CHAPTER X.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 81, 1 April 1882, Page 40

CHAPTER K.

It was a red-letter day in Parnell. The fashionable dovecots of that aristocratic suburb were agitated to tlieir inntnost recesses, and the waves of excitement had Bpread outwards like the rings made by a stone cast into a pool till they flowed in gentle ripples over Benruera and Epsom, and Ponsonby, and were lost in the plebiean fai'mhouses of the adjacent districts. For weeks the absorbing topic of conversation had been the approaching nuptials of Mr Slycroft and Georgina Pinkie. The miliners, the parsons, the organist, the choir, the Sunday School teachers, the shining lights of the Young Men's Christian Association, the committee of the Women's Steam Iron and Christmas Goose Society, and various other bodies had been busy with preparations for the coming event, and the great question above all others which had occupied the minds of the j Binkses, the Jones, and the Podgers, as well as the servants and retainers of those aristocratic families had seen what Miss G-eorgina and her , bridesmaids would wear on this festive and auspicious occasion. i From an early hour in the day Parnell and Reniuera were astir. The early wayfarer who ' dispensed the matutinal milk discussed this and other equally absorbing questions with the female domestics, and the butchers at a later hour made sly jokes as they delivered the legs of mutton, the chops and steaks, and the various other materials for the feast with which the event was to be celebrated. < St. Paul's Church was a scene of intense excite- j ment when a long array of carriages drew up outside, and ladies in blonde lace and flashing diamonds with gentlemen in white waistcoats and gloves emerged from them. Heads popped out of windows, the shopkeepers stood in small groups at their doors, and a large crowd assembled outside and gazed with envious eyes on the gorgeous dresses of the bride and the bridesmaids. Miss Georgina appeared leaning on the arm of Mr Slycroft. She was pale and melancholy, but, of course, this was attributed to excitement. As the party walked up the aisle a crowd of curious people entered the church to watch the proceedings. The Rev. Zachariah Dally emerged from the vestry attired in a brau new surplice, specially made for the occasion by some of the young ladies of the congregation, and wearing his blandest smile. The ceremony of the solemnization of mat- j rimony was immediately began. " Therefore if any man can show any just | cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter hold his peace." " I can ! " said a loud voice near the door, and all eyes were turned in that direction as a tall young man with a distingue appearance rapidly advanced up the aisle, followed by a plain looking man with a bald head and irongrey monstache, apparently his servant. " Tomkins 1" waa the single word that was whispered from mouth to mouth. " You 'ere again !" exclaimed old Pinkie in a voice of suppressed passion, " W dare you interfere ?" " Sir," said the Rev., Zachariah Dally in t ones of stern protest, " I think you must perceive that your presence here can only cause pain," and scores of flashing eyes glared upon the young man as he made his way to the altar, while old Pinkie with upraised fist seemed about to enter a more forcible against what he regarded as an unwarrantable outrage. Georgina had started on hearing the well-known voice, and, with flushed cheeks and pouted lips, stood gazing at TompHns ; indeed some of the young ladies remarked at a later stage that she made a step towards him as if she was about to rush into his arms. . Mr Slycroft had also risen, and was regarding Tompkins with a mingled expression of fear and defiance. I " What right have you to intrude here, sir ?" I he said. j " Yes," chimed in old Pinkie, " wot yer want here, Mr Simpkins, or wotever yer name is, and j you a married man ! Git put o' this instantly, or I'll send for the police." "Send for the police, will you, you infernal old ticket-o 1 -leave ?" exclaimed an old gentleman, advancing towards Pinkie with, a menacing gesture. , . "Who are you, air, that dare interfere here ?". said Slycroft. "Who amIJ.TU soon let you know that. I'm John William Tomplpns — Tompkins senior, at your, service," and Tompkins the elder bowed low.witnmbctjgrayitjr^. '/:;:/ "Gentlemen, gentlemen, said thoHer,Zacha-

