THE MYSTERY OF SLOANE COTTAGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2471, 12 May 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MYSTERY OF SLOANE COTTAGE.

-e By Mrs Rattray. Ye.s ! there was something very odd about that man ! I am seldom incorrect in iny csti.natc of my fellow creatures ; very seldom indeed ; and I repeat there was something odd, nay, more than odd; there was something wrong about the tenant of " Sloane Cottage." " Hullo !" tile village doctor said to mo this morning, "you've let that lonely little place at last, have you, Mr Knox ?"

" Well, yes ! I have," I answered, "but to tell vou the truth, doctor, I wish I hadn't!"

"Eh? And why not?" queried the cheery little man. Doleston was such a small place, 1)" had hardly anything to do beyond occ B.onally ushering some un lucky infant into the world, and some lucky adult out of it. No young people died in .Doleston, for one tiling there were very few young persons, and for another, those who were there, were not given to fancy ailments, and an unlimited ammint of doctor's physic. Before I answered the question, I glanced cautiously round. I am not a lawyer, but I fancy I possess a good lawyer's attributes.

" The truth is,"l r•.■plied, I really know nothing about the man. but there's a sort of nervous shrinking froin observations about news that I ilon't altogether like, lie seems forever 011 the watch."

Then, as a bright idea occurred to m: j , I continued, "He looks like a man who has committed a great crime, say murder ; who has run away to escape capture, and has sought refuge in our obscurc little village."

" Ay!" said the doctor, "But why should he come here? Why shouldn't he leave the country ?"

" I don't know, I'm sure," I answered, "perhaps the ports are watched." "Perhaps lie is lingering near the scene of lii.s crime," suggested the doctor- '• I have read of cases where the murderer seemed to have a morbid fascination for the spot where his victim suffered. He revisited it at intervals, and was at last apprehended at the identical place where the mutilated body was discovered."

" There has br en 110 murder very r.ear here." I said, or we should have heard of it. At least, 1 have read of none in the papers."

" But this linn's crime may be yet uii' discovered," said the doctor.

At that moment the subject of our conversation slowly ap:>roac!ied. lie certainly justified our worst suspicions, in looks and milliner at least. He was not very tall, but be stooped somewhat which travo him the appearance of a hunchback. His hair was red ; he squintod with one eye, so that you could not tall it he ever looked you right in the face. Added t > these detractions, he had an apprehensive way of wotting about men, as if he always feared to see someone ha dreaded to meet.

"Good-day, Mr Smith," I remarked, :is he passed us, " how do you like your new quarters:." He started slightly, and I exchanged a significant glance with my coinpauion as we both observed that he gave an anxious look up, and down, the toad before answering. " Pretty well, thank you, sir," he said in a low voice, and lie walked on.

The man interested me immensely. I took to watching liim whenever I could do so without attracting his attention.

He had come to me, three days before die conversation with the doctor narrated above, and told me he would take the cottage he saw to let with "Apply to Mr Knox" in the window. He did not even ask to go over it first. Is was partially furnished, and he said lie was sure it vvou'd suit him very well indeed. Ho paid a month's rent in advance ; as a reference he would not give, could not, of course. He tool: possession at once. I suggested he would want a woman to cook and clean for him. He fired up at once, and declared he wouldn't have a petticoat about the place. Clearly the woman, as usiial, was at the bottom of the troubles-. It was very mysterious.

He soldiim went out, except in the evening, and then only to buy neees-aries, for which lie always paid cash, and eirricd home hiin.-elf. I ascertained he received no letters. Who, and what is he ? lam nut a woman, and therefore not the least inquisitive, nor inclined to pry into ny neighbours affairs. But the fact I hat we were probably harbouring an • •scaped criminal whose hands were dyel in the blood or one of our fellow-men, or tVliow-wom"rj was not one the inquiring "i'o which could not l,n defined nil act of .i;iijilo eui-o-it.y. VVa.i it not a duty I iwd to s■)!■)'.'fv, that f, on whom the Mitet amount. of or.iins in that villain : id been bestowed. slimihl use them for he yoiid of ri)' community, in to justice, if possible, one wh" evidently i id forfeit,; d his riirht to dw' ll as inno--Holt men dwell amount their fellows. Oi ■ lirse'mv wife did not ayree with me at all. With the perversity of li"r sex, she •ok an entirely dilf"rent view of t-lio ■ :i-(> " My dear." she said to me, one evninjr, vh n 1 had I een expounding rny ideas of ■Me u.ct-lied mail's »iiiit to her "depend i:>on it, v- u're all wronir. That man is innocent, of all the charges you and that ridiculous wi~e docr.or have trumped up i>fainst him. ' Tis sadness, not remorse in his face. H ■ is not flefinij from a •rime he has oomraitM. hut from a wronsf that has been doub him !" She wasgoiniT ■ n in this manner when I discovered it whs bed-time. Ido hate beinsj contradicted vlien I am so sure I am correct in my theories.

