The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-07

been smussied into Kits hat by Mir.
 Dick swiveiier at once sent the news to Kits friends. They acted 30 promptly. and decisivsiy that within a few hours they had a complete con- fession from Sampson Brass, Esq, who explained that not only was truth very sublime and grand thing but that # anybody was to split" he might as well be the one and have advantage from it.
 The gentle Miss Sally managed to ss- cape after she had sent a note to Quilp. Therefore when the officers @r- rived at the dwarf's tumbiedown Ofiices by the riverside. they found the en- trance to the courtyard barred with q great. beam. In trying to find another entrance. they got lost for the fok had made the night impenetrabie.
 While they were trying to get in, Quiip was gathering a few things to- gether to aid his flight "Oh, Samp- soni" he muttered, as he moved around "oh. good, worthy SampsonI If could only squeeze your ribs once! If only had you in this room now with your white face and your sick smilei" He drank c deep draught of raw li- quor and tried to extinguish the fire.
 His impetuous and furious movements upset the stove. He left it where 1t lay with the embers scattered on the floor, and turned to flee by . rear way.
 Az soon as he stepped out he was immersed In such bfackness of fog and dark that even he became bewildered. He made few steps. changed his di- rection. and stood still. "If I could only hear them at the gate again,H muttered he. Come! Make a noise so wlli know where amf' He stretcher his arms before him and moved slowly along. "A good, black deviPs night this to have my dear Brass here" said he. 'Tf I could have
 that wish. 1t might, for all care, never be day againw As the words passed his lips he staggered and fell--and next moment was lighting with the cold dark water As 1t bubbled and rushed Into his ears. he heard q loud knocking at the gate and he realized in q flash that | they were close at hand, but could make no effort to save him, for he him- self had barred them out.
 He answered -thelr knockings with fierce yell for hep. Fires stunned his eyes. the strong tide filled his l throat and bore him down and spun him around and tossed him up until
 1t flung its ugly burden on 6 nearby ] marsh.
 So near lay the dead man to his old
 lair that when 1t famed up. having been set afire by the embers from the stove the glare shone on hts face and played over the twisted features In a horrld mockery of deAth--snch mock cry as he himself had delighted in when he was alive.
 Of course Kit was liberated amid l the aeclamations of not only the peo- | pie but the judges and jury that had sentenced him. The great human ma l chinery of justice that had ground | him so calmly and nearly succeeded so | perfectly in making a felon Of him, re- versed itself with a majesty that was too sublime for a sense of shame, and kindly pardoned him for 6 crime he had not committed.
 However, if justice itself felt no qualms, there were some men in gov
 ernment who did. They acted so well led him Into modest comfort in after years, so that the cheerful fellow de- clared that his misfortune had been a bit of good luck after all.
 Providence was also desirous of re- Warding Mir. Swiveller for his part In the drama. With the somewhat mys-
 tertops complication of detail for which mise of an aunt who left . will that gave the Perpetual Grand Master of the Glorious Apollos an annuity of 1s0 to school. and though it plnched hiTn sharply some half dozen years 10 pay for her board. tuition and clothing he warded him once more by giving him an excellent wife when the Marchio- ness was gradgated at last
 came to him when MT. Garland and MT. Trent told him that they had succeeded at last in tracing Little Nell and her bundled him into chais and they set on. at the top speed of fast horses, for the little village where the two had found a haven.
 People had learned to love her there in that quiet place that seemed to be at one with the quiet child. She was not so strong as she had been and she loved best to spend long hours along among the graves of the little church yard that surrounded the church and cottage where they dwelled. She cleared the grasses and weeds away from the old mounds with busy, loving hands; and when the village people saw her thus engaged they spoke softly as they passed her, as if they felt the child to be set apart in some strange way from them all.
 Even the rough sehoolboys cared for her and would turn out of their way to ask for her at the cottage on the days when she lay on her couch. too weary to go out. All the young cnifd- ren loved her and followed her. No. body, old or young ever passed her without kindly greeting
 One of the ehlldren--her favorite--. clAsped his little arms passionately around her neck one day and cried: "No. no, not yet, not yeti" .+
 She looked at him wonderingly and asked him what he meant.
 They say sobbed the little boy. "that you will be an tngel before the birds sings again. But you won't dear Nell. you won't, will you? Don't leave us, dear, dear, Nell!"
 Little Nell dropped her head and put her hands before her face. She shook with sobs; but when the boy began to cry bitterly she looked up and smiled