The Moseley Mystery, AS TOLD BY A LADY EX-DETECTIVE.

Lake County Press, Issue 2114, 19 April 1906, Page 2

The Moseley Mystery, AS TOLD BY A LADY EX-DETECTIVE.

(Copyright.)

•!?S By John K. Leys, p£

Author of "Hark Doings," "Thy Black Terror, I'hu Lindsays," "The Sign of the Golden Horn," &c, &c. I*ART I. (J.HAVT.EU I. 'I AM CNGAOED AS A DETECT I\' L. I need not. detail the misfortunes which crowded upon our family fiv my girlhood was fairly over. II is enough to say that. I found myself, Ml I weiit.y-three years of age, alone in London—alone, but. for 1 1"' '" m panionship my Ml tin sister Nora—unci without an\ adequate means ol support. How were wo I<> live '.' I asked mv self in despair. I was so helpless. 1 had tried plain sewing, working for twelve, thirteen, oven lifteen hours a day. My earnings would not keep us in bread and tea and pay the rent. What was I to i\o ? My little savings wore quickly vanishing. I emptied my purse on the table and sat looking at. the coins in a sort of apathy, for some minutes. Then I roused myself. Was there no way in which 1 could earn a decent living? Could T. be a governess ? Mo. I knew nothing-that is. nothing well enough to tench it. except music; and 1 remembered with a shudder how my efforts to ge.l teaching, even at one and sixpence an hour, had failed. Art ? Literature " Of both I knew as much as people generally do, ! could draw n little and scribble a little ; hut I well knew that it would take months, if not. years, afterwards before I could fuel a, read.v market for them. The stage ■;' I paused longer over that idea. 'Everybody told me when I took my turn at private theatrical-. and tableaux vivants in I If old da\ s that I could "make up" splendidly. Hut then I had no beauty, and a poor memory M had been a ureal ef fort to remember even 'he few lines that had fallen to m.x share in the little piece.-, I had played in. I feared that I could not succeed as an actress; and, meantime, how were we to live V As for the humbler occupal ion-, it was still worse. 1 could neither rook a dinner nor starch a shirt. What., oh what was I to do '.' In the apathy of despair I took up a "Daily Telegraph" which was lying beside me, and began scanning its columns in the vague hope of finding that somebody wanted a young woman for nothing in particular. Of course nobody did. Rut as I was lay ing down the paper, my eye fell on Ihe following advert isment: "Weeby and Turner's Ladies' Detective Agency. 10, (Tomer-street, W. Inquiries on all confidential matters made with care, skill, and despatch. Absolute secrecy guaranteed. A large staff of experienced Lady Deteclives." Why should I not be a ladv delem i i ve ? I asked myself the quest ion « it hj a bitter laugh. My cheeks burned as I

thought to myself."What, would my father or my grandiHtlicr have said harl they known that. ! should one day descend to he a sneak, a paid spy, liable to be son I to all sorts of places, and do all kinds of dirty work '.'"■ "Nn!" i eriod aloud ; "that. I will not. do. Oath, death bs slow starvation rather than dishonour." Then my •eyes fell on Norn, sleeping peacefully within two yards ol me. Her fair hail' lay disordered on the pillow. I'.y bonding forward. I could touch her little wrist . us it lay above the coarse coverlet . All. how thin it was. And her cheeks were thin too- -mx pretty lilt b' Nora ! 1 looked again at t lie money on I he table. II was all I had live sov prelum., eight shilling;- and a feu coppers- i here was nothing else he 1 ween us and waul . except I he |i\ .■ or si.\ shillings a week which I could ~;,,-,, |,\ my needle. And despair made in., clench my hands and my teeth, as 1 realized how near I he grim u oil' Hunger had come I o us ! Put surelx . I asked m.vsolf. ;ill r|e I ect ives are not dishonourable men ' Yerx far from it . Kureh . i hen, a female detective' might also be an honourable woman. I might refuse to do dirty work I might be dismissed in consequence; bill I lien I should be no worse off than I was before. That thought i]f,ii\c,\ me I would go to Wechy and Turner in tin. mot nine, and oiler m.v services ft is- a comfort to . .ic who is in Sore straits to make up ore's mind t.o a. delimit e course of net ion, n only mi a. day : and I retired I' l re-a feeling a lot \p bettor able in endure my li'.'a\ \ buifk a of • 'in •• Ten o'clock the foil ox. im: nioriung found me in the 0i1,,,. ~f Messrs. Weeby and Turner's detective ;igency arid soon after in Mr WeePy's pri vate room After | had explained m.v business in Mr. W'eob.v . he saifl. leaning forward in Ins chair "My rb-ar lady, what can you do? Whai class of work would > on be prepared to undert ike ?'' 'That could I say '■' I was absolutely ignorant of the nature <,| the work I her! proposed to Ho. "Something delicate and domestic, perhaps." suggested Ml Weeby-. "something in which qui'ei watching of si.specied persons would be your part—eh V" "Yes. sir. I believe I could do that." I replied '' Using your bra in:- . not i ng si ighl but suspicious circumstances diviu ing motives—const rinriiig a I heor\ of act ion soundly —whal is v ulgerl.x called pulting- i si. o sud t wo together "Yes, I In |,.-\e I , mild do Unit kind of i hiriL'." I ansv, i red "H is not every,m hj,, 1,1, . i hat power." sairl Mr Weebx Well we can -"it t iw urn I propose to t r\ you in a cas,. which .',,,,,,. i,,|o the oflice yesterdnv Mr Weebx unlocked a drawer in his writintr-tnble. and pulled mil a lei ter, which he ginned over as he proSeeded: "it. seems that a. certain v.ealt.hv

