The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-03-29
CHAPTER VI.
OLD FRIcK AGAIN.

AS Monk had told us, old Prick had
been for many years lame, and pris-
oner to his invalid chair
Imagine, then, Monks and my SUR
prise when we, on entering Villa Bal
larat, after having been sent for from
our post outside, found the master Of
the house standing in the middle Of the
COON, and Clara sitting smiling in
chair
1t is not necessary to describe the
meeting between him and Clara, all
though my wife, at the time, gave full
account of it.
Suffice it to say that she boldly en-
tered the lions den and, without much
ceremony, began upbraiding old Prick
with his hard treatment of his brothers
children
IF your nephew has erred" she said,
''lie was young at the time, and in bad
company--that / can vouch for" She
was thinking, no doubt, of Mr.. Howell.
'4As far as your niece is concerned, you
have judged her, as the whole world has
judged her, on suspicion, without taking
into consideration her character"
Old Prick had got red in the face
at these words, and his arms and legs
had begun twitching violently.
Clara was little afraid the old man
would have fit, but remembering the
old saying, Joy does not kill" she con
tinued, quite undisturbed: Something
has, however, happened, which YOU
have not deserved, Mr.. Prick Monk
and two friends, my husband and my
self, have discovered, as we shall prove,
that she has had nothing whatever to
do with the disappearance Of the dia-
mond it is the scoundrel Mr.. Howell
who is at the bottom Of it all In fact,
in short time you may have your niece
back again, and for the remainder Of
your life you'll have an opportunity of
making amends for your mistake"
There is no doubt Clara was most
successful in her appeal; for instead of
old Frick having fit, he suddenly rose
from his chair, stumbled across to Clara,
and in trembling voice asked her for
fuller explanation. The excitement
had cured his lameness and though he
never entirely regained the full use of
his legs, yet from that moment he was,
at any rate, able to move about by him
self
| shall not dwell on the meeting be-
tween old Prick and Monk and myself
Many minutes had not elapsed before
we seemed to have known each other
for many years He had gained re-
spect for Clara which, think, will last
to the end of his life.
Only the most necessary explanations
were given,-happily Monk was man
who expressed himself briefly and clear
ly,-and so it was decided to adjourn
to the museum in the garden. Old Prick
took with him large bunch of keys
which lay on the table beside his i'm
valid chair, at which he now cast a
scornful glance, as well as. at the ssr-
want who came forward to wheel his
master. There was no necessity for
more witnesses, so the servant, greatly
to his surprise, was dismissed. and with
Prick leaning upon Monks and my arm,
we set out for the museum.
1t was with very mixed feelings that
Clara and saw the scene of the events
which had for three days entirely en-
crossed our thoughts. do not doubt
that Monk and old Prick were just as
much affected, even if their feelings
were of quite another kind.
We entered the pavilion in the garden
and proceeded through the museum.
Everything was in exactly the same
state; old Prick and Monk said, as il
was six years before.
Old Prick pulled out key and opened
the door into the. hre-proof room.