QUEER STORY. MR. GALLOWAY AND THE DYNAMITERS.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 102, 16 May 1885, Page 5

QUEER STORY. MR. GALLOWAY AND THE DYNAMITERS.

Mr Galloway had all his life been on; bad terms with bis servants— though tbero was nothing surprising in that, for he was on bad terms with nearly overyono with whom he came in contact. He was a diminutive bachelor of fifty-soven— fidgety, suspicious, cross-grained, and sharp-tongued The few relatives he possessed he had quarrelled with. He had scarcely any intimate friends ; and he lived very much to himself on a second floor in one of the quietest streets in Mayfair. His valet was consequently a very important factor in his existence, and it put Mr Galloway out very considerably when his man Burrows was one day, without any notico, laid up with a bad attack of rheumatism, which quickly developed till the symptoms of rheumatic fever Burrows was an intelligent man, of long-suffering disposition, by virtue of which he had for two years put up wijth the abuse, the threats, and the cursos which Mr Galloway froely lavished upon his attendants. The only consolation the old gentleman had for his misfortune in losing Burrows's service was the reflection that he had foreseen in good time what was the matter with the man, and sent him about his business before it was too late for him to be moved. Not knowing what else to do in the emergency, Mr Galloway sent for Mrs Tibbitt, his landlady, and tisked her advice in tones so different from his usual testy and offensive manner that she at once comprehended the depth of his distress. Mr> Tibbitt, \\ ho was the wife of the cook at the Erechtheum Club close by, explained, with an apology for taking such a liberty, that she had already talked over Mr Gallon ay $ difficulty with her husband. Mr Tibbitt, it appeared, thought he knew an eligible party in a young man whose acquaintance he had made at the neighbouring hostelry of the Two Chairmen, a house much frequented by gentlemen's gentlemen. A* Mrs Tibbitt spoke highly of the young fellow's manners and appearance, Mr Galloway thought he could not do better than see him, and that same evening Mr Tibbitt's acquaintance was brought for inspection. He gave the name of Dovers — James Dovers, and was a respectable looking and somewhat taciturn man of about thirty. He said that he had just come from Parifa, where he had been, and still was, in the service of the Comte de Farci ; but in consequence of the death of an aunt, out of whose estate he was entitled to a considerable legacy, he had obtained permission to come to London and look after the settlement of her affairs. Pending thife business he would be happy to place himself at Mr Galloway's disposal. If he did so, however, it must be without the knowledge of the Comte de Farci, v, ho would naturally object to his servant taking an engagement elsewhere. If Mr Galloway required any other reference, perhaps he would apply to Lord Anerley, in whose service he (Dovers) had been for three years before going to the Comte de Farci. "I know Lord Anerley," said Mr Galloway, "so never mind the Comte de Farci. Besides, it doesn't matter much to me who you are, provided you know your work. If you're a thief — I don't say you are, but you may be — why, so much the worse for you. I am used to looking after myself." Mr Dovers bowed, and went on to ask if Mr Galloway would have any objection to his absenting himself for an hour or two occasionally for the purpose of seeing his lawyer, who, unfortunately, lived in the remote locality of Kentish Town ? " Provided you do what there is to be done," said Mr Galloway, "and are here >\hen I want you, you may go to Jericho in the intervals, for anything I care. When can you come?" Mr Dovers said he could come at once ; and with that he was engaged. He commenced his duties on the following morning, and quickly pnrved himself a very competent servant He did his work punctually and methodically, and he quickly mastered Mr Galloway's whims and cccentricites— so much so that the old man was sometimes quite at a loss for an opportunity of venting his ill-humour, and had to make up for this by using the most violent and abusive language on the very slightest provocation. Dovers, however, bore the treatment he received very patiently — so far, at least, as his master knew. In truth, he was so civil, so silent, and so irreproachable in his conduct, that the old gentleman very soon began to dislike him for that very reason. It was Mr Galloway's misanthropic belief that all mankind was equally depraved at heart, and that those who are commonly held blameless are merely the lucky few who have not been found out. Inspired by this comfortable conviction, he resolved that he would find out Mr Dovers. He had already written to Lord Anerley, but beyond the fact that that nobleman had engaged Dovers while travelling in Ireland, he had learned nothing of importance as to the man's antecedents. Ho determined, however, that he woulJ keep a discreet but close