widow. Ladv Larrcll In nan,-. ha . been defrauded ..j a sum oi thiee thousand pound. In an ord.ua:-> wav this would have been a m-re pnl'iee ease. I'-ut Lad> Carrell seems 1,, think that the fraud has been p. i pel rated h.v son, living ■•■ <>" house, or In some relation. Iter id-a is that the mat lei- would I"- !"■>' "' vesligated b> one of your own sex. So if voil have no oh.iee.ion. Von ran call on Ladv Carrell. and. in short . take up the rase." '•That will suil me vers well, said I "And its to terms, sir "" -Oh. the usual rate for a beginner; thirtv shillings it week ami > "'"' '"' penses. Von are not likely to wi.nl m uch for that, as I fanes Lady l-'»r i-,.11 will wish \ou '" llVl ' ! " "' ' house. Otherwise v on ran drop me •' line. Hood morning And let us ha\e regular reports from yon from time to time, that we mil) know how things are going mi. The address is No. ! I . Cumberland square.' With these words I was dismissed ; and I made mv wax inl o Ihe st reel . lun-dly able to beliexe in m.\ good fori line. Thirty shillings a week ! It was not much, bill it was enough to ~nable me to place Nora at a tolerable good school and dress m.vself detvni Iv . N hat more did I want '•' What ehietly itst onished me at Ihe I in,,, was that I should have I nen ua at all. Hal I speedily discoxer- ;,,! ii,.,, Messrs. Weeby and Turner h a ,i verv little hoj.es ol being able to S oU,. the problem which Ladv Carrell had submilteil to them. and that I |,,. v cured vef.V little whether it was ever solved or not . I .ady Carrell. I learned afterwards, paid t in-m for my s,. r \ ices at Ihe rale of a guinea a da.v They paid .iusl four shillings an. threepence halfpenny per llil.V ; so that the longer thai arrangement luster ll, f . helter would I hey be pleased. Rut I understood thai if 1 was ua successful in discovering the persot who had cheated Lady Carrell. I might very probnbl.v never I ngag od on another case; whereas, if I succeeded in putt ing my finger on Ihi thief, I was tolerabh sure of fiilur. employment . No sooner had I got. info llegent I street than I hailed an omnibus, am ! proceeded I o Cumberland square. CILU'TKK 11. Till.; CASK IS PIT I'.KLOHK \1 E hj, t he omnibus a dilliculty oi < urrei to me. 1 did not choose to go abou this work under my father's name i|l was 100 hit'- to change it . so fa jas Messrs. Weeby and Turner wer I concerned, for I had not thought o ii he point in i ime, and had gi\ ei I i hem my real nmne. Kill t hat c.ouh j m.t. be ' helped. I determined that j would tell them frankly that I hit' | taken aii alias. What should it be '.' Various mime suggested themselves, bill ill List | hit ujxm Hamilton, with It had Ihi decided advantage, thai it was sui i li.'ietif ly like my own. If I called nix j self Brown, or Kobinson, and an. ! on>- addressed me le. I hat name sun ! denix . I might bet t.i \ myself I. I : ..tart ing. or by a --light delay in r. ; Isponding. Hut I had several I i bee,, calh-d Hamilton by people wh had not heard my name correci I, when I was introduced to I hem: s llm I I was in a manner, u -ed i o it I had enlcreil lhe omnibus dan Hambley; I resolved to 'nave ! ' .lulia Hamilton. .Julia I had adopte simplv for the sake of its inn ml h-t " ter. I 'iimberla nd-squa re I found to be eollection of large, substanl mil.', built dwellings. It was no long. | fashiona-hle -if. indeed, it had ev,-r right to I hat i it!.- ; but it v\ as clea ' j thai only wealthy folks could liv ' ! I here.

