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fe THE BRIDE UF THE TOMB. 47
assure; YRUCh, and his lying assertion that he had not been at your house
* that night meant more. Iassure you that Harold Colville was —
inyour house that night and with no good purpose. I will yet
Dg ye. ° ” ‘
give you proofs of my assertion.
reho .,.\ You have done well so far,” said Mr. Lawrence, approvingly;
/“T believe you will succeed in ferreting out that mystery, and I
will try and bide the time patiently. And now about the man |
‘who had the key of my vault the night of my daughter’s inter- .
ment. Have you tracked him yet?”
“T have,” answered Mr. Shelton, triumphantly.
yaye “* You have?” cried the banker, eagerly. ‘‘ His name?”
aerroe “You remember the physician who was called in to examine
sbeen: «your daughter’s body the morning she was found dead—the same
man who testified at the inquest? The man is one Doctor Pratt, -
ofr: 2 physician of fair repute in this city and of some skill in his .
peu’ profession.” x
set. ‘‘ A physician, Shelton? My God! Then poor Lily’s body was
hers; Stolen for purposes of dissection!” ~~
arkne “T do not think so. They would not have run so great a risk
iftinx: to gain so little. No, Mr. Lawrence, I still firmly believe that it
om, Was done for the sake of a large ransom.”
me: “Then why do the thieves not return the body, since I have
. pi, long ago offered a ransom for it and no questions asked ?” said
‘. the banker, impatiently.
beg: ‘Perhaps you have not offered as much as they expected,” a
~ answered Shelton. |
ube ** Would you advise me to increase the amount? I would
- willingly double and treble it if necessrry,” said Mr. Lawrence,
nad earnestly.
‘‘Do not do so at present, sir. I hope that we shall succeed in
sepa’ finding the body and punishing the knaves for their unholy sac-
iat rilege. Iam loth to reward their treachery and suffer them to
ims!’ go scot-free,” answered Shelton, earnestly.
ontity: ‘* Well, you know best, Shelton. I will wait yet a little longer,
jean’ then—but, oh, Heavens, this suspense is very dreadful. I feel
;welf myself growing old before my time with the pressure of my
~ troubles,” said Mr. Lawrence, passing his hand wearily throug
of his fast whitening hair.
yo”. ‘* Have patience yet a little longer. Indeed, Mr. Lawrence, I
, vi feel deeply for your distress, and will do all I can to alleviate it,”
said the detective, in a tone of respectful sympathy.
thebs?. **'Thank you, Shelton. I believe that you wiil,” said the
prod: banker, gratefully. ‘‘And-now about this rascally physician.
"You were very clever in finding him out. Howdid you manage
kings it?”
t dof “Tt would weary you if I went into details, Mr. Lawrence. I
_ arrived at my knowledge after much time and labor, But I will
mel! briefly explain that I furnished the old sexton who helped on
from’. this trouble a deputy in his business, and disguising the old fel-
had. Jow thoroughly, I took him about with me night and day until
agit! he recognized his man and pointed him out to me.”
id ne ‘*Tt seems incredible that a man with a good profession and of
x