The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-11


 nothing of the kind" said Tom, "her aunt kept the Bugle Inn at Waltham Green and you seduced her" "Stap my vitals, so didi" cried the Count. becou- ing highly interested. "I was always q devil of a fellow with the women, M rAbbe and we went to Birmingham. She was a little vixen, this Cat M pAbbe, and what do you think she did? She mur- dered me, egad, yes. murdered me and made me 'manquer' the marriage I was going to make with an heiress Now wasn't she an abominable monster-that mother of yours-Mr. What's-your- -name7"
 'she served you right" said Tom in . rages and springng from his seat Ne placed himself in an attitude of defense and invited his father, M. PAbbe and the valet, La Rose, to "come on." "Hi," cried His Excellency, paws off, Pompey; down you young hangdog. He has his fathers spirit, M. pAbbe, knew him by the way he swears. Why, when I was 1s used to swear like Thames waterman. Here, buss me, my lad-uo, salute my hand. that will be sufficient" And the noble Count stretched forth wasted yellow hand which shook very much amid its lace ruffles and made all the rings on it sparkle the more. Well" said Tom, If you ain't a-going to abuse my mother I don't mind if I shake hands with you. I ain't proud" The Count and his promising offspring conversed amiably after that and at parting the lad was presented with 7r,a md fnl1 morning.
 The result of the meeting between Tom and his father was a sad dIsap- pointment to Cat, but she was bouni not to have her air castle demolished So easily, and mother and son lurkod about. keeping a pretty closs watch upon the Counts movements, with the result that an .'accidentat" meettne was brought about between Mrs. Hayes and her old admirer one night at MaIylet one Gardens, when His Excei- lency was pretty well along in lj.rIor That was the beginning. The faded yo.uptuaiy was stirred by the -recoI- lection of his former amour and Mis- tress cat threw no legs ,f mutton at AS simple and winning as she was cn that fa'away morning when she had picked flow CTS by the roadside and the young Count had ridden up behind her on his black warhorse They had mahy rleetings at which Cat neId her old lover off to draw him on, and final ly succeeded in getting promise Inc would make her Countess of Galgen- stein-not that His Excellency meant any such foolish thing.
 The prospect for long life for the worthy MT. Hayes began to look rather dark. Hayes began to realize that the air of London was not healthful for him and, calling in his money, pre- pared to flee. MT. Wood found that out and informed Cat and Tom. and all three informed the neighbors that the carpenter was planning to desert his wife-it fell In with a little plan of their own they had decided in council
 One morning Hayes was indeed missing and Catherine proclaimed herself poor, deserted creature. The succeeding nights Wood. Tom and Catherine made Journeys to different parts of the waterside carry ing mysterious bundles with which they did not return. When these little jour- neys ceased Catherine met Galgenstein alone and by appointment in St. Marga- ret's churchyard, near his excellencys lodgings. It was strange place for such a meeting, but secluded and handy-a little gloomy, perhaps. for the night was r7t. ff.~ times, and then Cat proceeded to the business in hand Max" she said, will you make me Countess of Galgenstein?" Tn everything but the name my dear" he replied. You see if your husband was dead, why, of course, l should marry you at once. Max" she cried, The Is dead" "What?" exclaimed the count. drawing back in alarm.
 Just at that moment the moon broke through the clouds and shone full upon & ghastly human head perched upon post near which they were standing. In the shifting light its features seemed convulsed in a diabolical manner, and the count shouting, Look, Cat, the head." fell writhing and ehattering to the earth. act looked up, beheld above her LOIliDlC, 6udSlly ldc6 Ol ueI dchd husband and fled into the night.
 The head was. indeed, that of the late MT Hayes, who had been murdered, chopped up and deposited in sections at various points in the river by his, amiabis wife. his sprightly stepson, and the ven- erable Dr. Wood. The severed head had been fished up from the waters that day and placed on the post in the church. yard in the hope that some one would recognize it and thus furnish clue to the murderer. This actually was what took place the very next day.
 Catherine. Tom and Corporal Brock. alias the Rev. Dr. Wood, were tried for the crime, convicted and suffered the pen- alty of the law at Tyburn. You may still read the account of the trial in the New gate Calendar if you wish the details. Az for the Count von Galgenstein, they picked him up from the churchyard ground a babbling idiot and he lived years and years after that accredited to a keeper, moaning until the last and howltss7 dreadfully on nights when the moon peered through the bars of his solitary coll and he buried his face in the straw.
 Of course Catherine was a heroine and the other characters in thls tale heroes and as much entitled to be considered as such as MT. Eugene Aram, Claude Duval or Jack Sheppard, who have had books written about thenn-only Catherine and tar %rtands hava boen deDiet0d aa th0y