The diamond drill., 1921-07-16

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find her and for weeks he trailed his
rival. Eugene, was aware OF this
morose figure that was never far be-
hind him. and he took an impish de-
light In roaming after nightfall through
all the four quarters OF London.
At the same time, matters were ap-
preaching climax with the Bofilns.
Sllas wegg was preparing his trap:
Mr.. Bofiin was daily growing more
surly. AT last he blazed forth and
discharged John Rokesmith for aspir-
ing to the hand OF Bella 10 secure the
Harmon fortune. But Bella took the
part of the dismissed secretary and
cried bitterly as she recalled the low
able Mr.. Bofin now transformed into
this terrible monster OF greed. She
sought again the poverty OF her child
hood home. II did not take John Roke-
smith long 20 find her and the cherubic
Mr.. wilfer felt happily faint when he
saw his Bella's head find what seemed
natural resting-phce upon Johns
breast.
Meanwhile Eugene had found LIZ
zies hiding place, near Plashwater
Weir Mil Lock. Eugene rowed up the
river 20 the hamlet. but did not notice
the Interested loch-keeper who swung
open the gates for him. Nor did he
know that man dressed like the lock-
keeper was near, watching him with
baieful eyes The latter was Bradley
Headstone; the gnte-keeper was
Rogue Riderhood. who was known to
hate Eugene. Riderhood puzzled more
than little when he saw Headstone.
with murder In his eyes, In clothes pre-
cisely like his own. -->~s>~~ss~--~
Eugene walked at nightfall with Liz
.zie by the banks Of the river. Head
stone could not know that Lizzie,
begged Eugene 10 80 away, but he saw
their lips meet. A shadowy figure kept
close to Eugene after that until some
thing seemed suddenly to crash In his
head and the stars and moon reeled
In his sight. He closed with his as
sailant, there was scuflie and a
splash. Lizzie, tormented by her talk.
had not gone to her room. She heard
bank. When she saw face In the
river she hurriedly leaped into boat.
No man could have been more skillful
with oars. She reached the floating
body, caught II by the hair, secured 1t
and screamed for help. Help did not
come before she had bound and kissed
'thatsface that was so dear TO her.
! Scared and marred as he was. Eu-
gene struggled back from the border
OF death. He did not expect TO re-
cover when he asked Lizzie TO marry
him, but she was as proud of him
when she was made hts wife as though
he had been standing In full strength
by her side instead Of lying helplessly
In bed
Rogue Riderhood remembered that
Headstone had intended him TO suffer
for the crime. SO he announced that
he would dog Headstone until he was
paid handsomely. Headstone knew
that the scoundrel would trail him for
ever. as he had trailed Eugene. He
walked away without a word. with
Riderhood at his heels. He stepped
out upon the bridge that held back
the Thames and then suddenly caught
his tormentor with n grip that could
not be shaken. They wrestled back
and forth on the brink, steadily near.
ing the edge. Riderhood tried in vain
10 draw knife. He fought, he tried
20 squirm free from that relentless en-
brace. At last he went over backward
with Headstone gripping him. They
found the bodies locked together.
In the meantime Silas Wegg tight
ened his screws upon the hapless Bof-
fin. But the dramatic scene that he
had planned did not work out, for
there was later will than the one be
had found, giving everything to Mr.
Boffin. SO Mr.. Wegg was suddenly
swung out OF the. house and into q
passing scavenger's cart. His wooden
leg waved n gyrntfng farewell as he
passed out OF the Bofin house.
Bella Wilfer had become Bella Roke-
smith, and there was wonderful, tiny
Bella before she understood Mr.. Bof-
fms strange miserllness. Not till
then did she learn that her name was
Bella Harmon and that Mr.. Bofiin had
been troubled by her hardness Of
heart. SO he had decided 10 try her.
II was for that reason that he had
been so gruff and miserly. He was
glad he had done Il, for II had proved
Bella's worth and given her the man
who loved her. And now, although
the Harmon fortune had been left by
the last will 10 Mr.. Bofiin, he reso-
lutely refused to take II. He kept
only money enough 10 live comfortably
for the rest OF his happy days.
The magnificcnce of the new home
where Bella was to live Impressed even
her impressive mother. and the chern-
bic father was made Johns secre-
tary and released from the numbIng
life that had been his for many years.
But perhaps John and Bella and the