MARION'S UNCLE.

A Case for the Detectives.

By SYLVANUS COBB, Jun

CHAPTER 111,

DR, VANWERT,

It was even as Walter had said. The two clerks tried all the tests at hand, but could find no signs of life, saving only this: There was warmth in the region of the heart. Renwick said :

' I think we'd better have the doctor here as quickly as possible • you make haste after old Vanwert, and I will re main here on guard. I won't tell even the janitor until you come back. You are younger and quicker than I am, and can walk faster. If you don't find-' c , •I'll find somebody, never fear, cried Walter, as he made ready to de part. 'I'll have Vanwert here as quickly as possible. If he's not at home I'll find another.' And with this he was off.

As soon as the youth had gone Jasper Renwick moved quickly and emphati cally, like one who had a given work to do, and but a brief time in which to accomplish it. First he^ went and locked the door communicating with the hall. Then he went to the banker's desk and looked at the bottle and phial, and the two glasses thereon standing. Hl9 next movement was significant. Turning to; the gas jet, he took from his pocket a small phial bearing a druggist's label whereon was printed, in black letters, the word < Poison!' It was very nearly empty. The few drops it contained, smelling strongly of bitter almonds, he poured out upon the dead man's cravat, and then laid the phial upon the carpet, just under the front edge of the sofa. Before making his next move ment he stepped softly to the outer office and listened to see if anyone was approaching. He found the coast clear. He then went to the sofa once more, and from a pocket of the banker's pants he took the keys of his private receptacles. Then to the desk, one of the doors of the upper part of ■which he unlocked and opened, and from the space within he took Mr Wilmot's private cheque-book. Then he lighted the gas above the desk, and after that drew up a chair and sat down. He then drew from one of his own pockets his pocket-book, and took from it a slip of paper on which several minutes had been made. Next, he opened the cheque-book; then took the tin paper-cutter and neatly tore off four, of the cheques, having first, how ever, written upon their respective ' stubs' the minutes as copied from the. slip in his hand. He made sure th_ajb, his work had been"p"roperly done ; then he foldeduptheab&tracted checquesand put them into his own pocket-book ; and then restored the hocused cheque-book to its proper place, after which he re locked the door and carried the keys and put them back into the pocket, whence he had taken them.

But his work was not yet done. One thing remained. Having made sure that he had left the banker's clothing aa he had found it, he turned back to the desk, where he took from a pocket on the inside of his vest a sealed and superscribed letter. He held it to the light while he glanced at the super scription ; for it would not answer to make a mistake at this point, and he did sometimes place other letters in that same pocket. There was no mis take. It was the letter he had thought it, and as quickly as possible after this he held it down on the desk, placing it well back, and laying upon it a heavy glass paper weight. ' There!' said the confidential clerk, as he arose from the banker's chair and stood back a pace, from the desk. 'If they can find my finger in any of that they must be sharper than I believe them to be. The coast is clear. What else remains to be done I can attend to it as it presents itself. At all events, there is nothing more here.' He stood not more than three seconds longer in that place; then he turned off the gas from the Argrand burner and left the room, closing the door be hind him.

Ten minutes later a footfall was heard upon the outer stairs, and Ren wick at once unlocked the hall door. Presently Walter Vernon ap peared followed closely by the old physician, Ulric Vanwert. • jbr, Vanwert was a noble man,and no one in the city was more extensively •known. Into the highest circles he was called in his professional pursuit, and his face was familiar in the lowest slums of vice and destitution. Where suffering humanity called him he never hesitated to go. Those who could pay were forced to pay him well; those who could not pay were never asked to do so. In fact, he made the rich pay for the poor. He was sixty years of age ; tall and strong ; with a frame compact and massive; his hair, thickly covering one of the largest heads in the country, was perfectly white; his eyes, overhuug by heavy, projecting brows, were of a pearly grey in colour, and as clear and bright as two globes of living light. His face could nardly be called handsome. The features were too angular and rugged for that; but it was an honest face, with heart and soul in every lineament. And it was an intellectual face. In fact, a more profound and versatile scholar was not to be found anywhere,

Ulric Vanwert was a physician, and he was a practical chemist, and he owned to having made a study of alchemy. He had never attempted the transmutation of baser metals into gold, but he had sought the elixir of life. That is, he had laboured long j&Dd earnestly to prepare an agent the

virtues of which should put back the king of terrors, and give to age the enjoyments of youth. If he had not found his wonderful elixir, he had at least found curative medicines that had produced marvellous results in the way of arresting disease, and for this there were hundreds, if not thousands, who had lived to bless him. 1 Has he moved 1 Has he breathed V asked Vernon, breathlessly, as he came in

