The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-01-26

| iuere was evidently very weak
point for the earl and countess In the
!act that two lackeys possessed their
secret MARTIN wondered why they
had trusted any one but themselves
There were several explanations.
First. these lackeys might he paid n
good sum for holding their tongues;
second. the countess might have seen
at the last moment the improperly of
trusting them and concluded to bury
the body where they would know moth.
ing about 1t.
Martin waited till one morning he
raw little boy in the grounds of his
brother I'm 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 1t. 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 II either Of them were dis
honest he might be successfully bribed
but the matter would be difficult
However. Martin could see 10 other
| way to proceed. and he must do 50
on those lines.
He learned that the two lackeys In
hn fhA Nr,1 ID
time OF the burial I'm the manor house.
the other servants being women. He
| found q 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
confided to her the fact that he had
been offered $50 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, out could
not learn from him who desired the in.
formation OF why It 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 off Higgins for awhile and she
would think the matter over. She be.
lieved that her brother-in-law was up
to some de7iltry, 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 L.rger sum. Healcy
was quite up to this work and told
Higgins that he had been paid f1O0
TO Keep the secret. Nothing less than
fo00 would tempt him to divulge it,
This being reported to Martin he went
to London and put. a 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 Il bonus.
Healey having been offered the
amount he claimed for his secret. in.
structed by the countess, agreed to
pilot the Uriber 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 thu 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 ut an
angle OF the Riversham estate. Mar
tin had a dark lantern, which he hid
under his coat, and q spade, which he
held In his hand. Healey piloted him
to a sort of bower few hundred yards
from the manor house, vacant space
shut in by trees on all sides. Martin
knew the place well. 1t had been q
favorite spot with him when a boy
In its center the ground was heaped.
indicating that grave Was beneath.
Healey demanded hiss money. and
Martin counted it QUIT 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 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 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 out In that fash
ion.
II didn't sell you out, sir. You Of
Tered me the money to show you
where the box was buried There
It is"