The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1890-07-26 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CHAPTER XVII.I. "For several days," continued Tobias, "1 spenb the principal portion of my time under that miserable roof, supplying the poor girl with such news. series as she required; hoping and hoping that she would soon come to herself, and give me some information as to who and what she was. I felt sure from her continual wanderings that she had been the victim of some hidden plot, and my curiosity was mach aroused, although, of course, it never occurred to me to connect her with this 'ere murder. The little girl was very ill, too, so, my lord, you see my hands and time were pretty full between the two, and Verney did all he could, although for some time he had grave doubts whether the girl would ever be herself again. The interest I took in these two unfortunate children, for they were both children to me, made me forget almost entirely the interest I had in this 'ere case; but I recollected as I had told the witness Payne, and L knew he had acquainted the authorities at Scotland Yard. - Well, sir, I aint got much more to say, but as soon as the unfortunate girl, in Varney's opinion' was in a fit state to be moved, I had her conveyed round to my own apartments, where she could be better looked after, and I tried every means to get some information from her about herself, but it wasn't until this 'ere morning, as she was a sitting 'quite vacant-like in front of the fire in my room, holding the newspaper in her hands, that she screamed, and jumped from her seat like one shot. - 'What ails you, my dear ? ' says my old landlady, trying gently to soothe her excited state. What is the matter ? Where am I? What am I doing ? ' she said loudly, with a different look in her eyes to any I had yet seen. It was evident her senses were returning, or had returned. • The look of vacancy bad gone, and eagerly she looked down again in the columns of the paper. 'What is this? What can this mean—John Villixer's trial?' In a moment it flashed across me, and then came the explanation of that wound in her breast which had so puzzled the doctor and myself. We had both thought we were dealing with a case of suf. aide. In a moment my hat was on my head, and I was down the street in a cab straight awatlig this 'ere Court, and that, my lord, is the stor4o have to tell." A wave of astonishment went through the Con* as Tobias ended his extraordinary narrative, every one seemed paralysed with amazement; and for some few seconds, people, judge, jury, everybody stared around them as though they had been entertained by an unearthly visitor. In fact, the effect can only be left to the imagination, nor is it in my place or power to supply any deficiency in that respect should it be wanting. Louis had sunk down upon a seat beside two of the policemen during the progress of this narrative, apparently without life or motion; whilst Villixer, lost almost to a eve of everything around aim, muttered audibly ' Thank God Thant God " The pent-up excitement of the people in Court, who during Tobias's story had naturally got some drift of the truth before he made it apparent, now burst forth, and the buzz of eager conversation broke out in all directions.  _ It is succeeded, however, in another moment, by a more breathless silence than before, as into the Court, with pale though beautiful face, was led a young and lovely girl. "Good God I" exclaims Payne, "My daughter I".