' Has who moved V returned Ren wick, with elevated brows. 'If you mean—him,' pointing towards the inuer office, 'I have not been in tHprc The old surgeon—wehave notspoken of Vanwert as a surgeon, but, be it known, he was one of the best living. He had performed operations success fully in-the way of removing abnormal tissues from the human frame that had been pronounced impossible by eminent practitioners, and it was said, we be lieve with truth, that he never lost a case which he had promised to save. Yes, the human system was to him a simple alphabet, every letter and line of which was as familiar as were his A, B, C's. , The old surgeon gave one keen glance towards the confidential clerk ; then took the younger man by the arm and turned him the way he would

: 'Lead on, boy. I will very quickly tell you the situation.' Walter hastened on into the private office, where he first turned up the dimly-burning gas till it gave a flood of light. Vanwert saw the form on the sofa, and was very soon on his knees by its side. He felt the pulse, or the place where the pulse should be, at the wrist; then he laid hia ear over the heart; and then placed his finger on the rigid lips. His last manipulation was to lay, his open palm on the pale, full brow. • Doctor—is he—is he—' IHe is gone!'■ the physician said, as the startled youth hesitated and held his breath. f Dead 1 Is he dead V It was Jasper Renwick who thus spoke. He had followed them into the room, and now stood close by the foot of the sofa. 'Yes, Mr Renwick,' the old man answered, looking the confidential clerk straight in the face. \l think when a man's whole vital machinery has come to a dead stop we can call him dead in earnest. And now,' he added, looking from the elder to the younger clerk, ' here is something to be considered. Let us first, however, decide how this thing has come to pass. 'Ha ! What have we here ?' Thus exclaiming, Vanwert stopped and picked up from the floor a phial. ' Poison!' he read from the label. ' Prussic acid !' he said, as he put the phial to his nose. Walter Vernon caught the old physician by the arm and gazed into his face with a Beared look. '0, Doctor! do you think he did this purposely ? It caunot be J it can not be ! Why should he have done it !■ I will not believe it!—l cannot!'

The doctor looked for a little time at the phial J then he turned his gaze once more upon the still, white face. A little while so, and then he turned to the confidential clerk.

'Mr Renwick can you imagine any reason why Matthew Wilmot should have prepared the oblivion of death to the joys of living V 'Doctor Vanwert,' said the clerk, with the look of a saintly martyr, ' I should prefer not to speak my mind quite yet. An examination into the affairs of the bank may give us all we wish to know. At v proper time Mr Vernon will give me his assistance, and together we will go through the books. Of course, we must have Mr Wilmot's private papers.' Vernon's face flushed hotly, and he would certainly have made a better rejoinder had not the old physician laid a finger on his lips. 'Before the coroner is called in,' said Vanwert, after a little thought, 'I will in your presence take from Wilmot's person suoh property aa may be found upon it, and seal it up. We may find a letter.' In this work Renwick refused flatly to lend a helping hand ; but not so Vernon. With the assistance of the latter the old man took from the banker's pockets the letters and papers and the monoy therein found, together with the large pocket-book, and a small wallet. These things were carried to the desk, and there, when the gas had been lighted above, they found, be neath a glass paper-weight, a letter, carefully sealed, directed to Mauion Wilmot.

And that was all. They searched through the room, searched the pockets of the clothing that hung in the closet, but found nothing more. When all had been done that they could do Vanwert gave the letter which had been found on the desk into Walter's hand.

' That is Mr Wilmot's hand, ia it not V he said.

Walter said it was,

'Then into your care I give it, Vernon; and I will leave it for you to break the news to the bereaved orphan."

But the loving, tender-hearted sym pathetic youth shrank from the ordeal. He was eager to do his part, but he wanted help. • Doctor, I wish you would go with me. You have been almost a second father to the dear girl. She loves you, and trusts you; and you can break it to her better than I can. Or, at any rate, your presence would greatly assist me.' 'All right,' said the physician, cheerily. ♦ I will go with you. But we must wait awhile. Where is your janitor V

'I think that is his step on the stairs,' said Renwick, who stood near est to the door, and could hear most distinctly, /

They went into the outer office, and presently the man in question came in.

