CHAPTER LXXVIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 201, 30 April 1887, Page 10

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

ILK HKLI) TUB I'AI'KR AGAINST /VIIK LIUIIT. Thk Leigh estates and the Leigh title had alwajs been the objects of Colonel Hartington's strong desire. Doubtless Lady Clare Montressor would not have married the colonel had she not hoped that he would one day inherit from his younger but feebler distant cousin, Lord Norman Leigh. The birth of little Rupert had seemed to end these expectations for ever, when the amazing information brought by Helen Hope had revived them, and wrought to its highest pitch assurance of immediate possession of the earldom. The story was so simple and clear, the testimony so direct, narrow, and apparently conclusive, that Colonel Hartington entirely believed in it. Still the colonel, as a man of the world and a man of business, was far from wishing to appear before the public as the dupe of a pair of knaves. 01 as eagerly grasping after a coronet firmly set on the head of its proper wearer ; therefore, instead of proceeding to at once bring the Hartington veisus Leigh case into court both parties and their legal advisers bitted and examined their case in joint meetings at one or the other of the law offices,, or at the private residence of Lord Keith. Such a meeting had been called at the library of Lord Keith, and the grave-digger and the stonecutter had been brought from Ireland that their testimony might be heard in full council. Lord Keith and Mr Storms were very hopeful, as they had liiado some discoveries which they trusted would discredit the claim brought by their adversaries. Lord Keith had urged "Noiman. Leigh to be present, and aid in sifting his own case ; but this he entirely refused. Hopeless apathy seemed to possess him ; he said he would do more harm than good— that the lawyers a\ ould be more acute than himself. In spite of Adam's vigilance he succeeded in getting b6th brandy aud opium, in small quantities ; and, shut in his. private room, or his library, at the Towers, he gave himself up to gloom. As he would not go to London, Violet went with her maid, muse, and child, and a groom or two, and remained in her house by the Green Park, waiting for news. At the hour of the conference Lady Claie, in high excitement, betook herself to the morning room of her father.-; city mansion, expecting to be there met by the colonel, tolling ncr that the testimony mas overwhelming and invulnerable, and a decision must immediately bu ghon in their favour. When the door of Loul Keith's library opened to admit Kemp and the gravedigger, accompaniod by Colonel Hartington, and the sexton saw that the four gentlemen who uere seated by the table were evidently lawyers, lie drew back, declaring i " he was trapped, and would not stay." " Stay and stick to your testimony, or you"ll hang," said Kemp, in his ear. The fellow looked up, and recognising in the tall, stately figuro, which stood with folded arms and a resolute face, in the bow -■window, Lord Keith, who had questioned him at Shields, became more restive, crying : " I won't stop. I'll go any way." ' "You cannot," said Mr Storms; "the police arc within call. " " What do you mean ?" cried Kemp. " Nothing unusual. We, have strong reasons Itor believing that this story ib a fabrication, to extort money, or avenge private offences. If so, we shall hand you both over to justice. Admit your fabrication while there is time. " " There is nothing to admit," said Kemp, resolutely. Closely questioned, Kemp gave his story as before. Wells and Epston, for Colonel Hartington, then carefully examined the orave. digger ; but he recovering from his confusion, told a straight story, averring that he had been ordered to dig Mr Kemps grave, aiid as he began the work, had heard that the apparently dead man had revived, and after six months lie had roally dug his grave, and buried him. ' ' The records were at Shields, open to inspection, and he would swear to the doctor's statement." " Why had such a statement been prepared ?"' asked Storms. "Because the thing looked curious, the man's death having been put in the paper, on the first occasion, and to meet my questionings, the doctor made the written statement, and put it with the records. He would testify to the doctor's handwriting anywhere." . "That seems clear enough, said Mr Epstom to Lord Keith. "We shall throw this man's testimony out of court, by showing that he is a criminal, guilty of robbery, and partaker in a murder of 'a jeweller^ clerk in Dublin," says Mr Storms, quietly.

