CHAPTER XXIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 125, 24 October 1885, Page 3

CHAPTER XXIII.

"MT LOV* t MY WIFK I" Whbk the word " Trapped !" fell on Candice's listening ear, her composure deserted her and she sank on the landing, completely unnerved, but entirely oonsoious of all that was going on below. At first ' there was noise and confusion, and then two pistol shots rang out on the quiet midnight < air. " What in God's name is the matter !" Uncle Sam, in his long white night-shirt, looked like the ghost of Hamlet's father; but the ludicrous aspect he presented was unnoticed, and the astonished old gentleman was too much amazed to give a thought to his appearance as he hastily descended the stairs. He had been awakened by the strange noises and the report of the fire-arms. Tbe library door was open, and the first glance told him what had happened. Several policemen were struggling with what seemed t> be a raging maniac, while one man lay handcuffed on the floor. In a few minutes that appeared 'ike ages the second ruffian was conquered; the handcuffs closed on his wrists with a sharp click, and the midnight robbers were prisoners. " We arrived just in the nick of time, j sir," a burly policeman said, espying Uncle Sam in the doorway. "Pretty Jim is a slippery 'un, but he's fast enough now ! The servants were hurrying hither and thither, and the house was in a perfect whirl of excitement. One of the robbers was wounded, and it was thought dangerously ; so, while his companion in crime was being marched off to the police station, a physician was summoned. Katie was found on the upper landing, weeping over her young mistress, who had fainted, and declaring that she was " kilt intirely." She grew nearly wild with joy when Candice regained consciousness. I After the excitement had somewhat subsided and Uncle Sam had changed his night robe for more suitable attire, he returned to the room in which the dying man lay. The wretch was fast approaching dissolution, ! and in his delirium he cried out, passionately : "My darling !my wife ! Oh ! Leta, come to me !" " Surely this man was made for better things," Uncle Sam thought, as he gazed' at the bandsome face and manly form of the robber, bnt little did he dream it was for | his own niece, Leta Maynard, the scoundrel was calling so wildly ! i When the physician arrived and ex-j amined the man, he said he was beyond i reach of medical aid, and that it would be inhuman to remove him to the police station. Candice, pitying him in her innocent heart, strove to allay his suffering. " Are you Let» ?" he asked her, in a faint voice, as she bent over him. "Oh ! yes i I know you are Leta, only your hair is dark, while my darling's is like spun gold !" No need for handcuffs now ! He would never commit another crime ! ** Pretty Jim" the policemen called him. He had been a "shady" character for years, a leader in shrewd confidence games and the principal in many daring robberies. Mark, opening his paper the following morning, saw an account of the attempted burglary, and at once hastened to his uncle's residence. He followed Mrs Lee into the room, where the wounded robber lay : at the first glance he started back amazed. Could that noble-looking man be a common housebreaker? "What strange freaks nature sometimes indulges in 1" he thought. *' There is a rascal of the first water with the face of a prince i" So lost in reverie was Mark that when Mrs Lee spoke to him softly and hastened from the room, he scarcely heeded her departure. What was the dying man muttering? Mark bent his head and listened with eager attention, for he was certain his lips had murmured the name of Leta ! " Am I dying ?" tbe man asked, abruptly. " I fear you are, my poor fellow," Mark answered. Raising himself from the bed, the robber looked eagerly into Mark's face. "You are an honest man," he said gloomily. " Once I was so, too ! Do you believe me?" " I do," Mark answered earnestly, and his tone carried conviction with it. *» Then, for what I have been, will you do me favour V *• I will," Mark said, solemnly. As if a reaction had come, the man sank wearily on his pillow. Was he going to die without another word ? No j hie eyes suddenly opened again ; they were full of tears. "Shall I send for a minister?" Mark asked. j " No ! no !" the man replied, vehemently. ' He raised one hand to his brow and pushed back the heavy masses of dark hair as if their weight oppressed him ; as he did co, Mark noticed, with a start, a magnificent diamond ring sparkling on the robber's finger. "An heirloom," he said, noting Mark's lingering gaze. " Will you remove it for me, and when I am dead take it, with the papers you will find in my inside coat pocket, to the person to whom they are addressed ?" "X will do as you wish," Mark answered. If Candlce'g husband was to find out if the man before him was indeed Leon Tatro, he must do it at once. "Will you tell me who Leta is?" he I asked, placing his moutb close to the dying man's ear. j As if that name had power to call him back to life from death, his eyes opened, and " Leta, my love ! my wife I" issued from his lips. Ihe words floated out with his last breath, and he was gone. Mark took the ring from his finger and tbe packet of papers from his pocket as he had promised. He looked with curiosity at the packet ; it was addressed to ° The Countess Lucerne," and inside the larger envelope, which was unsealed, was a sealed package. Mechanically Mark drew this out ; when he glanced at the address upon it he uttered an exclamation of joy, for the name " Leta Maynard Tatro " stood out before his eyes ! Again he looked. Ah J yes ! the street and number of the house were there too— a little, unfashionable street, far away from the crowded thoroughfares. Even though his sister was this outlaw's wife, Mark wasconscious of a feeling of thankfulness that she was wedded ; but still the matter must be kept a secret ; Leta's name must not be coupled with that of a doubledyed ruffian. Buttoning his coat carefully over the precious package, Mark noiselessly quitted the room. Mrs Lee was in the act of entering, but he motioned her back. " Is he dead?" she asked. " Yes,!' Mark answered, at he signed to the policeman who was keeping guard outside the door, to enter, >