The Story of a Crime.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 218, 15 September 1888, Page 6

The Story of a Crime.

' BY GEORGE PAYNE.

CHAPTER'IV/' 1 (Continued)., ■ < ' i ,:' Ho lei down the backboard, put his h&rid in and- pullcdoub tho bullalo skin, and.t hdn i' ikoa well-trained footman, stood rectdy t° j ' help the young girl down from the hi^h 1 I ■■~. ■•.' vehicle. .But the dvivei-considered'this his ] I -prerogative, and, quietly pushing the' Chinaman-aftdo, he lilted the trembling, .child-like ■. figure downy and deposited •her'j I . on i.he doorstop. .. ■' : . ,•■:■■■ ■''"' The .Chinaman pa.ssed-by bet1, opened a . l door at tho left of the main entrance, and ; } ushered her into a clean, bright; room. ■ A" iai'g'o table occupied the.conlii'ei-and dhairs were ranged against tho wall!-. Tliero AVfiS a sfcovo nl tho upper end,■and to this the girl took her way ;..bi.it there wtls ■ (no lire, and she ant down and shivered: ; A few moments later the Chinaman; i-ivp- • i pearcd^and lighted tho tire, and ,placed ;a: 5 ; starii tor her feet vvhero the fifst lißiif from ',' the stovo would war hi' them, and tSioii, ;:; wliilst tljo newly - lighted faggots were" i ' roaring tuid tlie Cluniiman was spreading a cloth oh tbo table, tho.heard tho ■waggon' , drive away. . ■ .-,[■-. ! i Sbo jumped up and went hastily ..to the i ': •window. There was the waggon', slowly !'■■,. !. rumbling down thi^ road, the driver slouch-' .' I ing on hip scat, tho other man, his hands 1 deep in his corduroy pockets, walking with bentliead behind;' ■ ■■:..; : %■• - , Thbgirrs'iinpulse wai to run after these; her only friends—andi hey. leaving her to <V .an unknown fate; but sho onty tUM>ed, and,■ in as quiet a yoieo as slie could corn- ' mand, asked— ' . ",-:. \y ■ '. .■ - :>.po you,know where the mules are going , . '.■■ti3-'p,ilt up ?' " ■'. . ; » i j • Alo dun'Tjo,' thdChitiftman" answered, . looking up tor an instant from his ivbtkdf ■ smootliing aiiil straightening tho table- ; ,: cldbli. atnl then'he left the rooi'rij and, as : ' the girl resumed her seat by the stove,' she beard h\i straw shoes shuffling along the '">:■''!""'' ; pfeflagb.■'■■,■ ■'■'■ :Vi ' . ' ' '.;"' J. ■ Then'other, sounds became mantfest-^ > stejis in the ronnis overhead, and voices; ;; and presently the (loot-again opirledi md V ' Johil Chthainrtri entered "with a great pilfe of platM ; anf! whileb he plafted these ai blind the table other footsteps Were heard ...■approaching, and tho door again opened* and a stout, slightly bald man, with kindin •-, beaming upon n clean - shaven face ( I enter^dj rubbing his hands: as if With cold, |: • and went* straight.up to the. girl. ; | She rose from her seat, alui sfcdod ahyly I :■■ .before him. ■ * ' Ec you Miss' Muvphy ?' he asked, and as ho did so lio put out his hand iihrt took I Hers, trembling, within his .oavii wurnl f r palm. t , I 'My name'is Oonah Mufpliy,' the ffii'l I replied. ' I am1 looking for my fathei'i I Josiati, JJvirpliy.' 1 heard lie svcih—he had I" '' fcefin—-here' ■■' • • ' :. " I' ; ' Sit down, sit right down,' said the' new corner. 'I'm Judge Mix. You arti culdi j 110-.v did you geb bore ?''■ ■ v!'