Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-02-01

had trusted any one but themselves.
There were several explanations.
First, these lackeys might be paid
good sum for holding their tongues;
second, the countess might have seen
at the last moment the impropriety Of
trusting them and concluded to bury
the body where they would know moth
ing about ii.
Martin waited till one morning he
saw little boy in the grounds of his
brother in charge of a nurse. Then he
was sure that substitute for the legit-
innate heir had been found, who would
eventually claim the estate. Then Mar
tin laid his plans His first move
would be to learn whether the lackeys
knew Of the burial place. If they did
his next would be to learn if they
could be bribed to reveal it. But the
earl had doubtless paid them well or
had, more likely promised them in
stallments, to be paid over a term Of
years so long as they would keep the
secret If either of them were dis
honest he might be successfully bribed,
but the matter would be difficult.
However, Martin could see no other
way to proceed, and he must do so
ON those lines.
He learned that the two lackeys in
the secret were the only ones at the
time of the burial in the manor house,
the other servants being women. He
found means of communication with
them in one Higgins, who kept a pub
lie house.
One day James Healey, one of the
lackeys, went to Lady Riversham and
cOnfded to her the fact that he had
been offered ESQ if he would reveal the
burial place of the box he had carried
out and brought back on the occasion
described He wished to be informed
whether she would object to his earn.
ing the money.
The countess was puzzled. She ask.
ed the man many questions, but could
not learn from him who desired the in.
formation or why it would be worth
t5O Healey told her that Higgins had
offered him the bribe, but the countess
did not believe that Higgins was act
Ing for himself. She told Healey to
put off Higgins for awhile and she
would think the matter over. She be-
lieved that her brother-in-law was up
to some deviltry, but she could not i'm
agine what it might be.
The next day she told Healey, that
he might accept the bribe, provided
he took whoever paid it to the grave
himself and informed her when he was
to do so. But she advised him to
stand out for larger sum. Healey
was quite up to this work and told
Higgins that he had been paid f1OO
to keep the secret. Nothing less than
f2O0 would tempt him to divulge il.
This being reported to Martin he went
to London and put mortgage on his
house as security for the money.
The loan agent happened to inspect
the property while Lady Riversham
was about to enter her place in her
carriage. The man asked her some
questions about Martins property and
revealed the fact that it was to be
mortgaged. Then she slipped a five
pound note into the mans hand and
asked him to send her the name and
address of the mortgage. Within
few days she had bought the mortgage.
paying a bonus.
Healey having been offered the
amount he claimed for his secret, in
structed by the countess, agreed to
pilot the briber himself and no other
to the burial place at midnight on
certain date. Before the grave was
opened Healey was to be paid the
t2OO. His terms were accepted, the
going to the grave at night being espe
clally agreeable to Martin, who desired
TO make his investigation unseen.
The appointed night proved to be
very dark. A few minutes before mid
night Healey and Martin met at an
angle or the Riversham estate. Mar
tin had dark lantern, which he hid
under his coat, and a spade, which he
held In his hand. Healey piloted him
to sort of bower few hundred wards
from the manor house, a vacant space
smut In by trees on all sides. Martin
knew the place WELL 1t had been a
taVorlte spot with him when a boy.
In its center the ground was heaped
indicating that grave was beneath.
Healey demanded his money, and
Martn counted it out to him, Healey
holdlng the lantern directed upon the
bills. After counting the bills Healev
took the spade and began to dig. The
DoX nad not been deposited far below
the surface and was soon reached.
Martin took from his pocket screw
driver and as soon as the box had
Deen lifted from the grave began to
loosen the cover. Then he removed
the lid and, taking up the lantern.
Drought 1t to bear ON the contents.
There lay the body Of the dog Mar
TIN had seen driving with the countess
and her son.
With an oath Martin asked Healey
why he had sold him ont In that faSb