witness who had restored the trinkets to William Brandon. "Yel, now said he, respectfully. If this aren't a honor How are you, Meester
 Pepper?''
 aso you recognize me Dummie?"
 growled Long Ned for it was this friend
 of his youth whom Lovett, alias Paul Cliff ford. had rescued
 Sulltily he invited the little man to share his drink with him The latter, after
 many asseverations that he would not be- tray his noble and famous acquaintance.
 consented. Presently the two were chat
 ting freely, and the little man deftly
 seized an opportunity to ask: "You members that nation fine lad, tall and straight as a harrow, vot was around
 here long ago, that there little Paul? Do you know vot's come of he?"
 'I do," said the highwayman, "but I
 swore the oath not to tell However, it's past caring for now, I fear"
 Dumme cast long, furtive look all he rr,btc fn he fyb-
 wayman, telling him that he knew who
 the boys father was. Failing to draw any admission from the robber, he began to offer him money, until at last, when he despalred of getting information in any other way, he proffered Long Ned one third of that reward which he once had
 hoped to gain in whole for himself. 1 Long Ned's eyes opened wide at this proposition. He asked questions and as- sured himself that Dummie meant Paul no harm. Having tried vainly to elicit 1 the name of Pauls father, he consented at last to tell what he knew. Paul is in jail" said he and he Is no
 less than the famous Captain Lovett! And who is the father?"
 But O sudden horror had struggled into Dummies eyes.
 On that same day Brandon was prepar- ing for the trial of the noted highway | man. His mind was singularly elated and | proud, for he had received word that ne
 was to be elevated into the peerage al- most at once and he made Chief Baron. In his triumph he gave little thought to 1 the man who he was to try for his life. l Lord Warlock, the first Baron of War l lock, Lord Chief Baron," he muttered to himself, even as he took his seat on the
 bench. What honor will not come nextl | Oh, that I could find my son now to carry 1 our name!''
 Dressed in a plain dark suit, his face
 white from the effect of his wound, but | otherwise collected and composed Lovett
 was brought in amid confused murnlur-
 ing and the eager craning of necks among 1 the crowd to see the famous and admired l highwayman.
 l He breathed hard when the various | aliases he had assumed were read, but l when the list was completed without the
 mention of the name of Clifford he smiled with satisfaction. Quickly the indictment was presented charging him with robbing 1 Lord Mauleverer. That nobleman gave his 1 evidence clearly identified the costume I worn by the prisoner at his arrest iden- tified the horse, and altogether. left TO | chance of escape. Had there been any, l it would have been destroyed by the traitor, who presented evidence that would have made 1t futile for the high wayman to deny his identity. 1 Counsel on both sides summed up, the l prisoner made defiant, challenging 1 speech in his own defense, the judge 1 charged the jury and 1t withdrew. 1 At this moment dirty scrap of sealei paper was handed to Judge Brandon. It | read:
 My Lord Judge:
 "I make bold you will do all you can | for the prisoner at the barre He is no 1 other than the Paul l spoke to Your Wor- 1 ship about. You know what l mean. | "DUMMfE DUNNAKER.' Those who happened to be looking at l him saw the Judges head drop suddenly | forward as if he were seized by sick
 ness or a spasm. Scarcely had he recoy- | cred himself before the jury came in. The 1 verdict was what all had foreseen- 1 Guilty"
 The prisoner was asked whether he had
 anything to say why judgment should not
 be passed against him.
 1 He arose and looked sternly and keenly l at the judge My Lord," said he, "the | first cause of those offenses against the | law which brings me to this bar was my l commital to prison on charge of which was wholly innocent. My Lord Judge. l yo,l were the man who accused me on | that charge! Look at me well, my lord. | You are about to adjudge to death the boy
 whom you accused of the theft of your | watch. You. who will now pass on my l doom, you were the cause, of my crimes!' AS the prisoner spoke all eyes turned l from him to the judge and every one was l appaled by the ghastly and fearful | change which had fallen over his face. | He stood silent for breathless, terrible l minutes Then, trembling. he drew forth 1 tbe black cap. AS he placed It slowly | over his brows the corpse-like whiteness | of his face became more glaringly visible. l Twice he cssayed to speak and twice only | an indistinct murmur came from his hue loss lps. Then his resolution conquered | and he uttered the solemn and awful words of sentence.
 As soon as the prisoner had been led | away he threw himself down in his prl- | yate room and struggled with his an- l euish, as keen physically as 1t was men, l tally. Then he muttered. 'I may-yes, I will-yet conceal this disgrace to my 1 name!'
 1 Calling a servant he ordered that the | men who had brought him the note be | admitted. For half an hour he was locked I'D with Dummie and Long Nod Then l he threw purse on the table and said. Here Is the money. I am convinced that YOU are liars and impostors I will give | YOU the grace promised you. But if you ever breathe word of this outrageous libel will have you hunted out and l hanged Cor
 | Having dismissed the crestfallen two, he l wrote a letter to the proper quarter strongly recommending that the sentence | pa assed by him on Captain Lovett be com l muted to. transportation for life. Then he