Sandy McDqugal bis name, was Alexander he had probably been christened, but he could not remem ber that he had ever been so-called. lie was a Scotchman, slightly past middle-age; a genial, honest man ; kind, and sympathetic to a fault; who had well-nigh worshipped Matthew Wilmot, having been in his service from the first day of the establishment of the bank. Previous to that he had been employed as man-of-all-work at the theatre "where Wilmot had beeu engaged. Of courso they had to tell him what had happened. For a little time it seemed as though he would never be fit for work again. The knowledge that his beloved master had died in such a manner—so suddenly—with no one near to give him comfort, seemed more than he could bear; but when he was made to understand that his help was needed—that he was one of the very few who could be of use in this supreme moment—he put back his weakness, and nerved himself to the work, He was ready and willing to do whatever might be required of him. 'You know Mr Andrews, the coroner V said Vanwert. ' Yes, sir, I know him well.' •Go to him—go as quickly as you can—and tell him I want him here. Tell him that Mr Wilmot is dead—that he died in this office, this evening, of heart complaint. You will remember that V

' Yes, air.' Sandy hastened away, and when he had gone the physician turned to the two clerks. •I trust,' he said, 'that you will join with me in the declaration that Mr Wilmot died of hypertrophy of the heart. Mr Ren wick, you have no ob jection to that 1" •Certainly not, sir, if you assume the responsibility.' •I do assume it. He had one of the largest hearts I ever knew. Let not a whisper come to Marion's ears.' To this Vernon responded quickly and heartily. He would shield the dear girl from trouble if he could. But iienwick gave no sign. He walked away by himself, and both his companions saw mischief in his look. Sandy did his business expeditiously. Within half an hour from the time of his leaving the bank the coroner was on hand with a sufficient jury in atten dance; and it was found that Mat thew Wilmot had come to his death from natural causes. Vanwert had been particularly earnest in leading them to view it as a cause of heart complaint. The old doctor himself superintended the removal of the body. Only he and Sandy McDougal handled it. They were both of them strong men, aud they did the work easily. They bore their ghostly burden down to the street, there put it into a large, covered carryall; and so took it home, Walter Vernon going with them. There is no need that we should attempt to picture the suffering of the bereaved daughter when the terrible news had been brought to her. Into her presence Walter Vernon and Dr. Vanwert had gone in company, and the elder man had told the story.

For a little time Marion Wilraot seemed utterly dazed—unable to com prehend the awful truth ; but it came at length, and on the bosom of her dear lover she sobbed and wept until she could sob and weep no more. The good old doctor proved himself a wonderful consoler. His influence over the sorrowing maiden seemed magical. When the first wild burst of her grief had spent itself on her lover's bosom in heart-sent sobs and blinding tears, he had taken her bytXhe hand and appealed to the strength and nobility of her character which he knew were in her; and, as a result, she was ere long able to give her aid as it might be required. She had not yet looked upon the face of the dead.

It was almost ten o'clock on that eventful evening when Vanwert said to her:

'Now, Marion, you may come in and look upon the dear face. Listen to me, my blessed child, and believe that I am striving for your best good. You will not see it again. The casket will be opened to no human gaze after you have with your own hand shut the lid. You will nut ask me to explain. You will trust me, lam sure.'

'Doctor,' she said, looking up earnestly into his face—earnestly and trustingly—(there is a reason to you, good and sufficient, why I should not see the beloved form again.' ' There is, truly. I will explain if you insist upon it.' ' No. I will believe you.'

And then they went in together to the main drawing-room, where the body of the banker had been already laid in a rich casket. The coroner— Mr Andrews —waa also an undertaker, and he had made no delay in the arrangements thus far made. With his assistants to aid him, he had properly clad the remains in a full dress suit of solemn black, and laid them in the casket. But for the cold whiteness of the face, it would have been taken for the face of a sleeping man. The features were in a calm, sweet repose, the whole appearance giving the idea of utter restfulness; but the doctor knew, from the nature of the drug which had been taken, that a great change would speedily ensue.

Marion kissed the marble brow; then laid her hand thereon and mur mured a heart-sent prayer; then she stood for a little time and gazed upon the beloved face, with Walter by her side; and then, at a sign from the doctor, she closed the lid and turned away.

,' Who will watch here through the night?' Bhe asked, before leaving the room,

Dr. Vanwert answered that he bad provided for that Said he : 1T shall remain here myself until after midnight. When lam relieved, it will be Sandy who takes my place.' 'I am glad of that, I cau trust Sandy. .When shall you send for Uncle Stephen ?" ' He has been sent for. I telographed him the very first thing I did after I knew that his presence was needed. ' Then he will be here—when V 1 1 hope to-morrow morning. There is a night train from Berryville ; and if he was at home when my telegram arrived, he will take that, I am sure.' As the girl turned away, young Vernon, who was going with her, found opportunity to whisper to the doctor and ask him :

'You have not given her that letter yet from her father V 1 You mean the letter we found on the desk V ' Yes.'

' No; but I will bring it in presently. As soon as Sandy comes I will be with you. ' Do you hesitate to give it to her V 'No, not exactly that; but I will tell you when I come in. Say nothing about it, please.' Walter promised as required, and then followed Marion from the roum. (To be Continued To-morrow.)

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR. MONDAY;; AUGUST .83, .1887,

6



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