its contents. Of course Shanks always obeyed
orders, and never neglected anything his uncle told him to do, even if
it was to forget something that had happened. In this way he was
extremely useful. It was getting late, and the jailer had told him two
or three times that he must go, but he did not take his departure until
Maroney had sealed the letter and handed it to him.

Maroney was in a terrible condition, and White found that it would be
impossible to get anything out of him that night, as the whole affair
was too fresh in his mind; so he got some brandy he had in his cell, and
asked him to take a drink. Maroney eagerly swallowed a brimming
glassfull, and took four or five drinks in rapid succession. He seemed
to suffer terrible anguish, and his whole frame trembled like a leaf. In
a few minutes he retired to his cell, evidently determined to seek
oblivion in sleep.

We will now follow Shanks to his hotel, where he is engaged in opening
Maroney's letter. Although the letter was very securely sealed, he
accomplished the task without much difficulty, and read as follows:

"MADAM: I have received a strange letter. What does it mean? Are you
playing false to me? Who is this man you have with you? where does
he come from? Are you such a fool as not to know he is a tool of the
Adams, and that you are acting with him? I cannot be with you. If I
had my liberty I would hurry to your side, snatch you from this
villain, and plunge my knife so deep into him that he would never
know he had received a blow!!! Why are you so foolish? Do you love
me? You have often said you did. You know I have done all in my
power to make you happy, and have placed entire confidence in you.
Why have you never told me about this man? Listen to me, and love me
as before, and all will go well. Tell me all, 'and tell me it is not
so bad as it is told to me!' Spurn this scoundrel, and have
confidence in me forever!!!"
NAT.

Shanks hurriedly copied this letter, and mailed it after making another
copy, which he forwarded to me at the same time. In the morning he gave
White a copy of the letter, which revealed to him the cause of Maroney's
anguish.

Maroney came to White in the morning, and found him moody, and not
inclined to talk. Still he clung to him as his only hope. It was a
strange fascination which White had acquired over Mar