- ;:.. .'I camo from Black Gulch in a mulo ■ wagaon. I started with Liz—-tliat's -my '.' ■' ' ■• stsp-inbther—but1 we gob separated. We : : came on from Eakerafield to Abbyville, and from thero to Black Gulch, where; we stayed j -'.. lasly night—l mean night before last—-and , "then wo started together, and wo broke ■-■ . down iii the Woods ; and while the driver ■went hack to gel pomotliing el.«o to tako tiij ; on with, we.waited in tho woodg, and ttteti ," ■ lie ■were/i attacked by someone,'.and I doh'fc I ' know what would have liappdned otily an ;> ' '.' > -Imljan iromßla'cli Gciilch cam^.iip ariU .shot j ■■,'•." the man that attacked us ; ; and then I gob ! f riglil uiiftd, and I v/cnt to lr.ecii tho waggon. !| -" Tho Indian went partway with mo, and ' then when the wnggon came up to tho I ( " . pluco 1 iiad left Uz, shod gone, tltid thei» ; tiie nieh brought me on here.' -• ■ "••- ' The Judge had watched her stciilfastly ■whil-ti she'^pokf. 3ler tips trembled, anrl ■ she plucked ab her poor .cotton gown ; het< ■ eves were downcast, and slie .spoke some- | what incohoicntly. U'liatcvcr his opinions ] or his ;thoughts,, he gave no sign;. His i smooth face, revtiained .smooth and placid, iu.tl his voice had the same cheerful' tdne I ■ i as he asked : ■ • ■■ ■ :' >■j ; < Were you living afcßakersfield long?' ' ,'JN ro, pir. I n.'is at th© Ui^iliae Con* ■ Vent ab San Jose till.about six: vcobtbs ago. , My father left me there. Liz took me away, and said my father had sent for me. Then we moved from Omngcvillo to Babtenj field, and then we went up to Oragan, ' v!-.eio Li/ toolc a boarding - house, and I•■ ■'■ 'there we were when, we started upon this f ■..,■•: . joimioy".' ■■ ~..; , /. / ■„■ .... id i 7\lix had probably as gvoafc a_n i experience with the criminal class of his ! rough world as any man on tho Western ! JS'.oi)i\ and like1 all those whose fate had 'brought them in' contact with the wickedne.=w and tho weakness of human -nature, 1 lie way suspicions of those who' had a :' . motive for wrontrdoing. ",.' ! Ancf here v&k a. young girl, professing to Tjc tlifji'icii-to agroat foiLune. Her looks, iI1 :i her ytuth, her eliitldli'te innocence of ;', maniier, were greatly-in her favour; her j .-trembling lipg fts she ' spoke and her in-1 1 ,i t r.ohoi.^nbPtory were against hor. ITo bad no fi ii- m tnc Miong porson get Ling tho i ii oen ■ bed to him ; bub he dreaded ■ft"/ the disagreeable necessity of diselosing-an ■ impoMmo i\ml dipcovevinff an impostor. fr '■ ,So ho si£.t and looked at the girl as phe ran fcvettheirstosy, and'feifc sorry to", think .she .' ■•■., \yfts;toliing an uncruth...,,; r .i ..:.■■••.■■■■■■• •■■:"'■»•■■•': t' Well,'" ho said when lie harl finiehod' r 1,; ' we'll just have some breakfast now. You'd bolttr go upstairs and wash •i'nl redt ;i fow minute-, and then the '..tviminen folks y;ill be stirring.; and after ,' Ai2seak.fas6 you ca'4show me' any papers, or proof, you m;r/- Lavo to show that you're 'he young lady want.' Ec rose as ho *aid this, as i£ abonfc to leave the roofn.' Tho girl started up. , *If you please,' sir, I" have no papers. I iidn'b know what'l was'coming here"for, aiKl all tho papers J had [ left in tho little ■ bag that Liz—that •is; my father's wife— ■ took with her.? ' ■■■.';.; ■•■■ ■. ■ 'H'ni,' paid tho Judge; 'bub as I said before, we will see to.'thia afber breakfast;' and ygnin ha essayed, to leave the room.', > Dot'i'tgo, fit, shef.aid ; arid as she spb'feo' :; the- words seemed tc-choke her. ' Don't go, j i ' sir, till you tell me something about my c irtbhec. Is lie -i-- ho living or * ?'