The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-07-09

stern of dirty rOwbOat, his
eyes fixed upon the broad waters of
the Thames, his arms bare, his hair
matted, his clothes mud-begrimed.
Twilight deepened the shadows cast
by the huddled buildings Of London,
but his gaze did not swerve. His
daughter, girl of twenty, rowing in
obedience to his mods, regarded him
with fascinated dread. Suddenly he
Stiffened; the bird of prey had sighted
the quarry. A few minutes later be-
hind the boat a body bobbed and
lunged. Hexam had found another
corpse, the pockets of another drowned
soul to rifle. 1t was this grisly liveli-
hood that was reflected in the fright
ened eyes of Lizzie Hexam.
The story of that find was to be
talked about in drawing rooms; in
dingy homes along the waterside and
in the comfortable bar of the Six jolly
Fellowship rters; in the musty shop
of Mr.. Venus where skeletons leaped
out of corners as the fire frightened;
in Boffin's Bower behind which rose
the dust-mounds that had created the
Harmon fortune. For the body was
identified as that of John Har-
mon, returned to England to claim
q fortune of 100000, left him by an
eccentric father upon condition that
he wed girl whom he had never
seen.
John Harmon was decreed dead and
the fortune came to Nicodemus Boffin.
He remained the same unaffected and
1ovable man he had been in the past
when he was foreman in charge of the
dust heaps. They were singularly
happy. were Mr.. and Mrs. BOffin. Men
and women laughed at their oddities
but never with malice. Commonplace
as they were, there was a sterling
worth to them.
Eager to atone for his lack of school
ing, Mr.. Boffin hired Silas Wegg,
wOoden-legged vendor of sweets and
ballads, to read aloud Gibbons story
of Rome. His eyes popped with
establishment as Wegg plowed stolidly
ahead, making havoc of Roman names
II didn't think there was half SO many
Scarers in print" Mr.. Bofin muttered
sagely.
He acquired, too, ward and sec
rotary. Bella Wilfer had been named
in the Harmon will as the sons future
bride. Her blighted hopes so troubled
Mr.. Bofin that he installed her In his
home. treating her like beloved
daughter. And soon after John Har
mon disappeared there came into Lon
don a mysterious John Rokesmith, WHIT
obtained the position Of secretary. a
secretive man was John Rokesmith
unwilling to speak of his past
Rogue Riderhood, former partner
and now sworn enemy to Jesse Haxam
set afoot suspicious that Hexam hae
murdered John Harmon and the Law
trafled the vulture of the Thames.
found Jesse dangling behind his boa
rs SO many had dangled there before
swept overheard and caught In hi
rope. Eugene Wrayburn was one O
the trailers, and again he looked int
the clear eyes of Lizzie Hexam.
Lizzie found refuge with Fam.
Cleaver, better known as the Doll
Dressmaker, fantastic little creatur
with tongue as sharp as the needl
she so necessarily piled. Intrudin
into Lizzie's life came the love Q
Bradley Headstone, morose man, an
OF Eugene Wrayburn, conscious tina
she was too far below him for mai
rage. unwilling to do her harm, an
vet unable to resist his longing to D
near her.
Rejected, Bradley Headstone vowe
vengeance upon the man whom ne o.
lieyed responsible. In the Bonn
home, too, unhappiness was broodin
Bella Wilfer, her head turned o
wealth, remembering poverty at hom
set her heart upon wedding RE
man and discouraged John Rok'
smith. The secretary had other tro'
HES. He was trying to put togethe
the past. He recalled q voyage,
shin upon which he was known
1ohn Harmon. He remembered con
IND ashore and going with q mate
tbe house Of Rogue Riderhood. Som
where was q room where he drank co
foe. Then stupefaction, with CLEAN
q memory concerned with a tight,
aide. cold water swirling about hi
4 rescue and decision to test Bel
Nv taking another name. After tn
the discovery Of the mates body. mi
taken for that Of John Harmon.
suddenly Mr.. BONN seemed to 20
Me amiability. He was grun with q
secretary; he turned to stories abo'
u roisers. 'sThe more ! save, the mo
~, shall have" he said to Bella, D
"a did not like the cunning look
- ewes. Nor was Silas Wegg aio
ercm the lust for money. BE cast g
ICONS ewes upon the mounds that q
.,.sde Mr.. Bonn ssthe Golden Dus
rrenr He explored their lowlan
.rd their SUBMITS, poking about
.-e.mre. Perhaps there might be 9
,thor wfll. He did md . later Ha
.s,.r will ana cheFished It a. z weap'
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