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reappeared； and； crossing to the Sloperton side； rested his shoulder against
the abutment and gave a shove。 The bridge swayed a moment； and then
fell with a splash into the water； leaving a space of one hundred feet
between the two banks。 This done； Burke the Slogger；for it was he；with
a fiendish chuckle seated himself on the divided railway track and awaited
the coming of the train。
A shriek from the woods announced its approach。 For an instant Burke
the Slogger saw the glaring of a red lamp。 The ground trembled。 The train
was going with fearful rapidity。 Another second and it had reached the
bank。 Burke the Slogger uttered a fiendish laugh。 But the next moment the
train leaped across the chasm； striking the rails exactly even； and； dashing
out the life of Burke the Slogger； sped away to Sloperton。
The first object that greeted Edgardo； as he rode up to the station on
the arrival of the train； was the body of Burke the Slogger hanging on the
cow…catcher； the second was the face of his deserted wife looking from the
windows of a second…class carriage。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER V。
A nameless terror seemed to have taken possession of Clarissa； Lady
Selina's maid； as she rushed into the presence of her mistress。
〃O my lady； such news！〃
〃Explain yourself；〃 said her mistress； rising。
〃An accident has happened on the railway； and a man has been killed。〃
〃Whatnot Edgardo！〃 almost screamed Selina。
〃No； Burke the Slogger！〃 your ladyship。
〃My first husband！〃 said Lady Selina； sinking on her knees。 〃Just
Heaven； I thank thee！〃
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER VI。
The morning of the seventeenth dawned brightly over Sloperton。 〃A
fine day for the wedding；〃 said the sexton to Swipes； the butler of
Sloperton Grange。 The aged retainer shook his head sadly。 〃Alas！ there's
no trusting in signs！〃 he continued。 〃Seventy…five years ago； on a day like
this； my young mistress〃 But he was cut short by the appearance of a
stranger。
〃I would see Sir Edgardo；〃 said the new…comer； impatiently。
The bridegroom； who； with the rest of the wedding…train； was about
stepping into the carriage to proceed to the parish church； drew the
stranger aside。
〃It's done！〃 said the stranger； in a hoarse whisper。
〃Ah！ and you buried her？〃
〃With the others！〃
〃Enough。 No more at present。 Meet me after the ceremony； and you
shall have your reward。〃
The stranger shuffled away； and Edgardo returned to his bride。 〃A
trifling matter of business I had forgotten； my dear Selina； let us proceed。〃
And the young man pressed the timid hand of his blushing bride as he
handed her into the carriage。 The cavalcade rode out of the court…yard。 At
the same moment； the deep bell on Guy's Keep tolled ominously。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER VII。
Scarcely had the wedding…train left the Grange； than Alice Sedilia；
youngest daughter of Lady Selina； made her escape from the western
tower； owing to a lack of watchfulness on the part of Clarissa。 The
innocent child； freed from restraint； rambled through the lonely corridors；
and finally； opening a door； found herself in her mother's boudoir。 For
some time she amused herself by examining the various ornaments and
elegant trifles with which it was filled。 Then； in pursuance of a childish
freak； she dressed herself in her mother's laces and ribbons。 In this
occupation she chanced to touch a peg which proved to be a spring that
opened a secret panel in the wall。 Alice uttered a cry of delight as she
noticed what； to her childish fancy； appeared to be the slow…match of a
fire… work。 Taking a lucifer match in her hand she approached the fuse。
She hesitated a moment。 What would her mother and her nurse say？
Suddenly the ringing of the chimes of Sloperton parish church met her
ear。 Alice knew that the sound signified that the marriage party had
entered the church； and that she was secure from interruption。 With a
childish smile upon her lips； Alice Sedilia touched off the slow…match。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER VIII。
At exactly two o'clock on the seventeenth； Rupert Sedilia； who had
just returned from India； was thoughtfully descending the hill toward
Sloperton manor。 〃If I can prove that my aunt Lady Selina was married
before my father died； I can establish my claim to Sloperton Grange；〃 he
uttered； half aloud。 He paused； for a sudden trembling of the earth beneath
his feet； and a terrific explosion； as of a park of artillery； arrested his
progress。 At the same moment he beheld a dense cloud of smoke envelop
the churchyard of Sloperton； and the western tower of the Grange seemed
to be lifted bodily from its foundation。 The air seemed filled with falling
fragments； and two dark objects struck the earth close at his feet。 Rupert
picked them up。 One seemed to be a heavy volume bound in brass。
A cry burst from his lips。
〃The Parish Records。〃 He opened the volume hastily。 It contained the
marriage of Lady Selina to 〃Burke the Slogger。〃
The second object proved to be a piece of parchment。 He tore it open
with trembling fingers。 It was the missing will of Sir James Sedilia！
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER IX。
When the bells again rang on the new parish church of Sloperton it
was for the marriage of Sir Rupert Sedilia and his cousin； the only
remaining members of the family。
Five more ghosts were added to the supernatural population of
Sloperton Grange。 Perhaps this was the reason why Sir Rupert sold the
property shortly afterward； and that for many yea