• '■ ;■ A bright 'i hough b las&d r through ' ih-e < JudgOK iDind. ' Oho !' ilio;;jrhb -he ; ' she f • iu'jii not o-wit knuM tint the win whose j.j't mo f=he claiiua h nob living to' con- \ froai, her. Well, we needn't, undeceive her c ju-,i ,v.i ;' )iim!ti,ibu poor giil stood.there t trewbluig itt ovory limb, dreading bbo r liii ansi WQr to lK:r ':l« esii °n. he said deliije^bely, i m»J lvwr'! Vil- V t0 bt> at'-a l Yciii didn't tl'ink ho \v&s dead, did you V f A lo.\ cry of joy escaptc 'the white lips. < .jl.osjn.iug forward and CfttiL'ht the man's ] }>MvU\ith I^'otii of hcip, and the .liMib of i bSS' t° WOd hlai h«'^ O i n >itd , u&F-'i' Ol'%> wi».yout4ll mo where i . J-', Hate;, Oh, I oannbt bear al « t!.l : v .pincss; and they t0:,.! me he," my , „ loving uLhor w w lic ad.' She starred/ 1 poor vvcary soul, : md Wyulll have "f u u en , but i.a, iho man.-, el>tonf? arm 9 avouDj.-hcr and ehe-.v,,,, earned like a 1 Hlcy.wf ehiid into another room, where he 1 1.-iid licr.ci a sofa,- alvd himself bathed the - ■HW'"l? «-'O and m;n-bl<? f- ?V ehead, without i 1 . ™w:Viti(ig for oblior h'^lp tnaij the Chinaman win) utooii tifar with;abotflpf v.'jiter, .'• i Tho ttov^rQ in iho '^i-ong man's eyos OhQ mea all.tho->.jp&j v withln I ]is

fgaoii. ''Can't; you tlo something:? hs fiaidtft the" Chinaman; who stood a§ still and as indifferent as one of hia own bronzes. ' fiJiin'b you cla something V ? Has she fai«te,d ? Call Mrsi&lixj c{uick'r-.seritlior,thd doctov-t do gometbiugi fcan'fe you?' :And. he raised, up Che lovely head arid pillowfcd ifc on his b\vn arm. , ', Then a hiiddlo-a£ed woman bustled into bbo rooni, iinlsliing tchaafcily-bcgun .toitebj arid running up to the sofa, demanded in it scared tone: 'Who ia it ? AY hat is the matter?',- :'. • " . / ■ : ' • : ' ' ■ '■ ,;« Wttllj it's'poof Jdsh Murphy'B daughter; There aiii'b no doubt about that. ;X guoSs I've ab"iib killed her; that's all, experimentIntr. Why don't somebody do something 1 The girili .did, suro'as filtei Can' 6 ydu bring her roUtid V : The last words \vore Said in a voice suggesting a brcakdo\Vu witesa something could be ddhe to pub an end to hi 3 anxiety. '•■'■ ■•'■'' The \vbiriati .who had just entered; efttriii forward \0%6 hoia, and (jitietlyi and -Hvitli ntvatr of authority, took the Judged place. SliS-laid the lovely hfead down we? than the girH body, itnd Sprinkled it little Water on tlitj ntarbie facie. ■ . ' ;■. ; '>.; ■ .. \ ■. ' come' to novr. iTiijsb got me a iitfclc 'brandy-and-watfcf j Irtish' ihe opens her eyes, and can-swallow, I will give her some.