Thing's went on like ihi-i for two or ■hrce we.-k*. tioi.biuj" ni: flier r ran-«pit'o'.l •.hour the ten inf 'if 'Sloan" 0-iH<i:rn.' till iiHi moniiny tho baker said ' Mv Knox, there's somethinir I've !> r "t on my mind, ['<1 like to mention to you That ero ■:hup," ami he jerked his) thumb d.iwn tho road in tho direction of .Slome Cot•i*.re, 4( hain't been tor hi* liroad this l ist two days. I don't know as ti >w he mly •ti well, or cleared out, or what!" »v:i< tin import int. piece of news. I at mice walked up to .'hi; doctor's mocV;st liltle residence, and met him on the slop. " What's up?" hi l inquired quickly -cfina- I suppose, that, I hud aoraethiuir, special on mv mind. I at once told him, and we decided to •■.'II and reenniioit.re the cottaire before '•■ilUns in the services of the village con--t-i'ilo to deiniind admittance in the Queen's name. It also occurred to mo that a desperate criminal like the one we were going to *e'\ would be lesst likely to fire at us if we weiv unaccompanied by tho representative o* b:W and fhe whould fi"" :tt. th- constable and killed him; well C "Tus would have tho wtisfaut.inn of knowing lie di.-d doing his duty ; but should Mr Smith M- either the doctor or me, wo misfht not have the same consolation ; 80 we went alone. Sloane Cottage stood at th-- far end of M ' strugirliusr little village of DoluNton. It was rather lonely, but wo bravely ' shed open the little wicket Kate, and alked softly ou the turf up t.o the front ion. An our step* sounded on the wooden Snoring of tho tinv porch, we heard a feeMe voice from with'n, " who's there f" The doctor, who wn« in front of me, at once pushed open the partly closed door and said in his hearty voice, " Its only the doctor and Mi Kimx : ive wore afraid you were ill !" " Come in," answered Mr Smith, and

we could detect ;i great, relief m his tone, lie bad evidently fancied his hour had come. We i nleivd, and found him sirtins it, au i ts-sv-fili tir in front of a miserable tire. Ilelo,very ill. The do;'! >r was quite delighled at the pi'usju et of a patient who was neither in his dotage nor his infancy, and at one:: began his profe-sional inquiries It seemed that Mr .Smith had been cutting up firewood two days before, and had let the axe slip and cut his foot badly, lie was quite unable to walk, and had crawled with great pain aud diflie.nUv into the room where we found him, and where he had been ever since the accident. lie was nearly starving, be-ides being very faint from loss of blood. The doctor at once flew off for bandages and physic, desiring me to make up a decent fire, and boil some water. I glanced nervously at tho unfortunate man. when I was thus left, alone with him, aud I' d bound to own that, on present, inspection, his features were more those of a wronged than a wrong-doing man. The doctor speedily returned, and I hunted up a saucepan, and warmed up S!>mo soup whieli h.ul Iwii intended for tho medico's own dinner. When tho patient had been properlbandaged aud fed, the doctor told mo to stay with him, and he would come again in tho afternoon, when he had finished visiting a patient, lie also promised to let. my wife know where I was.

Mr Smith and I talked a little, and then he fell asleep, and I looked about mo, but could discover nothing whatovor to criminate tho man.

In the afternoon I got a message from tho doctor that he could not bo back until G o'clock, and enjoined mo to look well after the patient.

Mr Smith smiled, and said he really was not ill, and begged mo not to grievo myself about him, and then I managed with great taet aud delicacy to suggest he would feel easier if ho were to unburden his mind to me. Ho confessed ho had long wanted to tell mo all, but could not bring himself to do so. "I wish I had stayed and faced it out," ho said. " Tho dread of her coming after mo has boon like a night-mare the weeks I have been hero ! " I pressed him earnestly to tell me all. I nearly promised to helphim still further toevade justice and eecape from England, but that I might bo approhond.Ki as an aider and abettor of a criminal. Then ho told me his sad story.

" I lived," ho said, " in a pretty village a good long way from here. I was courting the handsomest girl in the place. She nas one of twins, but she and hor sister, Bet, they called her—my girl was Pet—were as unlike as it's possible for two women to be—except their voices, and they were so exactly similar that none of their own people could ever tell which was which by hearing them speak. But only to look at them ! My Pet was dark, with glorious black eyes and red lips, a dreadful coquette, with all the men in the place wild about her. Bet was about the same weight, but freckled, and ugly, with a sour face and a crooked nose, and tho worst temper any woman was ever cursed with. You're wondering why such as I stionid ever dare to speak to a ijirl like Per, Price. But 1 loved tier pas.-ionately; there's no accounting for how une falls in love, above or below one's station, as tho ease may bo. But, I atn very well off, and tho Prices are very poor, and Pet loved pretty things and good livinsr, and I knew very well that, it was only because I i-ould jrive her all she asked thai, she ever smiled on me.

Well, one fatal night I made up my rnind I would know tho best or worst. I would not be played with any longer.