As I approached the ma- sixe door and rang the bell, it seemed odd to think Mint that house might be my home for some weeks or months to come. 1 .uckily the fool ma n made one' de lay in opening i>. It suddenly occurred to me ihat I had no cards - none. that is to say, with my nexv name engraved on i hem l,ad\ Kartell would probably refuse to see me if I simply sent up my name, unhs . I mentioned the names of Weeby and Tumor '" ' I'" :;,,, "• ;l;i1 which was. of course, quite out of ihe quest ion Pel'ore I could make up my mind the door was opened. "Is Lady Parrel! at home V" J asked "Who is it wants to see Ins''" re pled the man. scanning mx appearance lr.lt il N . "My name is Mi - I lamilt on.': "Haven't w>u a 'aid ?" "No." "Oh. my lad;, ' an'l see you " 1 1 bought of pill I ill!.; half a crown into lhe fellow ' ■ hand list I had re' half crown: to spare P,.- id'"-, it was absurd lo think thai I could iml see ins empho it v. it limit bribing her servant. "I ~,,, sure l.nd.x l'i II '-■ dl see me, if ,\ mi will tell her | am here J said, ear ,1 l.\ "A n ,l r m sure she imn'l ," said Ihe ma n . wil hj a ei i n ••\'erx well i will urite. and tell 1,:,f1y Parrel! that I 'ailed, and was I iini'-ii aw n.% from her door. sa id I , an .v ing as if ' " go a w a.\ I'll,-, i ..pi.. li, i hi-, wic a sui U in x itat ion i " si ep made \,ier ...me ijebix . I vas i oiidin ' "il up-.inn . and ..how u nit ~ a snug room at ihe Pan! oi Ihe hole .■. <,' hei e a lal dignilied. hard tea i Ul'ed u oiuan wa' sit l ing by Ihe lire 'I his, I had m doubt, was l,ad.' Parrell. \ younger lady sat with her bad-, to the door. "Y an go now, Mis I'rmip.' said I ,ad.\ l-'arrell ; and Ihe v oungei woman rose, and walked pad lie mil of Ihe room I had only a glimp.-.e oi li'M lace a: S)ie wenl b.V. ,\el il made a stroiit impression on me I saw a short slim figure, a pale lace, ver< 'Vide a cross the forehead, and hail' of s, light a brown as I" be almost xel low Vol a si riling appearance. |,\ an;, means ; vet soniel lung in Mis 'Croup's a' p". I made l,|e feel I h.l! sill was ie i < 'l'd ina r.x w i una u "Are \on from Messrs Weebx ant Turner ''" demanded l.ad;, Parrell. a' : ui a-, (he d 0,,- was closed. "Vol arc ? Very well. |{e good enough I. tale Hint ih.nr." "Yes. you will do," she aid, afiei a prolonged : ' nil m.x of nix face am ,|re,S "I '"ld those people lo sen. : , lad'. .... 1... i ould live wii hj me in tln hour. . I want >ou lo pa., as a pool relet ion '.I m.\ ovv n. Ibo e xmi a n.x ob le, ! ion '.'" 'I ins w ;■„. '.aid wil hj a flow n. as i |,ad'. Panel! would like lo catel making an.x object ions "Noi ih" least in Ihe w mid." I an sv.ered. bright ly and her.- ladyship' | face relaxed.

