The Cotton Factory Times. — 1889-04-05 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

BONNIE MARY,  A STORY OF THE BURKE AND HARE TRAGEDIES.  BY R. T. CASSON, - Author of "The Poacher's Revenge," dcc.  Bart Stanfield had just sent back Thornton's letter unopened, to Helen's satisfaction, and they were standing at the window watching passers by, when Bert exclaimed—  " There's your sister coming here !" and she's lovelier thar ever, he thought to himself. " What can Mary want with me, I wonder? I will see her, though; she can tell me how Mark* Forester's health is progressing." Helen's greeting, much to Mary's surprise, was affectionate and sisterly. " I want to see you alone," Mary whispered. "Come with me to my room, Mary," Helen said. "What', in the wind now, I wonder ?" said Bert. "Something that bodes no good to me, I fear. If that baby-faced Mary is plotting against me, I'll make her rue the day she began it." 'Well, Mary, what is it you want? Some money? I can spare a hundred or two." • "No, Helen; I have something to show you," and she untied • the parcel in which Julia's dress was wrapped, and, taking the certificate from the pocket, handed it to Helen. Helen's eyes dilated with excitement as she scanned the certificate.  ..... "Where did you get this ?" she asked. " It was stolen from the den where that poor woman was murdered."  "Are you sure? Can you prove it ?" "No, I cannot prove it, but there was a reason for getting her out of the way, even as there was in the case of poor Jessie Anderson. Helen, the man you have married is a fiend l" "gonsense, Mary; that woman may have been dead- years for anything you know. But let us change the subject. How is your lover? Is he any better?" "Yes, he is much better," said Mary, coldly, and she rose to go. Helen bit her lip with vexation; it was plain that Mary could not converse on that topic. "If you care to retain that dress and certificate you can do so," said Mary. "Thank you, Mary; I will come and see you at the farm some day." "You had better not; Archie would not be friendly." They parted coolly, Mary wishing she had been guided by Archie, and not gone to see Helen, whose heart, Mary thought, was harder than ever. When Helen went back to the drawing room, in which she had left Bert, he saw by the steely glitter of her eyes that there was "a row in prospect." "You told me, Bert, about two hours ago, that you knew Julia Fleming was dead. How long is it since her death?' _  .. -....-- --- ---- . " About four years since I first heard of it," he replied. "I have something to show you. Do you recognise this ?" and she handed the certificate to him.  He could have shouted with exultation. It was the one thing he had forgotten on the previous night. "I have not seen it before to my knowledge," he replied, and that was true enough. "That paper was found in this dress." He started visibly, and Helen felt sure he knew the dress, which was of peculiar pattern. "That is very likely. It is no doubt the dress of the woman Thornton had conspired with to pass herself off as Julia Fleming." Helen was not convinced, but Bert's coolness and ready replies had favoured him. Besides, if the woman was really dead it did not matter much when she died. Helen knew that Bert was aware of her relations with old Macpherson, and did not care to provoke him to taunt her with that humiHating episode. So by tacit consent the subject was dropped. John Haldane had no difficulty in finding Burke and Hare; they were drinking whisky at the publichouse at which he sought them. He made a sign to Burke, who followed him out. "What have you done with the woman's clothes 2" "Mister Hare has got 'em." "Send him out to me." Burke went back to his companion and whispered— " He's asking me about the woman's clothes— did you search 'em 7" "Yes, and found a bit o' paper he'll have to pay me handsome for it he wants it.",