- (*eb something fco cover her, .John; sho 'Ati& cold as ice. TJiere, Slie" is coining to.. Now' the, brandy. Tako this,, <le:ijr child ; thfire, jiw-b, drink a little. That's i;i<fiit; tliei'6 iimv1. Tlie ; pillow, and the dm\vl. Tlierb now, quiet,. dear ; don't spealc. Thoi'c;' And'tiio kind motherly liiinds smoothed .bttqk Ihd jetty hair, and drew up the sllawl around her. The girl's eyog had slowly opened ; theh she started; looked around, and knit liar .brows as if toying t°. i^njptnfcctr where fehe v/asl The soft voice and kind words of the judge's wife wfer<J the th'sb sounds which reached her, and fora moment she thought herself back in the-convent* Then sho drank the st|rnulanti and as her blood began again, to circulate.afjd warm her, she looked aroundi and as her eye's lit up&li the Judge, the real situation bitrsb upon her.. < vJ'- '"< 1 Than it you, sir,' she said, without moving head or hand* ' thank you, sin How kind yon are, and you, inu'am. I'mqilitb well now; might! fceb Up? Might I go 4 You keep quiet now,' the Judge said, coming and leaniiig over her. ' You keep quiet now for hall an hour, and I promise you shall know all—oveiy thing. You ar& with friends.who will see to your every want.' <v . , ' ■ ! 1 And 1 think the child wants food, said the Judge's .wife. 'She has no pulse tq sprfak of. 1)0 £oi and..faring mo sdrne nice coffee aria bread ahd butter; By-ftnd-by I can get her some beef tea.' Tho food Was bTbught, arid the girl satis; lied her kind hostess that her surmise wa3 riglih ; She Me1 favehousiy,'and SUieh sho| had finished, and"-the sun, well up, threw! his light, and .warmth into the.room, she1 seemed it ciianßdd being.; Light atttl happii ncsa had come to her eyes, and colour td her lip and cheek ; and a3 the kind motherly wdmah left her for a little quieti slie tinned on her pillow, and sank into a deep sleep, j Stealing out of theT room on tiptoe, Mrs Mix .acuyht her husband. ', What is the matter ?' siVe"said, as ?he sab down opposite his dismal countenance. ' Why, what on eat Of ails you ?' ■ ■■- ■ ■ ;. ; , .. ; > M don't kndw what fco do, or say, to tliat poor child,'hereplied, \, , v .■.■ /, i iUid then lie recoiinteci "the sencine lie1 bftd ilddpted to try the girl's hdiieaty, aiitl the effect produced upon her. by the joy: of believing her father alive. And when he had tltiished,'it Was ea?y'tOfee that liis wile shared his anxiety. ;- ; f iYoi\ liadtft ouaht to liave doceivefl the poor child for a single instant,' she Raid; ! poor giriV and no rnpltier sithe.r. .Well, < Judge, 1 shouldn't a thought you'd done' aut'h a thing'i'artil I really don't luiow what yon'ro going to dp whep.sho. wakes up. 1 don t iiuleecV And the kind, soul wiped )»way the tears front.her. eyes. ■-.; Tho Judge, turned .aside from his tintasted break fast, arid remained silent for a few■moments. Tljen ho looked stealthily oyerthe table tnsvards,his wife, who also sab etarirjg bef^sre hei", and unconsciously gtirriuß her coffee. = Seeing^ the' tender, sorrowful,look on her face; he,took courage, to: suggest; a way out, of his idifflculty; so far as he was concerned^ And, wifcli Mai)chiavelliun diplomacy, he begati~

