CHAPTER XIII.—Continued.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1935, 29 November 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER Xlll.— Continued.

At the sudden and unexpected crisis occasioned by the duel and Lord Lundy's unfortunate fate, Brown set off with his accomplice Williams and a detective, to capture Charlie and Donald at their lodgings. The detective was stationed outside to prevent anyone leaving the house, while Brown and Williams entered to talk with the servant, and obtain all information possible. Notwithstanding their precipitation, they found to their great mortification, that they had removed, and that Donald on the previous day had taken their luggage in a great hurry, paid the bill and had not returned. Brown, in order to satisfy himself, asked to be allowed to see the rooms they had occupied, found a pistol, upon which was Donald's initials, hung upon a nail, and which had been overlooked by the lodger while removing the goods ; he took possession of it with the determination of soon turning it to some account. On lpaving the lodgings, Brown proposed that they should watch Mr. McKays house, urging that Charlie would never laave without bidding farewell to Bella, and at dusk the three took their station and watched ; th6y did not remain long before they saw Donald approaching, having entered by the back gate. Brown pointed him out, and declared him to be Charlie Stuart; they then waited for his return, and as he was leaving, rushed upon him. Brown well knew who it was that had been seized, and to satisfiy his long cherished revenge, gave Williams the pistol he had taken from the room they had inspected, and ordered him to fire. Upon seeing that the wrong man had received the bullet, they instantly made up their minds to heap the guilt upon Donald, which was successfully carried out, and proved extremely disasti'ous to the innocent victim of their machinations. In order to accomplish their wickedness effectually, and remove 'ny trace of evidence favorable to the prisoner, Brcwn had prevailed upon the servant to leave her situation, under the pretence of marrying her. Donald's unfortunate conviction proved distressing in several respects, and caused great anxiety to Charlie. The poor fellow had the presence of mind to throw Bella's letter over the v/all while engaged in the scuffle, which was picked up the next morning by Mary Grant, who gave it to her mistress, thus entirely preventing any clue being given to his whereabouts. But the greatest sufferer of all was Mary, whose appearance gave evidence of her wretchedness of mind, refusing any consolation at the unhappy fate of her lover, whose innocence she never doubted.