watch upon his secant's movements ; and tor tho next week he occupied himself with a series of amateur detective operations, of which it is impossible to say whether they were more amusing or contemptible. As the result of these observations, he discovered that Doveis spent a good deal of his time in the friendly precincts of the Two Chairmen ; that he had more than once been either there or in the neighbourhood when he had professed to be engaged on business in the distant seclusion of Kentish Town ; and, la&tly, that he was very frequently in the company of a tall, suspicious-looking individual in a felt hat and travelling coat, who had further, on at least one occasion, called at Mrs Tibbitt'es, and visited Dovers in his room upstairs. All this, perhaps, did not amount to much ; but it served to keep up Mr Galloway's spirits, and to encourage him in the belief that he was on the road to further discoveries. It was the afternoon of Saturday, the 24th of January. Mr Galloway, after anHouncinghiib intention of lunching at hi& club, and giving Dovers leave of absence for a couple of hours, altered his mind — as he had once or twice done of late —and returned about one o'clock. He found that his servant was not yet in. Mrs Tibbitt brought him up bome lunch, and when he had finished, he sat down and waited expectantly. More than an hour passed before he heard anyone enter the house, and when, at laet, someone opened the street door with a latch-key, it sounded to Mr Galloway as if more than one person were coming upstairs. He waited till the footsteps had passed hia door, and then peeping cautiously out, beheld — not Dovere at all, but a female— rather a tall woman, as far as ho could judge from his momentary glimpse of her, wearing a a brown Newmarket coat and a man's billycock hat. What was Mr Galloway's astonishment to see this lady disappear straightway into Dovers's room, which was half-way up the stairs, and immediately opposite hia own door. The old gentleman sat down again, chuck ling to himselfj and rubbing, his hands a1

this delightful discovery, which surpassed the best he had expected. He was still further delighted whon, some live minutes later, Dovers himself suddenly enterod the room without knocking, evidently unaware, as he explained, that his master was in. This settled the matter decisively. Dovers had clearly come in with the young woman, and was even now entertaining hor in his room. True, Mr Galloway could not B wear it was a young woman. It might, of course, have been Dovera's grandmother. Or it might be any other member of the family interested in the estate of Dovers's deceased aunt. But what were the probabilities? Mr Galloway flattered himeelf ho could answer that question as well as most people. He had been so busy thinking over the iniquities of his servant and hi? own acuteness that he heard nothing of the newsmen baw ling up and down the street the headings of the startling intelligence which horrified all London that afternoon. It was not till he went out to his club that ho learned the particulars of tho oxplosions at the Tower and at Westminster. He happened to dino that night at tho same table as Major Gamblo, an old bachelor acquaintance of congenial tastes and disposition. The dynamite outrages naturally formed the principal subject of their conversation. They did not, however, prevent Mr Galloway from further entertaining his friend with a full account of the doings of James Dovers and the events of the afternoon. "What do you think about it?" asked Mr Galloway, at the conclusion of his story. 41 Think ! Why, I should say you have got a Fonian on the premises," said the Major. "There, now— you've just hit upon my idea,' said Mr Galloway. "Tho man j knows a queer lot of peoplo, and occupies himself very mysteriously. I'm pietty sure he s Irish, and he conies direct from Paris, which is the headquarters of the dynamite taction." " If I wore you, Galloway," said his friend, "I should keep a very close watch on tho fellow. It's clear he and Iris friends arc a bad lot." The more Mr Galloway thought ovor the ! matter, tho more convinced ho became that he was on the track of a discovery of the utmost public importance. It was a little alarming, nevertheless, and more than once he questioned whothor it would not be better to put tho whole affair into the hands of tho polico. He had no wish, however, to make himself ridiculous, and, remembering that, thanks to his own sagacity, he had given Dovers no reason to think himself suspected, ho determined that he would satisfy himself a little further before taking active stops. Ho went homo, therefore, and sat down quietly with a cigar and the ''Saturday Heviow." Dovers duly waited upon him, and having inquired whether he wanted anything further, withdrew. Mr Galloway knew his manY habits pretty well. He would go downstairs now, take his supper, and then probably go out to smoke a pipe and obtain a little social recreation at the Two Chairmen. Listening patiently, Mr Galloway heard him carry out this programme until he let himself out by the street-door. Without a moment's delay, the old gentleman lighted a candle, and in another minute was in Dovers's bed-room. At first sight there- was not much to gratify his curiosity. Tho two travellingboxes were locked, but tho diawera wore all open, and Mr Gallow ay examined each of them carefully, without finding anything su&picious Ho came next to the cupboard, and here he was. rewarded by a disco vory — nothing less than a fashionable billycock bat, as like the one ho had scon on the head of Dovers '.