i i Site1 ought to etep no*r as long-afe.pd^ sible. Nearw 1; can" make out snd's beeti iipi aftdtruveiling all <iilgli& t and slie can't have had much rest; for some days ; ejie oughfc to sleep now. Just keep the houSe a» quiet as* you can* and when she wakes— wHy» look here, when she 'iv'fltkes I shan't bij here;- I've got fo'gb at {nixie, or half-past at the latest/Will, l d<) declare, I be sorry;? ' Yec,' his spottlfe answereid,' * I kndw you fcei-' You don't know what to do ; yoii're so sorry nob to\b* her© when that poor cbildf vvate» vip exijpdfetinp tdse!e her father, atld you aia'theVe le tell her you've been a deceiving of'her, tfn&that her father* been dead and buried nidre than a month. I knoiv you would like that part of tho business, vValli you needn/fc worry j you'd be: sure tomakea nieas of ifr if yos : ttle\i to do it; so.you better eleae out, and I'll take the chiJil in hand, though J'd. rather do, anythinjr in this world than do it.' 'ill'dp as tiiuoli fdc you,.STeUssy/ he said, ' I am mpgt sorry .1 deceived the child, bu,t I thdught shfehad beetiput upto cotnd here'and cla*m old. Josh Murpby'a ■'. money, andit iViadis me mad.J.osee any thing !so Jotiti'jj'and lovely standing there trying to tell ires.' No>v you. do'your" best; for tj>e gal. If she can prove herself Josh Murphy's daughter, ■iVhy she's tfie ' 'Ee^css of the Pacific Slope ;: if §he caulfc prove..this \ve must do ou.r. Best for hey, aUe's sqrh t eo«e's daughter that1 oalla hiniself Jouh Murphy, ! I'H bie bound, for I'll bdt ndy.life thagnl's; notlyirig.' \.' .... . .'. . _~,.. , : :.; ; ' Ain't she cot no papers to show ?' asked his wife.. . ~, , ' ' • , \ ,', , : ' Ndii tlt§t I know of.. --There's j^. S.tory, ! ahottii a step-niofcher coining over with her, atid stealing her papers;,, but I don't pay much attention, for'l don't believo her, and when Ifoundtehedidn'fckßOtv I thowgHti I'd make believe; that Murp&y was. alive, •aijid see her backdown,. lj.«t-siie: just flew into a statg'of happiness \ l;:was totally un-i! prepared for, and-1 didn't, know what to do. I don't know what I'd, a. done if she hdidh't fainted-.'.'1 -■-■'■' ! ' '■ : :'■<■ '■■?■■■ :'■':■":*■ /■^.■■■■■*i:ii: ' Well,-.,1'11,.d0t, my best. But what on[ oart|>'s-that. npigft.=o,utside t'. ,&ud'. Mis Mix jumped upV; foilowed by the Juftgc, naSlaedi fid the window, and from that to the front door. : ■ - , , ,;', : , • • - ■ ' ~;. .„■• ■■ t^ffa,,t they saw was an aesemUlage ol tbe^ eatire youth of .Centerville, with theadrnix--ture..of an qcgasjpn^ltadult, amongst whom woro our friend 0, tiio two mule-drivers, who^ad appeared ori the scene. This as-soi-nbl,ago accompanied a party of new ik'nisiis who had; entered the village on' foot' at the upper end of the street, and were; ijpw sj,owijr,appit:oaehing,the Judge's, h&use.;; The Judge, stepped outintd the road to ■fje't.Of better;, ytow, and then he'bc-th'eM a curious proc,essioo. ; An Indian, with dishevelled head^knbt, »nd tocit: and Worn' mqcassiris, dilapidated; (lre,cs, end sloiiehing K^.j;, with,, his- eyes looking:! steadily, and' Blajjkily, v before him, qairryhig' in. his* l'ifhfc hand, .^hicli h,uhg. ab, his side,■'.- a, musket' aiid.a small black bag, and .with tholefb hanajdrafrging, rather than^ leading;' pui-l old_ acquaintance called herself^iMrgi Jp^iah.Mujphy,,and .whom ;w& last Baw' 'ivo the.Wood a£ter ; ■fchei-riefarloua attempt Upon thejib'er.ty ■pt ; 'the'y.punfs girK: ,<■: ■> :■■■•'-' ; Here they came;:the;;lndian, dogfjecljy trbt£;njr, aiid; tbie woman: ; half walkihrjs hilf:" staggerinp; r ;• by his gide j^a fringe, of younjjsterff and A'illagera on oithei; hfuid, aiid! the bright sun lighting up tho picture. •■: A i ew,:.:so'conds].-:'and 1; the; Indiaiv; had teached the Judge.,'^e1 Ippkeddp: as if ::afc an obatruotion in his way, and eceing wlSd it was, ho grunted oubiil fata. gaWvm »:

