Widnes Examiner. — 1903-06-05 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

CLERGYMAN ON HAPPINESS.  CHAPTER XXV,  CALM AFTER STORM.  With the confession and death of Mrs. Bedowen the mystery of Tremewan's murder came to an end. In the most handsome manner Inspector Tait acknowledged to Mr. Hannaford and his son that he had been utterly wrong. "But, of course," he said, "I don't pretend to be a detective of fiction. In real life we are all liable to make mistakes. You must forgive my official zeal, Mr. Will."  "Oh, now that. it is all over I forgive you, answered Will, with a shrug. "By the way, Tait, how much of this business .do you know?" _ _  "I don't understand, sir." "I mean, what did Mrs. Bedowen and Mr. Pillage tell you?" 'A great deal," replied Tait, significantly. "I know that Mr. Pillage is the husband of Mrs. Tremewan, and that Mrs. Bedowen blackmailed her master on account of the secret. _ She murdered him—if you will read the confession— because he was about to cut her out of his will. I suppose, sir," he added, turning to the elder Hannaford, "that the estate will go to Mr. Vane. But Miss Tremewan—"  "She will marry my son," said Mr. Hannaford. "I hope no other outside person knows these details, Inspector." "No one else knows, sir. And I will keep my mouth shut, you may be sure. In the confession Mrs. Bedowen does not explain the secret, so when it is produced at your trial, Mr. Will, very little need be said."  "I must stand my trial, F suppose?" "Certainly. But it will be a mere matter of form, sir. We will keep this painful family history to ourselves. I believe Mr. Pillage is only too anxious to do so."  "I don't wonder at it, considering the part he played," said Mr. Hannaford, sharply. "I thought that Pillage, whatever his faults, was a gentleman. At least he was when I knew him many years ago. I expect his association with Mrs. Bedowen corrupted his manners." "Ahi She was a bad lot, sir. Well, she has met with her deserts, and for the preservation of this family matter it is just as well that she was not brought to trial."  "Had her body been found, Tait?" "No, Mr. Will. I don't think it ever will. I believe the tide carried it out to sea. We'll never see her again alive or dead."  "Just a well;" replied Will. "By the way, Tait, you are wrong on one point. Pillage is not the husband of Mrs. Tremewan."  Tait looked astonished. "Why, sir, it was 'on that account-" "Yes! Yes! Tremewan was blackmailed because he believed that. But it seems that before Pillage married Mrs. Tremewan he was already the husband of Mrs. Bedowen."  - "Do you mean to say he was married to her, air?"  " Yes, Ido say so. He is as bad as her, and I wish he could be punished. But for the sake •of all we will let him go." "Well!" Inspector Tait could only look amazed.  "So you see, Tait," put in Mr. Hannaford, enjoying the confusion, Mrs. Tremewan is after all the legal wife of her late husband—the second, as you may say. She keeps the estates, and the will stands. Mr. Vane will have to go without the property." "And serve him right!" cried Will. "I am not vindictive, but upon my word when I think how near he was killing me with that rope—" "Yon can prosecute him if you like, Mr. Will." "No. The loss of the property will be punishment enough." For some time the trio talked over the matter. Then the Inspector took his leave, much humbled in his own opinion. A plain murder of the ordinary sort he could understand, but this mystery was above the grasp of his intelligence. "But thank heaven," said Tait, as he wended his way to the police-office, "I am not likely to have anything mere of this sort. I'd rather read about it in a Lovel, than have to do with it in real life." _ _