The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-08

hat all the palnrul explanations lndI
presented themselves to his mind
must fall far short of the real one.
He had come away without a valet,
and had brought only a change of
linen with him so as to prevent any
remark, and had gone to a strange
hotel out of the beat of the West End.
Early morning saw him out on the
dreary streets. The snow that had
made the country so pure had become
heavy slush, except at the sides|of the
road, where piles of a dirty brown
white nature stood in uncomfortable
proximity to the paths. But all the
Indebtedness of the cold, raw morn
ing was lost on Gervais; he had other
things to think of than the piercing
wind and thick mud.
He took a cab and directed the
driver to take him to Newman's Road,
Houndsditch, and he was not long in
reaching that poor and busy neigh
borhood. At the top Of the road in
question, which the driver had some
difficulty in finding, he got out and
told the man to wait, and going down
the narrow line of laborers' cottages,
he came to a small public house, over
whose door hung a preposterous-look-
ing bird as a signboard, that certainly
needed the word "Bullfnch" written
below to identify it.
Pushing open the door, Gervais
went into the tap-room. 1t was being
thoroughly washed and cleansed-a
not unnecessary labor, for the whole
place reeked Of vile tobacco and worse
beer. The pot-boy stopped whistling
as "the swell"-to use the boys
words-marched in, and his surprise
was deepened when Gervais, in brief,
hard tones, asked for Jim Coates.
"'E don't live ERE" was the an
swer.
take me to him." Gervais said,
hurriedly; II must see him at once"
He drew out a sovereign and gave
it to the boy, who dropped his dirty
broom in amazement.
"Crikey!" was his only exclama-
ton, and then he adroitly whipped
the coin into some mysterious pocket,
and began to roll down his sleeves.
"Foller me, sir" he said, respect
fully.
Gervais strobe after the stunted
figure, his heart beating in mad fash
ion against his ribs. Now that the
moment was so near, he grew faint
and almost frightened, but the weak
ness did not last, and as the boy
knocked on the door of a small, shah
by hut-for it could scarcely be called
a house-he was calm and cold as
iron.
Wait ERE! I'll go and see if 'e's
up, sir"
The boy darted into the unsavory
place, and ran up a narrow staircase.
He was a few minutes before he
came down.
Jim amt very we'll, sir" he said,
apologetically. les been i'll, hof
and hon, for a long while. Would
you kindly tell i'm yer business, sir,
afore he gets up?"
II have come in answer to his let
ter" said Gervais.
The boy vanished again, but reap
peared in a few seconds.
will you go hup, sir? I'm bound
to go back. You'll find the way easy,
sir, but it amt very grand"
Gervais nodded his head as the boy
ran fleetly away.
Up the narrow, dirty, creaking
stairs he climbed with difficulty; and
then stood before a dilapidated room.
which faced the stairs, with a pic
ture of filth, misery and horror be-
fore him; a gaunt, unshaven face
peered eagerly from what should
have been a bed, but was only a mass
Of ragged clothes, thrown IN the
floor.
Have yer brought the swag?"
muttered a hoarse, weak voice, and
then the words ended in a cry as the
man recognized Gervs!s, and knew
chat the game was up.
A wave of sympathy and disgust
passed over the earl. He could scarce
speak at first; then, seeing the
wretched creatures fear, he said,
gently:
II have not come 10 harm YOU
only to ask you some questions"
The miserable man, shaking in
every limb, dared to lift his head
again.
I've been bad this many a day."
ne whined, wiping the cold perspira-
ton from his brow with a thin, shak-
ing hand. Il amt got much longer
to live; l knows it-ay, I knows it."
Speak and tell me the truth"
cried Gervais, sternly. IF you will
tell me the exact truth I will give
you all the help you need. Speak,
man"
What a / to say" queried the
other.
What do you know about-about
Lady Derriman, that made you
write such a letter to her? For
Heavens sake, man, don't lie; tell me
all-now."
"Ay, I'll tell yer" he said, slowly;
III tell yer all; it 'ull ease my mind,
for Lord knows I've been a miserable
wretch sin that night. I'm the man
as murdered George LaXon!"
CHAPTER XIX.
The Bitter ED.