^visitor in the afternoon as> one billycock hat could well be to another. Mr Galloway had brought it to tho light to examine it more closely, when he heard a sound which disconcortod him considerably. Someone was coming upstairs. Surely Dovers could not be back already? Mr Galloway hurried to the door and listened. The intruder, whoever it was, was, however, by then halfway up. If Mr Galloway attempted to regain his> room he would run into the man's arms. Thoroughly frightened for once in his life, the old gentleman hastily blew out his candle and groped his way into the cupboard. He had barely pullod the door to after him when two men entered the room. "Tho governor's door was open as we came past," said one of thorn, in a voice unknown to Mr Galloway . " Where's he gone to ?"' " (Joodness knows," said the other— whom the listener at once recognised as Dovers. "Spying after me, as usual, I dare say. He'll poke his old nose into something he won't like before long. Hallo ' What's this? The old fox has been explorin' here and forgot to take away his candlestick " "Maybe he's here now," said the other man. "If he is, we'll teach him a lesson. Show a light under the bed a minute. No ; not there. Perhaps he's in here. Wait half a minute. Let's have a dose of medicine ready for him. Hold up the candle, Jim— &o. Now, then — what's here." The cupboard door was thrown wide open. A big, powerful man stood face to face with Mr Galloway, and held what looked uncomfortably like the muzzle of a revolver within a yard of his forehead. "Stand still !" said the man— tho same whom Mr Galloway had already seen in Dovera's company—" and don't open your mouth, or you are a dead man the next instant." The words were spoken in a tone which at once persuaded Mr Galloway of the earnestness of the speaker. He shrank back into the cupboard, silent, and trembling visibly. " What shall we do with the scoundrel ?" asked Dovers's friend. " Shut the door a moment," said Dovers, "and turn the key." " You had betttr not make a row," said the stranger, as he acted on this suggestion. "You'll find a bullet comin' through the door if you do. And it won't be any use shouting. We are alone in the house." This was true enough, as Mr Galloway remembered when the door was f?hu£ and he was again left to meditate in the dark. At luncheon-time that day Mrs Tibbitt had told him that she was going to the play the same night with her husband. But for them, the house was empty. The ground floor was a stationer's shop, which was always closed early in the evening. The Hon. Guy Lackland, who had the first floor, was away in Leicestershire. What chance of escape was there, then, or what hopo in resistance? As Mr Galloway heard hia captors discuss his fate in whispers, and thought of the desperate work in which they had probably been engaged only a few hours ago, he wished to goodness he had been a little more careful to cultivate the good opinion of Mr James Dovers. The consultation lasted along time, and, in the course of it, one of the men left the room for a quarter of an hour or more. On his return the door of the cupboard was thrown open, and Mr Galloway was bidden to step out, and not to offer" resistance on pain of instant death. He obeyed with the utmost docility. He was next effectually gagged with a couple of silk handkerchiefs, and led downstairs. In the sitting-room there was a stoutly-made, round-backed wooden chair, in. which Mr Galloway used

to write. In this he was made to ait, and to it he was bound hand und foot with a stout cord, the elder man holding him|while Dovors doftly wove tho cord around Iub limbs. The stranger then produced two or three cakes of a dark-coloured substance, wkich Mr Galloway might easily have taken for chocolate. " You see that," ho observed, drily, holding the cukes up before Mr Galloway's nose. " That's dynamite. This gentleman " (indicating Dovers), "Mr Freeny, and myself represent for present purposes the executive of the Irish Republic. As such we are invested with the power of life and death. We have considered your case, and conclude it will bo necessary that you should be removed, in order to prevent any knowledge of which you may bo possessed being used to the disadvantage of the said Republic. You see this " (here ho held up a strip of blue pnpor) ; " that is a common fuso. I placo the dynamite on this plate — so ; and I insert the fuse in one cake of it— .so ; and I leave the pair of them here (he placed the things