Year: 1879

| III tne name lIdyman. lnlS attracted MS
attention, and he read all that was there
1t was as follows:


---get the--Layman out
-theway, you can easily entice fanny
Use what aids----fnd need.


--SELDoN.


The paper had been folded along the
| fourth line and then torn off at the corner
1t was conveyed to Layman and kept by
him as likely to be of value. There was
small doubt that Fanny was in the vehicle
which Layman overlook on his way home,
and that the screams which he heard were
her cries for help. Could it be that Miller
was at the bottom of the abduction? Lay
man remembered that Miller had frequently
written in an album belonging to Fanny,
and in comparing that writing with the
writing on the scrap of paper they were
found 10 be identical. Layman made his
way to York to consult lawyer as to the
best means of discovering his sister. When
he reached that city almost the first thing
he saw in newspaper was the discovery of
the body of a murdered woman in the river
Aire, just above Leeds, near place known
as The Forge. The woman's linen was
marked "F. L." Feeling sure that this
must be his sister-for the description an





started back home. On the outskirts of
Selby he was waylaid by three footpads and
robbed. Then he was left on the highway
half dead. He was found by laboring
man, who recognized him and had him con-
veyed home. When Layman recovered
| consciousness he remembered distinctly
that one of the footpads said, when expos
iulated with by the others:


You know as we'll as / do that the
understanding was that we were to kill
him"


Layman was vigorous man, and three
days after his last mishap he was on his
way to Leeds. Arrived at Kirkstall, he
found that the body had been claimed by an
old woman as. that of her daughter, and
buried. Layman went before Mr. James
Hargraves, then magistrate, and applied
80 have the body disinterred. Leave was
granted and the next morning was ap-
pointed for the work. During the night,
however, the grave was opened and the
corpse removed. Who were the depreda-
tors was involved in mystery. Laymsn
saw in it a conspiracy to defeat justice, and
by wonderful stroke of good fortune hit
upon the very device which the despoilers
of the grave had adopted. While examin-
ing the churchyard and the neighboring
yield, he observed deep footprints under
meath very high wall, the ascent of which
was, however, easy to an unencumbered
person. These footsteps led both ways, and
Layman concluded that the person rifling
the grave had both approached it and quit
ted it by that way. But it was next to i'm
possible that they could have done this
with the coffin in their possession, and
therefore he came to the conclusion that
the corpse had been reburied somewhere
within the precincts of the graveyard. A
search was made, but no newly turned soil
was found. Mr.. Hargrave suggested ex-
aiming the old-fashioned square-raised
tombs, OF which there were many in the
grounds and sure enough, under one of the
slabs was found the coffin and the remains
Layman identified the body as his sisters,
and it bore marks to show that the girl had
been strangled.


By this time the authorities of Leeds,
York and Selby had become alike inter
ested in the crime. That the man Miller
was at the bottom Of it they had every
reason to believe. But who was he, that he
could bring his instruments to bear so read
! lily wherever he desired to Use them? And
what was his object in accomplishing the
death of the girl? The word "Seldon at
the end of the writing on the scrap of
! paper found in the chimney was evidently
the writer's name. Was Seldom the same
person as Miller, and was that person inter-
ested in getting out of the way the girl
whom he had lawfully married Mr.. Har-
graves shrewdness seemed to offer ra-
tional solution of the mystery, namely ::
| That Miller had married the girl unknown
to wealthy parents or friends, and on their
! learning the fact they had taken measures
! m hor in 81 hot
of marrying beneath his station might be
removed, and that he might be at liberty to
fulfill some other marriage engagement
which they had arranged. One thing was
resolved onto look for Seldom. There
was a family of that name in the North
J Riding, residing near Birmingham. and
another branch of the same family at Stan
| hope, in Durham. All investigation, how
ever, failed to connect any member of either
family with Fanny Layman. There was
only one young man of suitable age in
either, and he had been travelling abroad
at the very time of Miller's stay with the
Layman's. In the meantime it ought to
be said, corOner's jury had sat in the case
J of Fanny Layman or Miller, and returned
a verdict of willful murder against some
party or parties unknown.


Two years passed away. Layman went
to London on pleasure or business, and as
countrymen were wont, visited the House
OF Commons. He saw gentleman coming
out of st. Stephens who attracted his at
tention. The young man Miller stood be-
fore him-there was no doubt of that. He
inquired who he was and learned that he
was ames Aubrey Seldom, member of Par
lament for the North Riding of Yorkshire,
and that this was his first session in the
House. Layman returned the next day and
watched for the arrival of the members
In due time Seldom came, and Layman had
a good view of him. No doubt remained
in his mind as to his being Miller. Lay
man was in doubt what to do. He had