The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-11
G0pYRBG@T 1909 RN FuQlAEa. ALL ROlTS RE6G2WED.


 these amiable qualities of the day were brought to their full flower. so that 10 years after, when we are again privileged to meet the engaging youth in London, tall, strapping fellow of IT but looking much older, he was admirably qualified for the destiny which awaited him and fitted in every way for the hero of one of those popular noVelists whose mission 1t is to glorify highwaymen and mur- derers.
 Hayes, beside being a carpenter was a money lender. and had removed to Lon don to extend the field of his financial operations While he hoarded and saved and oppressed his debtors Catherine took lodgers. and Master Billings was ap prenticed to a tailor. One of Cats lodgers was the Rev. Dr. Wood. alias Corporal Brock. and the other was woman of no especial importance to this story except that she afterward testified at certain murder trial which will be spoken of later.
 Galgenstein also was in London. Hav- ing left his wife after getting her money, or she having died-at any rate being re- lieyed of the incumbrancc in some man. ner. he had returned in funds to his native land. and having once ridden bareheaded in A pouring rain for several miles by the side of the carriage of the mistress of the Grand Duke had been rewarded by ms royal master with the post of Bayar1an Envoy to England. Brock read the name out loud from the newspaper one day 10 the assembled Hayes household and there by caused a mighty futtering in the gen. tie heart of Mistress Cat, who at once took her son aside and revealed to him the secret of his paternity.
 Now the noble Count von Galgenstein had led. as the reader is by this time beginning to suspect, a pretty gay life. He had burned the candle at both ends, as the saying is. and was now brok- endown roue, feeble in body and mind. He had lost all capacity for enjoy ment and only possessed inclinations without the power to gratify them. He | carried about with him French cook, who made dishes for him he could not eat; he fell asleep at the gaming table, and supported a mistress with whom his relations were purely platonic and above the reach of scandal. Upon my ! word" said His Excellency the Ba- varian Envoy as he lay In bed the morning after Dr. Wood had read his name in the newspapers, Upon my word, M. pAbbe, l care for nothing. You have been talking for an hour of the Regents death and what not, and l care just as much as if you had told me that one of my boors at Galgenstein had killed a pig. or my valet there, La Rose, had made love to my mis- tress." He does.' said the Abbe. An returned La Rose, who was curling wonderful full-bottomed wig, M. rAbbe is. helas, wrong. But M. le Count will not be angry with me, am sure, if say that I wish the ac- cusation were true"
 M. fAbbe was Father O'Flaherty, chaplain to His Excellency, who had been sent along with the noble Max so that the Embs ssy should not be en- tircJy without brains should the neces- sity for their employment arise. He could scarcely veil his contempt for his empty-pated chief or refrain from using upon him his ready Irish wit when he had these morning audiences with His Excellency; but Count Max was too egotistical to perceive the one and too stupid to Comprehend the latter.
 Now 1t so happened that the envoy had ordered pair of brooches from the ssr,e tailor to whom the hopeful MT. Billings was apprentice, and they were to be delivered that morning. Upon this fact Tom and his mother had con- structed pretty little air castle.
 Tom came with the brooches and was admitted to the counts bedroom. Where have I seen the fellowT' thought the Abbe "Oh, I have It. My good friend, you were at the hanging yesterday?' The hanging had been that of MT. Mac shane, once a companion of the Rev. Dr. Wood, but who had taken to evil courses and held up his Bavarian excellency's coach upon Hampstead Heath, for which exploit he rode to Tyburn. The Abbe had attended him as ghostly comforter upon his last ride.
 ~ have been thinking of that fellow they hanged ever since he robbed me on the heath," said the count. and now 1 remember. He was a second ip duel I once started to fight with fellow, egad, who turned out to be deserter egad, my old corporal, egad."
 N"Behind the Montague house." inter- rupted Tom ''I know about it.'
 "Youv' cried his lordsliip. And who the devil are your"
 My name is Billings" replied Tom, with a knowing look at his father.
 "Bilings?" said the count.
 "Out of Warwickshire," said Tom Tn deed, I was born in Birmingham"
 Were you really?'
 My mothers name was Hall," contin7< ued Tom 'I was put to nurse with blacksmith and my father ran away. Now do you know who I am?'
 "Upon my word, MT. Whats-Your- Name I haven't that honor" The count was beginning to be amused.
 Well" blurted out Tom, you, my lord, are my father
 Am I really?' said the count. But Tom, having made this dramatic an- nouncement, dropped the brooches which he bore, threw up his arms and advanced as if to embrace his parent. The count in great agitation sprang backward in bed and cried: Keep back, sirrah, Keep back! Suppose am your father. Great heavens, how the boy smells of gin and tobacco. Sit down in that chair there at
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