on the honrthrug close in front of Mr Galloway). This fuse is warranted to burn just one hour and a-half. It's now a little after ten ; if 1 touch it ofl' now you will have a convenient time for pious reflection between now and half-past eleven. Mr Tibbitt will be in about that time, and no doubt he will take care of anything that may be left of you." With this tho stranger struck a match on his boot, and, with as much coolness as if ho wore .lighting a cigaretto, applied it to the ond of the fuse, lie then, with a polite bow, wished Mr Galloway good-night. Dovors, who had boon looking on with a sardonic smile, did the same, and tho two men left the room, Mr Galloway sat for some time completely stupefied with terror. He heard the two men go upstairs, and for a while buoyed himself up with tho hope that they were not in earnest — that their design was only tc frighten him into secrecy, or perhaps to ox tort ironoy. or even plunder tho house. Ho listened painfully for tho pound of returning footsteps. It >\ as nearly half-past ten before he heard them. Then the two men came downstairs, and parsed stolidly on. The hall door closed with a bang, and Mr Galloway know that ho was abandoned. Was it a horrible dream? II o looked down at the plate by his foot, which had very considerately boou placed just near enough to give him tho full benefit of an explosion, and far enough oil' to onable him to watch the progress of the fuse No ; it was all roal enough. There wero the three little cakes, the end of the fuse through a hole in one of them, and the two others nicely balanced on the top. Tho fuse was burning merrily, and occasionally making a little splutter. Good Heavens ! if a spark should lly into one of those cakes ! The thought caused the old man to make a deapeiate effort to frco himself. Ho struggled and strained w ith all his might, but the cord& still held him almost immovable. Nexthetried, by shouting andscreaming till he was hoarse, to attract the attention of anyone passing in tho street, but at his loudest he could scarcely have been heard across the room. No one but Mr Gallrmay himself could have adequately described tho horrors of that hour. By oleven o'clock his struggles and his terror had very nearly exhausted him ; by a quarter past he had dropped back in tho chair in a kind of stupor, looking alternately at the clock and the fuse. Ten minutes more passed thus, and then the eight of tho red spark creeping remorselessly on seemed to rouse him to a last desperate effort. With tho violenco of a madman he strained at his bonds. Three minutes more olapbed, and still he writhed and plunged. Then suddenly tho fuso spluttered up more fiercely— thero was a smothered cry — a crash— and Mr and Mrs Tibbitt hud let themselves in, and were about to close the door, wAen they were startled by tho sound of a heavy fall upstairs. Running up in alarm, they found Mr Galloway extended upon the floor, and bound to the fragments of his writing chair, the back of which had been completely wrenched away from the body. The old gentleman appeared partially fetunned by his fall, and did not speak while hislandlord was cutting him free, which was the work of several minutes. As, however, Mr Tibbitt was in the act of picking up the plate, which lay on the hearthrug, Mr Galloway seemed" suddenly to recover himself. Ho struggled to his fcot, and with a howl of terror rushed wildly from the room. He was too sore and exhausted, however, to run far, and Mr Tibbitt oveifcook and stopped him before ho got to the bottom of tho stairs. Then Mr Galloway breathlessly related the story of tho evening's adventures. Mr Tibbitt listened in astonishment. " There wasn't any fuse in the plate when I moved it," he said. " I should say it has burnt out and misled fire. Martha, you I run and fetch a policeman." | With that he ran upstairs again. Mr Galloway, following him cautiously, found him placing the three cakes in a bowl of water. Two minutes later Mrs Tibbitt returned with a policeman, Avho listened with an air of profound wisdom while Mr Galloway repeated his story. At the ond of it he examined the basin on tho table. "Queer looking dynamite'" ho remarked. Ho had picked out one of tho cakes. It dyed his fingers black as he touched it, and the water which chipped from it Mas as black as ink. Mr Tibbitt picked out another cake and examined it closely. "Dynamite!" the policeman continued, addressing Mr Galloway " Why, look at it, sir. It's your patent blacking they're a-going to blow you up with !" At the same moment Mrs Tibbitt, who bad been examining Dovers's room, returned with a note which she had found there addressed to Mr Galloway. That gentleman read as follows : — Sir,— The next time you feel suspicious about a servant, I should advise you to take a little more trouble not to let him know it. M. de Farci being anxious for my return, I shall leave for Paris at once. I will not trouble you to forward my salary, as, after to-night, I think we are about quits. — Yours obediently, Jamf.s Dovers.