as v on cam.- in iiii-nn -.stent w it hj l hat j i,lea mi-lit ion Ihe name of am per J , son ha\ ing sent v on. for example '.'" j \ M I had not I had spoken and | aeied. bv accid.-nl exact Iv as a hum j hie iled relative miglll be suppos- j ~,| i,, speak and act . and I i.nsw ei ed ■• | w ill giv I omkiiis .i scohbng | tor his impudence to v on; and that j w j|| i..ml I o produce Ihe impression j regarding von I hat we want to prodime." said Lady l-'arrell. \nd now Hill these detective people tell you anv thing ol what had happened ?" ••llardlv anything." I replied. •-So much the heller," said Lady l-'arrell ; and for some minutes she sal gloomily stilling" before her with out speaking while I w ailed j n respect fill silence. •• ! have been cheated." she ..aid, ! suddenly ■.-"cheated oil! ol three I lloUSitnd pound- ' ll is nol pleasanl to he robbed ; but the monex is noj | hing- -not him.', ! I cjtnnot endure 1 o | Hunk that Crank should have treated me so ' Ile is mv nephew, my I sister's child. Cor some v ear.-- lie has | heeti like a .son to me. I have de- ! nied him not hing ; in fact I have j been far 100 indulgent to him." •1 must tell you. Miss Hamilton, | , |,at for !he last I welve months mv nephew's conduct has troubled me \erx much. He ha- no regular pro I'ession —I hiit is. he , alls himself an artist ; but I don'! think he does |i wo hours slead.x work in a week ! | know he has been in the habit of ! bet i ing ; for more i hat) one, w hen 1 ! h,,ve paid his debts, hj" has had to j confess t hat ' hey were debts of lion - lour \ boil t two im ml le- ago he gave I his solemn word t hat he never j would bet on a race touch a card or sit down at a gambling-1 able acrain I know he has not kepi his w ,<n\ liul w hat is a broken promise what is gambling. compared to this '.'•• Something like a moan burst from the woman's lips, and I pitied her from my hem I I could see (hat she was one of I hose women, who, though d'-nie.i Hie privilege of motherhood, vet have their maternal instincts strongly developed. Lady Carrel! loved this young man as if ho had been her own son. I could not (loitbl I hat for a minute. It. was hkr torture to her to think thai her boy .should be capable of such base ingratitude. Hut, how. under these eircunisl am es, I could be of service. 1 could not imagine. •Suppose von Ifll me, Ladv- l-'ar-rell , how lhe t heft was commit ted V" 1 .aid. gently. "Cossibly > our nep hew mav not be so much to blame a-s v oil imagine." | fancied I could see a grateful expression ill I .ad.v fill cell's tare, though she shook her tie.,,! sadi.V. be lore going on vv it hj her si ory. "Frank got into deb! as u-uai," she said, speaking rapidl.v . as if I r.vine i o perioral a painful i a k ahe w role a -king for ie,\ . I I'esol \ed I would -end linn only a moder one i hoitsand pound I know 'ha i wa-. ihe sum : ami 'he counterfoil which 1 w rote al ihe i im.' of ma! on: out the cheque, IS marked 'L I ' "P,.it w h.-n Frank's lei ter . aine thanking ne- lor the cheque. I urn surprise.! lha I he . eei I so verv | I lie bank, and ! It.'li I found ! hit 1 mil i on.. ihoiisand. bin four thou .am ' poim I - had been paid o\ er t.. I I imm.'diil I elv : e||l l'o|' ; he cheque '' [',:■;>■ ii is." A- sin- spoke Lad-. Farrell imloi ke, |,, drawer in a small . abin.-t. lim

