MURDERED.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3058, 20 February 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

MURDERED.

" I DO think, Jerome, you might let |me have a little more money !" said Victoria Hale. She sat at the breakfast table, and very pretty she looked, a pout upon her cherry lips. -She wore a pretty morning dress of fluted white lawn, with a breakfast cap of Swiss muslin and pink ribbons, very becoming to her clear olive skin, and large, velvety black eyes. Her husband was quite as distinguished in appearance. Jerome Hale was , the bookkeeper and cashier in a large firm, and had been married about three months. He was beginning already to discover that his divinity was not all divine.

" More money!" he repeated. "You are unreasonable. Do I not keep you supplied with all that I have to spare 1"

" But it's so very mortifying to go shopping with Mrs Hyde-Secor and Mrs Bonnington and have to stand by while they are purchasing the sweetest things at such bargains." " Don't go shopping with them."

"You would shut me up, then, from all amusement and society 1"

" Nonsense, Vic. You know better than that. Here are your pretty house, your garden, and your little conservatory to amuse you."

" One cannot be contented with the same thing forever."

"If you wanted a perpetual change you should have married a millionaire."

" Don't be cross, Jerome," said Victoria, coaxingly. " But you know all the neighbours along the river shore are rich, and I don't want to be left behind. I shall be mortified to death if I can't have a croquet breakfast in August."

" I have no especial objection to that," said her husband. " I suppose it need not necessarily be expensive." " And I need a lace parasol terribly. And oh, Jerome, Mrs Lacy says 1 may use her cream-coloured ponies while she is at Manly Bnach. Isn't it kind of her ?"

" I dare say it's very kind," said Jerome, ruefully ; " but you know what a pair of ponies cost in the keeping." " And the summer silk that is such a bargain at T s." "Yes, yes, yes; only remember. Vic, that there is a limit to our funds." " I will not forget that." Mrs Hale, satisfied with her husband's reluctant consent, gave the croquet party, whirled down to the park with the borrowed ponies; bought the lavender summer silk and a love of a lace shawl to go with it ; accepted an invitation to visit the Blue Mountains with a party of young folks, and cried all night because her husband gave out a hint about extravagance.

" Vic, you don't understand," said Jerome "We must study economy or we shall go to ruin."

"Economy!" retorted Victoria; " I am sick of the very word." Hor husband turned silently away. It was hard thus to be repulsed when he had most need of sympathy. " They tell me," said old Mr Hardie, " that Hale's wife dresses the most elegantly of any one this season." " What ! Hale who keeps Denny's books—young Hale V « Yes." " The deice ! How can he afford it?"

"Ah ! that's a different matter. If I were Denny, I should keep an eye to things."

" They've had some serious lessons already," said the other. " The burglary last week cost them £1400.

" Any trace of the burglar ?" " No. The safe must have been opened by skeleton keys." Humph!" grunted old Hardie. "If the cashier was any one but Hale, that Denny trusts as he would trust himself—"

" Oh, nonsense, nonsense !" cried the other old gentleman. " There's such a thing as being too suspicious 1 You'll be saying next that Hale is at the head of a gang of burglars."

" He may be, for all that I know," replied Mr Hardie. Meanwhile, Reginald Denny began to be strangely mistrustful ; not of Jerome Hale, but others about him. " Hale," said he, " sometimes I think those contemptible burglars are nearer home than any one imagines. "Do you, sir ?" A. ghastly look came over the young man's features. "I think it quite impossible." "At all events, it is worth looking into," said Denny. " The circle of suspicion seems to be narrowing down. Do you mind sitting up for a night or two t" " Not at all, air, if you desire

" I'm sorry to ask it of you, as you don't seem well this last week or two—"

"Pray don't mention it. I am well enough," said Eale, almost impatiently. It was the first night of his vigil —a dark, tempestuous night, with rain falling outside. Koginald Denny had gone home, but some unanalysed notion induced him to return quietly and by stealth towards 1 o'clock in the morning. Letting himself in by his own private key, with a word of reassurance to the alarmed watchman who paced the outer halls, he noiselessly entered the banking rooms. The safe where tho money and 1 valuable papers were kept was

wide open. Kneoling before it, with both hands full of bills, hurriedly transferring them to an open leather case on his right hand, and putting others back, was Jerome Hale himself,

In an instant, Eeginald Denny's iron grasp was on his arm.

"So I've got at the root of the matter at last," said he, in a deep, stern voice. " So, you are the burglar, Jerome Hale!"

White with rage and dismay, Hale sprang to his feet and confronted the man whom he had so long been systematically robbing.

"You have discovered me," he cried in stifled accents, " but you shall never convict me!"

There was a vivid flash, the report of a pistol, and the next instant Jerome Hale lay dead before the eyes of the horrified banker."

"It was not his own fault so much as it was his wife's," people said, when the ugly facts connected with Jerome Hale's suicide leaked out. He was weak, but not naturally wicked, and she persecuted him mercilessly for moneyi Poor girl! her dress and fashion and luxuries were dearly bought."

And Victoria Hale, sitting pale and agonised in her deep widow's weeds, knew as well as if supernatural hands had written it in fiery letters on the wall, that she had murdered her husband!