Year: 1869

there was quiet funeral one morning


and everybody thought they had seen


the last Of poor Master Arthur.


.'On the second night after the fun


neral. ! had an engagement to meet
Crack Charley at twelve o'clock in the
east plantation. We kept early hours


at Belair and atsthat time of night |


was obliged to let myself out and in


again unknown To anybody; but that


wasn't difficult to manage. had seen
Charley. and was coming back along


the gravelled path that runs round the


east wing of the Hall. when what


should l hear hut a child's thin voice.


that sounded close by me, but whether


above or below. couldn't tell. CRYING
"Help-help Please ask them TO let


me out" | looked round. but could


see nobody. and my blood ran cold all


over me. | called out who the


dare you: and what place do YOU


want TO be let out Off II am Master


Arthur" said the child's voice. land |


have been shut up here ever such a


long time. Oh, do please beg Of them


10 let Inc out - swear YOU might


have Knocked me down with a snceze


when | heard these words. l had watch


ed this lads funeral only few hours


before, yet here he was. still alive. and


speaking TO me With good deal Of
bother, made out where he was : and


then got one of the gardener ladders,


and planting it against the wall, which


just there is thickly covered with ivy.


| climbed up it. and 50 found the spot


where the voice came from. II WAS a


long narrow slit in the thick wall of


what is the oldest part Of the Hall,


lighting small room. which no doubt


had often been used as hiding place
in the old troubled times. This open


ing. as Afterwards found. was entirely
hidden from the outside bv thick


curtain of ivy. who shut YOU up


here. Master Arthur = said. speaking


10 him through the slit in the wall.


MY Lady. and that woman with the


cats eyes" he said meaning Mrs.


Winch. How long have YOU been


here" | asked. Il don't know how


long, because always feel 50 sleepy


here; but very long time" he said.


That's YOU. Billings. Is it not:
know YOUR voice. Will You please to
shake hands with me Z" | squeezed INV
hand into the slit as far as could. and
then | felt his cold little fingers grasp
mine. Thank YOU" he said, ia hi,
sweet. melancholy way. as lac let 20
my hand again and had very queer
feeling round my heart for some min
utes afterwards. | talked u hi1n q
little while longer; then he said II
think | must get down now, Billings
i am standing on two chars placed
on the table-as | am getting very
sleepy again, and | might fall, Won
know. You will ask them 10 let me
out. will YOU not: Goodnight. and
God bless you, Billings"


On my soul. don't like 10 put il
down but betrayed ny promise to
that child. and never mentioned to any
one what had seen and heard.
have done many rascally trick in nv
time, but that was the wickedest of
them all ltstead Of doing what |
ought 10 have done, said To mvself
my Lady has got a little private
game OF her own on here. III can on
ly make myself master of it. she will
pay me well 10 keep the secret" So |
determined 10 keep my eyes open. !
had not long 10 watch, for the very
next night. about i. NJ. a little cover
ed cart, driven by krecfc, came up TO
one OF the side-ioors and presently /
Mrs. Winch came out. carrying the /
child in her arms. fast asleep. She got /
into the cart with him; the cover was /
tied down, and the doctor drove of
with his load. | heard than say some Z
thing about White Grange, 50 stole /
away by near footpath across the .
moors. and was there, hidden iii the 4
thick thorn-tree that grows just inside /
the boundary wall. when kreefe drove
up TO the door. Old job Sandyson
came out with lantern, and himself
crrried the lad. still asleep, into the
house there he was hidden away for
six weeks in one Of the top rooms of
White Grange. Nance Fennell told
me all about 10 afterwards. AT the end
Of that time. Mrs. Winch and the doc
tor went one night TO White Grange
with the same little covered cart, ana
took the lad away and AS 10 what be-
came of him afterwards. | know moth
ing, only Nance said that she happened
to overhear that they were going to
Liverpool. But do happen To know
that just at that very time krceie and
his wife left Normanford and it was
given out that they had gone to Amer
ica.


We'll. thought after this that hal
got clear case against my Lady, such
a one as ought to bring me in some
thing handsome and so it would have
done, had not other things turned out
badly. Sedgeley Court was safely
cracked and | got my share of the
plunder; but unfortunately the police
got hold Of Bill Stuckley for it, and he
peached when in prison besides which.
my plan of the house was found on him
SO one fine morning, he and and Char
ley had the pleasure of hearing that
we were TO be sent on our travels into
foreign parts for several years to come.
Before sailing, sent message to
Lady Spencelaugb. telling her l wanted
to see her on important business but
either she never got the message. or
else she wouldn't come. But the secret
was one that would keep, and determ-
ined to keep it till got back home.
At the end Of ten years, found myself
in the old country again. hard up. l
had made up my mind that as soon as
got the means, would run down to