I stood beside her. and ' ""K "Ul ; slip oi green Hilled pap.a , '.v Inch . hj taking i! when a ie.c-e v. a ■ li.'.n d a lie- door 1.ad... Parrel! c. snalched iiway her hand. as.l xx 11 I an a ir oi embarrassment . dmp["'' (1,.. cheque hastily into the draw from which site had taken H I . I,ink at her one wmil'l haxe though ih.,i -,ii.- had been caught or ua j alia id fi being caught , in s"in j ihainefni aid . The door opened, and as l.ad.x Pai l-ell glanced Up at I he person enter ing the room, an indesci ibable chang passed nV.T her face "Kranl- !" she exclaimed, as if in consciously. M v back was turned inwards i ti door, and I i Imught it bet ter I 1 sh, e,\ an', curinsi I \ b.v ' urni ug ''• >' 111 Nur did Pans' ParrelPs nephew an sw. r her ill words. Thus- 1 had n He si forward and stood in a I'll! ; a! til llde oil I he heart ht'ilgI'Vanl, Moreslev ' 1 M\ hear! lilerall.x stood 'I ill : o i so 11 seemed to U|e for I fell a | ! hough I W ei e being slilfoeated M\ mind ran back lo I lie las! I mi I had „ thai plea-.ant. -m,hn the Thames Somehow he and ! ha been separated limn i he nlliers, an side h.x side alone the margin of I hj sihuil river 11 was t w ilighl . but th Sl HIS were In !'ll ' I o silllie 111 I i I green hi ue ol 1 he aim hut sk v |-'i some im .a I lis m.x In"- 1 a ml las! Isi don season. Plant M ..•-.• I ex and I ha mei conlinuall.x I had liked Inn |.'ew , mild help liking him XX hel in | | h,d herd hilll oi m'l I ' "'lid 111 I ,a; . bill I Hold- . II he had -pol., nil I hat .lllilllllT lllglll 1 he W i 'l'i' I expected Io heat , ! should ha\ e I oi h,m thai I loved him. and 1 deed hax e b'-en guilt y of no decepl lo Pail I he w, uds \. ere iiev it spokei Si nee I ha I ex eniug now n.-a rl.x I w ! .'.ear-, behind us. we had drilled . I pari . he and I .now. suddeiilv w I were I ogel her again I b\ ac-used , base nigral il ude. of i hefi . ol forgei I the agent employ,-d In hum 111 I dow II ' for a m id he stood lalkmg I Ins aunt w ill I pax ing un.v at lei lion to mm M,\ appearance, indeei w as sufhcienl ly humble l o escuse hi I'ni' ignoring, m.v presence. Then I cast a careless, half curious glance ; me . and sudd.-nix a look of inteii sin-prise I a ll,e o\ it Ins face 1 o I sue- |e,| b.v that look of ,-oiis. ioi embarrassment u hnh is In a ma what a blush is t " a woman. "Miss llamble.v !" he said, holdil mil his hand " ivvuse me for n< ~,.1 icing V mi Snnuer I'm l w Im w nil have t hnughl "I ineel mg V mi here II is I WO V ears since you were ■ I.ouib 111. isn't M '.'" I "I hax ,■ been in I ..union for I wel' i i die." 'Slid I ■■\'.n\ I have in l been liv iiic with m.v "Id friend ■ There is lillh- wonder I hat we ha not mel " "Miss llambley is going lo sl; wit II llie .some I line. I hope. ' ' sa Lady Karrell, "so you will ha

l»ioiH..v or time to renew your n<:- ; quaint anre with her." •' Frank Moseley r.ni looking, now :it ; his aunt, now nt nn', as if Ik- hardly understood tin: posit.ion of affairs. When he looked at. in.- I directed u>.\ I e.ye-s to Lady Farrel! ; when he was , speaking to his aunt. I stole n glance at him. I saw a tall, rather linn looking young man, with light-col- . ourcfl hair, wandering blue eyes, and < a weak, irresolute mouth. His ex- , pression was gent le anil pleasant - i i hat. of a man who had never known either enemies or hardships, of one | who had found the world a very j pleasant place. Present ly tie grew i rest less t hat was :il\\ itys a charael ■ eristic of his, I remembered— and after lidgel ing about for .some moments, he wished us good afternoon, and left the room. "So you are acquainted wit hj my nephew : y asked Lady Farrell, a look of suspicion on her face " I knew him two years ago," said I. "I mh r allot.her name, it, seems." "I assumed the name of Hamilton this morning." said I, "because I did not, choose that my own name should lie a--soriated wit hj lhe work I have undertaken. ! could not fore see this would happen, Put, if you like, | will give up the case, to mini her (let eel iVe ",\o, I do not wish ilia! : hut \\ ha t excuse will y>u make t o my nephew ? Ih- will know from Ila servaul: that, you have taken Ihe name of Hamilton," •■1 ,-an tell him (what is true enough) that pride induced me to drop my own name, lint I may as well say to you, at once. Lady Larrell, that I cannot, spend my energies in collecting proofs that. Mr. Moseley committed (his crime If, on the ot her hand, you wish lo he convinced oi his innocence "Wished to he convinced !" eel I Lady Karrell. "I want to know ihe truth;" and she struck lhe cabinet with Icr clench.-d hand, as if she j had been a man. "Win should I j coat inue I o gi\ emy lo\e i.. a scoiin | drel '.' Why should I .make a .-heal . I a forger. m.\ heir ? I would rat her. j a t hoiisaud I tine:-, ra lln r. pi -k up I som,- fouudl mi; in the si reel . and ; adopt him as my : i I'erhaps he ] would not I urn round and cheat uie j after Put I v\ as going t o slu ,w y■ m ! 1 lie cheque.' ' j Again Lad;. Karrell opened Ihe drawer, and handed Ihe dral't ! o me I rose and look it It. bore on the 111. e ~! il ihe Words; "London t'onni.N Hank." "Lax Frank Moseley, Hsq . or older. Four • hoiisand poumh i !.' ! .nun "!•:. Farrell." And on the hack I read : "Li.ml, M ley .'■'. "11. Parimi." Lor a minute or so I sal with j t his bit oi paper in no. hand, i hink M "-" ""ia,.:.| Lie ,or to 1 Iwheve linn Lrani. M- ,•!.•;. had been guilty oi the, ba-.e Hand ;i theft. j 100. thai M ould so so,si he dele,-led j Assuminr 'Is,I he was giiill.v . i! -a as i ,'leai , from Ins manner i o ids aunt , i that he tin.agio ■!,.■ u .<■ •t di in ig j m.rance ~i wk n he had done !, ~ Mr \lo eh.'. . mad.,m '" I a- keil. I ~s I hand, d buck I lie cile,,ue. ' Not a -y liable." | hj,. Mr. I tart on ma;, in \•■ altered ! -'| i,,,,, I, ~' ..I, '., h.sleve that II in, not ~,." aid Lad. lat r.-11. v. Ith j a ■;,.! -llllie ■ li.il I' K- -Oii.i b- Well 1~, ~,,,|,,. ~.,,-,. I w n.h yon would I \ oUIS„' ! ; .I'd. IS.'. I.epliew pIII 11, I.'. . 11l ' ! him"' ; j Mi ! ma a Is,'.,' .-.pre.. e<l '-me ' j ,1,,,,.,..; ai !hi sn. '.'.■• ' ion, for her j ~,,, ,(„• ' ~:„■■: ~„, 1., him my-elf