I The grave-d igge?'*^ orif his knees with a* cry : "Kernp 1 ! You've rftlhed ihs !" $einp took him by thtfcdllar wifcfi & look of waning. ' , •• We have here the sttiii&culter who prepared- the head-stone for Kemp," said Mr Stortiiw, and a very decent, honestfaced maitfdam'e from an inner room. "Did y6U ! sot up that grave"- sCono ?' asked Mr Ep*>tbn. " Yes ; I carr swear to the stone 1;-'1 ;-' I have it on my books, awl I have been" to see it, and it is my wtoi'k. " 1 " How did yoo-gefc the order ?'" ** By letter ; it is so 1 on my book for Chat year." ; " Can you swear blial) fcJie stone is as 50a liiade it, and has ik# been altered ?" asteetl Epstora. *' N-o 1 ; I cannot." ""Can you swear it- (iW bee** altered ?" dei.Aanded Storms. "ISfo ; I cannot. Tlie 'stone looks a little odd' about the date. ''Jan/ might have beert' changed to 'Jirne.' M is a bit crowded. There are methods feftab coald make ~n recent alteration Ibok as oid as the rest ofHhe stone. But again, it may be just as it was set up. It was *.i- chea»g>' stone — 'prentice work on it, perhaps'—! can'b swear. " ' " But (Tan'-yow swear to tl^vrtbeto^'^liand- ! writing hi the- paper ?" asleep XjoloneJ! H artI ington. j " Yes I onto. So can other^-goo't'. wit- ; nesses. Titey hare done it. " ;' • When dii^the doctor die ?'' ; "In '4G. Iset ap his grave v sfcbne." , *• After all/ -said Mr Epston -to' StGmtfl , •** fche statement of the doctor ia our strong ,)oint. The grave-dugger you vnd>y pro' t /o > si cuiminal, unwortJhy of credence ; the steiiOH c> vtter is not prepared to take hit; -oiitli Hint ilfo inscription iS"as lie made it, or->that it»-i»> e> as he received the order, as to daiiß ;, ' he think* he inscribed according v to ordcrt,. an»l« thinks the stone is intact;; but tEe> clocftf>r*s statement;,, with this gra-'-e-tlig-ger^ name, and the cottager at whose nou'seKei.np died, as wifcnebses, will h&> held .'*,-■' sure M'oof of the revival and later ieafch."' " " l A r heve is the cottage woman 1 ?"" asketE* Mr Stehrms. ! ''"mad," said Ko*ip* " I % H awoar to hei i£i<urk," said th» gravedigger-..' " j Sud'fenly Lord Kf iMs started fon^vvd : " Yo«i then rest thfej case on this fetatemonl f " Ye^v' r said Mr Ep-tton. The rofonel bowed. " WilE you allow m* to take the p.tjpna. moment T " Certaaisly," said Mr Epston, selecting the pape" *rom Ins wall«t. The giv)v©-d-igger andiKemp started, -as if they thought the young, peer would d.,sfcfoy the papei The four la^ryers smiled. Lord X iitli returned 5a the window .and opened th* innei* blind to the full power of the afterranon sun. 1 fie next instant he gave a cry : " Gentlemen, the ca-je>is ours!" TJlc 2)ctper ivfovyed .'" The four lawyers and Coldnel Hartiugtjon ■ sprang up> "Stay!" cried Keith "Look he -*v, I beg of you !" He held the paper aguinst the st 'oag_ light, and across it ran, in broad waterline, the date of its manufacture, 184 S. " Two yeai\s after the death of the doctor., who is claimed to have wriltyu it," &aid\ Keith, quietly. " A toi'gery !" cried the four, lawyeis. " I'll give up the claim '/' paid Hartaigi ton, hrmly. "I'll confess ! I'll confess !" bluicked .die grave-digger. There .was a heavy fall —Kemp lay senseless on the floor. "Call in the police!" said Mr Storms., serenely. Lord Keith heede:. »n o" - , he rushed, wildly from the room (To be Co?) finned.)