V.
The result of this timely visit, and the accidental discovery of all the guilty
parties together, may easily be conceived. The Police Chief had been examining
the premises during the day and obtaining such intelligence as to
induce him to believe that he would be justifiable in arresting any one he
might find in the house in the evening. He had set his spies, and Clow and
Ellery had been seen to alight from a cab and enter together; for the mulatto
had taken his intended brother-in-law there the second time by the
same round-about way he had at first done. The fact that Ellery was in
the same house where James had been decoyed, was at once communicated
to our hero and Mr. Weldon, and in a short time all the parties we have
named approached the house; for the fact of Ellery's presence there was
clear proof that he was leagued with the female and the man whom James
had knocked down; all three of whom were believed to be the parties who
had committed the forgeries. Hence the boldness with which the Chief of
the Police entered; and the force with which he was seconded. The sight
of Jack Brigs (who was well known to him) showed him that he was likely
to have more game than he had calculated upon. The arrests were not effected
without a struggle. Jack and his boy fought hard, but were overpowered
and ironed. Clow made an effort to escape by the window, but
was arrested by James Daily and firmly held till he could be secured.
Carlton Ellery struck to the right and left, knocked down one of the officers,
and succeeded in reaching the passage communicating with the Inn. He
was followed by the Chief of the Police, but being familiar with the place
he succeeded in getting away; only, however, to be arrested the next day.
Isabel disappeared in the very outset of the contest and was not discovered.
The confessions of Brigs and the boy criminated Ellery in the forgeries,
and clearly established the innocence of our hero. Ellery, rather than come
to a trial, strangled himself in his cell. Clow was convicted of divers offences
and sentenced to imprisonment for life; but attempting to escape on his
way to prison he was shot through the head. Brigs and his boy, in consideration
of becoming evidence for the State, received for their misdemeanors
only seven years for the father, and two years for the son. Of Isabel Clow
nothing more is known with certainty; though it is believed she was the
same individual who a short time since made such a sensation in Paris as an
opera singer under the soubriquet of `La Belle Quadroon.'
Having thus disposed of the less worthy characters of our story, we now
devote a closing sentence to those in whose fate we are more nobly interested.
James's innocence being thus clearly established he became junior partner
with Mr. Weldon, and a few weeks afterwards was married to Grace.
Frederica gently declined the invitation to act as her bridesmaid, and ere
the honeymoon of the happy pair was past, the winding-sheet of the dead
was folded over the broken heart of the lovely bonnet-girl.
