The Haslingden Gazette. — 1904-08-27 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

WASH-DAY COAL  SAVED.  " Very good, monsieur." " By the way. I think you had better go on to Queens (ate and bring me any letters that may be there. Say nothing to the servants whatever as to my movements. And be careful that there are no spies about." " I shall observe, monsieur." Mr. Simpson communicated the news to my lady's maid, Mdlle. Bock. There's a screw loose somewhere," remarked the valet ; " Madame went off last at the heels of the boss, as though she going to watch his manceuvres, and has never returned. The boss comes back, and waits up anxiously to see a man who doesn't come. Man turns up this morning disnisecl as a woman. Then I hear the boss raving and storming like a lunatic. There's something wrong, ma'amselle, and it would not surprise me if they are not going to bolt." "I have expected it a long time; we know that Monsieur is only un chevalier d'industrie," answered Mademoiselle, with a shrug. "They always bolt the finish." "We must look to ourselves when we gel back to Queen's Gate." "Cerlasnetnent oui," replied Mademoiselle Bock.  man's on the same errand as Rhoda's ; it , was very amusing that little irony of fate." " Blind as I am," broke in the mother, , "I can read between the lines of your , story. You knew that the very sight of you would drive Guy Forrester frantic, that you would as soon have thought of subduing a raging lion by words as him; you , knew that he wculd strike you, and that I you would strike back. Osmond Forrester, if you are not a parricide, you went to your father's house that night with murder in I your heart." "What was in my heart is not of the least consequence," he answered, with a I shrug. " I passed the day at a village two or three mika from the warren, and at night I walked there, but I lost my way in the woods and that made me late; it was eleven o'clock before I came in sight of the house. It was much later than I had intended to I be there. But I was settled and bent up, and resolved that nothing should prevent me carrying out my plan. " A light was burning in the sitting-room when I opened the garden gate, which told . me that he had not gone to bed. But I Iwas surprised to see the outer door half open. As I walked up the path I saw something lying on the ground, and I was. I confess, , ronsulerably startled at finding it was Guy Fonester—deed. "Yes. somebody had been before me. Somebody had avenged your wrongs and „ mine. I went into the house : all was quiet. The chest where he had kept his papers and I money was unlocked and had evidently . been rifled, as everything was in confusion. I Put I caught sight of a bank and a cheque,' book, which I tools possession of. Whatever !, ready-money might have been in the box seemed to have loam taken, though a couple '1 of five-pound notes were found afterwards. ; There were no documents of any consequence, .! only old deeds—it came out at the inquest Ithat he had been tearing up papers all day, as though he had a presentiment of his , coming fate. , "Suddenly a happy thought 'came into my head. I went into the bedroom and I took a suit of his clothes. The key. was. in  When he was alone, Osmond sat down and wrote a letter in a bold sprawling hand, quite unlike his own. It was directed to Henderson's Bank, York. Simpson returned presently with a bundle of letters. . . _  " You were circumspect ? " inquired his master. " Has anyone except the usual people called ? " " Yes, a strange man an hour or two after you left, monsieur."  The Count put no further questions, his attention being attracted to one particular letter among the score or more that lay before him. _ _ _  ...... It was directed in a shaking hand, and was scarcely legible. Ile opened the envelope, took out the contents, and read: " Osmond, come to me, my last hour is drawing near. I can feel it. I must see you once more before I die. "