riah in an. agitated voice, " this is no place for unseemly quarrelling — this is the house of Gk>d. You must state your objections in due form, and give the necessary securities to prove any objections you may have to this marriage. Young man, on what grounds do you presume to forbid the ceremony ?" " On the ground that he is already married," said Tompkins the younger. " Yes, and he's a bigamist," added Tompkins the elder. Had a bombshell fallen in the chancel it could not have created a greater sensation than these words. Mr Slycroft turned just a shade paler ; Mrs Pinkie fainted ; while old Pinkie looked in blank dismay alternately at the accused and his accusers. Miss G-eorgina shrank away from Slycroft and covered her face with her hands ; the Binkses, the Joneses, and the Podgers' began to whisper ominously. " It's a villainous lie — a conspiracy !" hissed Slycroft through his clenched teeth. " Hawkshaw, come here," said Tompkins the elder, and the plain-looking little man with the bald head and iron-grey moustache, who had been mistaken for young Tompkins' man, stepped briskly forward, while Slycroft, casting a swift look at the new-comer, backed towards the vestry door. " This is not the place to settle a question of this kind," said Slycroft ; "we had better adjourn to the vestry." But Mr Hawkshaw, with an adroit movement, had interposed between the bridegroom and the vestry door. " No you don't, Mr William Henry Jinkers ! You're an old fox, but we've run you down at last." " Who is this person ?" said the Bey. Zachariah. " This person," remarked the little man in a cheery tone, which was meant to be reassuring, " this person is Inspector Hawkshaw, of Scotland Yard — at your service ; and this is William Henry Jinkers, forger, embezzler, and bigamist — two or three charges — who has been wanted very badly for a long time." " Bigamist !" exclaimed Pinkie, in a horrified voice. " Yes, sir, two cases. Favourite dodge of his marrying old ladies, and bolting with their little savings." " Well, I'm blowed !" exclaimed 'Pinkie in a bewildered tone ; " seems to me you're all bigamists together. Fust young Simpkins there turns out to be a bigamist, and now 'ere's another on 'em." "It's false— a conspiracy !" said Slycroft, nerving himself with a desperate effort to brazen it out to the last. " Now then, my man," remarked the Inspector in a business-like tone, " don't make a fuss. I'm sorry to spoil the harmony of these proceedings, you know j but if you'll just come along qxiietly I'll promise not to make any scene, and to take you down quite handsomly in a cab to the station." " I defy you, sir ! Touch me at your peril ! Where is your warrant ?" " Softly, softly, my man," replied Hawkshaw, producing a piece of blue paper from his pocket. But Slycroft had made a sudden dart through the crowd, and was about to rush for the door, when he caught sight of the muzzle of a revolver ' presented at him by the vigilant Inspector. "That's your game, is it?" remarked the officer ; " going to give trouble, are you ? Well, hold up your hands— that's it. Now you're quite comfortable and nice, Mr Jinkers, and I must say they become . you handsomely," he continued as he slipped a pair of handcuffs round Slycroft's delicate wrists. " Grood day, ladies and gentlemen ; I really am sorry to have had a scene, but really it wasn't my fault," and the Inspector made a polite bow all round, and clapping his hand on the shoulder of | the shrinking culprit said in a friendly tone " come along, Jinkers, but don't you be trying on any more of your little dodges, you know, because I don't like trouble," and the pair left the Church, followed to the door by half the people, and elbowing their way through the curious crowd at the door. " Knew he was a hypocrite " said one. " They say he's got six wives at home" said another. " Well, I am sure " remarked a young woman, 4n the crowd, " the hidea of any girl taking a fancy to a red-haired weazel-eyed fellow like that !" "Well this beats all" said old Pinkie, awaking i from a trance. " This is the rummiest turn out ! I ever saw. But now what about this young man Simpkins, Tomkins, or wotever his name is? Aint he a bigamist too, as ought to be took up ?" "Look here," exclaimed Tompkins senr. indignantly, " if you don't stop that kind o? talk I'll have you tip for libel. John and me is a tarnation deal more respectable than any of your family ever was or wiE be. He never married anyone, and he shan't marry into your beggarly family if I have any say in the matter." "Beggarly family, eh? Why, I've got as much as 'd buy an' sell the like o' you," retorted Pinkl.e. But here the Rev. Zachariah Dally threw oil on the troubled waters, and young Tompkins was seen in earnest conversation with Mrs Pinkie and G-eorgina. " Here is a document that has been handed to me, which distinctly proves Mr John Tompkins, junr., to be innocent of the henious charge that was laid against him. It appears from this that his name was assumed by a person who has been apprehended, and punished for the offence," said the clergyman. The document was at once read and completely exculpated young Tompkins, who was immediately received back into favour, and was subjected to a vigorous handshaking and general congratulations. G-eorgina threw herself into his arms in sight of all the Jones, the Binkses, and Podgers j old Tompkins and Pinkie were reconsiled on the spot, shook hands, and rowed eternal friendship. The whole party drove to the Pinkie mansion and lunched on the viands prepared by Canning for the wedding. A. week afterwards young Tompkins and Miss G-eorgina were married, and the name of the firm was altered to "Pinkie and Tompkins."

glycroft alias Jinker^ went to England in the custody of Inspector Hawksnaw. On his trial it

was conclusively proved that he had at eliQ^t'j;; intervals married three middle-aged widows and'"';.run away with their savings, and embezzled the funds of the London and Dorchester Bank to the tune of £2000. Investigations of Pinkie's account disclosed the fact that Slycrof t, . had . f systematically, robbed him, but most of the money was subsequently recovered. The various societies of which Slycroft had been secretary were also left lamenting. THE END.