The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-02-06

been offered f60,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 1t would be worth
ESQ. Healey told her that Higgins had
offered him the bride, but the countess
did not believe. that Higgins was act
ing for himself. She told Healey to
put of Higgins for awhile and she
would think the matter over. She be-
Heved that her brother-in-law was up
to some deviltry, but she could not i'm
agine what 1t might be.
The next day she told Healey that
he might accept the bride, provided
he took whoever paid 1t to the grave
himself and informed her when he was
to do so. But she advised him to
stand out for a larger sum. Healey
was quite up to this work and told
Higgins that he had been paid f1O0
to keep the secret Nothing less than
f2OO would tempt him to diyulge 1t.
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 a
few days she had bought the mortgage.
paying 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
f2O0. His terms were accepted, the
going to the grave at night being espe-
cially 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 Of 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 a sort of bower few hundred Yards
from the manor house, a vacant space
shut In by trees on all sides. Martin
knew the place well. It had been
favorite spot with him when a bow.
In its center the ground was heaped.
indicating that a grave was beneath.
Healey demanded his money, and
Martin counted it out to him. Healey
holding the lantern directed upon the
bills. After counting the bills Healey
took the spade and began to dig. The
box had not been deposited far below
the surface and was soon reached.
Martin took from his pocket a screw
driver and as soon as the box had
been lifted from the grave began to
loosen the cover. Then he removed
the lid and, taking up the lantern,
brought it 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 out In that fash
ion.
Il didn't sell you out, sir. You Of
fered me the money to show you
where the box was buried. There
It Isl
Martin demanded return Of the +,
bills, and Healey refused. Martin
seized him, but couple Of Heaiey's
friends started from behind the trees
and beat him of.
The explanation of the story is that |
Richards dog had been stricken with
hydrophobia and been killed, Richard |
knowing nothing about his pets death |
After the starting OF the burial party |
it had occurred to the countess that |
the boy must be told the truth, and ii
would be preferable that the dog
should be buried in a spot in which
the child played when out of doors.
Richard is now Earl of Riversham.
The countess got rid of Martins es-
pionage by foreclosing the mortgage on