S'o I dressed myself in my best suit, put a (lower in my button hole, and act off for the Price's cottage. It was a dark evening, but there was a light in the parlour window, and some one playing. 1 coughed, hoping it was Pet, she might conic out to me, She heard me for she blew out the candle, and in the dark began to sing a pretty love song s'ie was very fond of. I pushed open the gate, and walked quietly through the open door into the parlour.

'• Is that you Pot?'' I said softly, for though it was the song she generally sail", yet; bot.li girls had a taste for music. " Yes, lien," she said. I folt almost intoxicated. She had never called me " Ben" before. I put my arm round her, and led her, groj.ing with .ny hand, to the sofa. It was too dark to see her face ; I could only distinguish her form vaguely in the "loom. And then I begged her to tease me 110 more, but to tell me once for all would she marry me, yes or no. She laid her head on my shoulder, and her soft voice said " Yes." I could hardly believe 111 iny success ; it seemed tar too good to be true. I could not speak; I could only clasp her closer. Presently a little noise broke from her, and I found she was laughing. li.at.her annoyed, I asked her why.

"Oh, it's all so strange aud funny," she said, "To think of our actually being engaged. When shall we be married ?" she asked, abruptly.

Auain I was conscious of feeling annoyed, I could hardlv tell why. But all lovers are unreasonable at such times, audi answered prompt.lv, "To-morrow," " Keally '< why you wouldn't have time for the license ! " Of course, I had not intended to be married even to my beautiful i'et in quite such haste, but I was obliged to prove 'ny word, '• Yes, w« could, I will yo to town by tho G o'clock t rain, anil be back in plenty of time to ho married and done f-.r In fore ]•> o'clock."

Again she l.iuirie.-l, " Y< ry well ! 1 ha to louar m—it*. J/ 1 n-.'-iy half-past eleven |o-m«.>mvv,'' and nn»- come lot us ti'll the fith.'i' ant mother." "One nioio kiss,"' L said, and I not it, anil th "m followed her to tho kitchen, where the old couple were sitting. I'et ee:: Ia at oaco. "' 1' vo got news that will Mirpi'so you, father. Me and 13«n are going to be wed to-morrow!" "What:' said 1 lie old man, sharply, " Why haw is this':'' 1 'et, was standing a little in front of me, so that I eouid not. sec her face. " It's true, Mv price," I said, "With your pr-nni<sion, I'm going to marry your (laughter to-morrow inorn-

"Marry in haste, and repent; at leisure," said Mr l'ri<i', "and what, will you do for clothes, child "Oh! I'll manage somehow," she said, lightly. And without turiiiriL' round, she continued, " (lood nii.'ht. B. u. you'd better .-■'•<! ai't.;r year iliinirs to-niuht, you il have to he iu* t-aily to-morrow.'' " You and Bet 's in a tine hurry."

" Wha; will nil Ihe folks think said tlie father. You and Bet ! I walked forward, and before she could move turned her face to me. Merciful powers ! It. was tho wrony Mister. If was Bet. A sinister smile of triumph lighted up her detestable countenance, and, half-staipi-iied, I reeled back atrain.-f. the wall. With quick presence ni'mind she took my arm and led me out. " It's 110 use saving anything now," .-lie said. " You've promised before father aud mother to marry me.'' Good nij/nt, and don't you fail nie at lu:lf-pasf eleven to-morrow, and with a low chuckle she fastened the gate after me, - " Did you kill her," I whispered, as I remembered all our old suspicions of this man, " Good heavens ! No !" he cried, "were'nt things bad enough? T went home, got a few r'.uds together, and some money I had with me, took the midnight train to London, and then came oil to Ciidle!_Ji-\ That u"a- too near the railway' for safety, so .1 git a Imp and diovc on here, as you know. IVly name isn't .Smith of course. .Now, Mr Knox, what can 1 do?"

"Excuse my asking," I said, "but have you any idea of the young lady's motive in wishing to many you?''

.Mr Sn-iLh Hashed aud answered nhortly, "my money, of course, was the only attraction."

i lie;;-.a o hi ; jwloti, and proposed that

ve Kin.ulil -ihvii'l tie: lew:: that he had ■Mold; ok ! , ' a' 1 !r ji'i'-sc:-' ed in the '..vorl'l ; 1.1.at i. --Ina go to the ho wiuie I'oiii, iind it i'. 1'- girl would then (,-ive u Jl t he sv-uld not, then I must buy her oil a>. u<i low a figure as

possible;. Accordingly the next day I wont over, and found Miss Bet in 110 way disposed to marry an ugly penniless linn. It tool; a long time to cmviucc her lie had lust, his money, liut I put a liailill' into liis cottage, anil then pretended I was selling him up, as lie. owed me all lie had. The ruse succeeded, and the poor suspected criminal was free to live where he chose. He bought Sloane Cottage, and became a much-respected member of our little community. All Mrs Knox said was, "I told you so !'' [tub i:ndJ.