•Geefd. We lopkgg for yfixi. Ms katohse woman. ' Hue !' . ■'■■ ! Aa he spokd he dragged .the woman, forwardv as i£ to place her in the hands of the Judge; but thab functionary -declined to rooeive the new visitor bn such familiar teraun and detnandod-4- : ' •...* What do ye mean'?'■ ; _ ' Ale bound to see woman and >girl sole here.. Girl' canie .'-\Vifclv :*-^—' "■ arid he pointed ta thedriven 'Woman nm-.atfay, steal bag. Me befceheej and bring Ba^ here;' ■''.'. "■ ".'.'- .The Judge whs beginning to underaband the sicuation, when ouo of. the drivers cX plained bhab-thia -woman had accompanied tho young girl they had .brought in that mornW to; Ciintcrviilc, and that she had deserted her in tho wood, taking with her the child's Htfclo bag, which contained, lie believed, valuable papers ; t,liat an Irishman at Blacic Gulch,, who^ seemed to be suspicious §f the woman's intention** had hired Bill to seb that the parfy arrived safe* at Judpo Mix's in Geiiterville, and that Indian Bill had pffttty.^cll filled^his. ; .por4-. iiii^ibn. , ; , v:-'-' T' ■• .ii?-.'.:??' ■■■:_ !■•■ As the party stopped, and this,explatidtion"Wad' gdirig'On, the' Womdiii1 overcome" with fatigue and fright, sank down on the dusty ;road, nearly insensible. She Was ttbvr half lifted up and half carried by one of the drivers:inb6 the house, followed by- the Indian; the other driver; and the mvuei's of. bhe.hbiise. ... ;

hi the Jiidgci entered the breakfast robm,. fcillbiVlng tho party, he laid the little bag oil the table. The driver took ifc \ip immediately. ' . ;, 'This 'erß Mg,' said h&, addrofSiugf, tlife iiud'ee, .'contaiiied leitefa ii'om Miss MuYpliyY aS wt3' bfo>iglit over this nidrhih' from the Ctulcli ; an' I, guess vow'."kn'6w» ifedg^, bettoV'ri Wo that the'so ei'e letters ttrei df great Vdlod to bhb lady. . Now. 'fore Bill and" me gives up the jbb; We'd'lilce t<s sde theso'ere letters, so wo bould fiweaf to if heed be. l)on't. yipu tllirik tlihb's squar', Jedge?1 Mrs MiX) \vho§e heart wfcd largd ehbiigh td take in the sorrows of tlie1 World,, saints arid arid all, had been ministering td the* poor; exhausted woman, whom ethe had brdUglit heat th 6 stoVe, and who, ilhder ita iufiueiicßj' alid aided by A goodly dbse of Spirits, hid in a manner recovered her consclbiisness. "PfbW, when thedHVer.begati to Speak Of th 6 bag and lt^ contents, the jiidge's 'wife could hot But notice the, look of vindictive pleasure which fdr* & ipinvite shttt from the small eye 361 tsr pktidfit; . "'.«■' • She's a Bad hit, said 6ne of wie; drivers to the Judge, pointing to the bundle of rags which concealed nil OUttiniOf folm or figuro., 1 She's a bad one; you'd bettef keep an eye on her. Whir's tJio young lady V he con-, tinned* looking around, . > '■.< / " '' j This question rGca]led ; the judge to tin-! cpmfprfcfibie recoUecbiona, and he cautiously1 closed tlie door between the room and the passage as h0 replied» putting up his fibgor ito impose silence-— . •■.', . v .'. HuM.i ! don't you any of you make a noise; she's asieop.'; . ■ "■ (ToUGontinmd.)