v. ill make it ".i..:''! I'll' v ' 'i! I<> < ir.i '•'•' Itill ri "ill II- is \ ■•!''. '■' imnitlliii'a I ive iil.oiil liims.'ii '"iv simple. I'tns is I I |„. (,!,,. | ;|\ "I Imp.- i hat I ha'.e i ! ' j v,;r not ill i- Kiauk 1.1 ilo a thine. I |]k,- | |,j..- Nt) l! Will- IM'I 111..' 1,1111 ■ | ,-,,,:.,'.! help thin!.nil' '•- i he "|i,,?.'i tlimk," interrupted l.adv > |''iirr..|! "Keep .your itiiml a:; inv 1 ir,'in pi'-iutli. ■<■, either in mi.' direr i ;,,,, ~, Mi,' other, as \ ,-.ii ran. '. mi 1 will inke ~|"i y.Mir ha! ami '.lay lo luni-h ; and il Mr Moseley has not i i,'ii i !,,- li.iiis.'. I will :■'•! him In si av i,,,i Tin 'ii alt,'!' lunelieon, I will sn manas.e that y,.H : hall In' h't't to i' ,',.ih,.'- I'm ,i .piaster "I an hour. ' '|'| M i v, ,|| |„. your opportunity." I ii .-. ,nr-: ■'. I (11.l a.- I was lolil. '• I in,. Hi,; ih" rin-iil 1 had an oppor- '. I i unit \ "i obs,T\ Hi'.: I ,:ul.\ I ail ell's I ! v>, ,, : luii ,i i;l i nips'- ,'l lift tha' I had I j had upstairs. l; ' ! In- name. I found, was Miss " | r.'"iip. '• | 11. T met v. as •<.■<■;, nilii'l Her i' i hand «'•!,• lii-ant it'iil. small asd well r | shaped Her ' |)i''Miiii was a deli j in I,■ , rell in roll 'll I' j l li.' hut I'. nit '.'li iilinii .1 a".a nisi in.v i- | u ,11 : i,,r ...,1,1,-liou Mi-.. I i onp did t | , |(> i impr." la, ourahl). Hn I i ~;ivr Hi a I hal I lli-e m rolmir >.». hii'h d | | lr| . !;,,■,. i„.,'d"d ll.'i I'.r.'ll.'ad was 'I ! low. and iv. kiil.lv I,road .it was i {lla . l;i.'l . p.-rhap- . and iiirl hi!'" in i llhs | H ".ii ol th.' y.iiTs .■> i's. u hs'h o j mad.' I liink ol a ra' " hen I look rd at li.t. 11, r .■: ,'. I.v lh" wa.v i' u i'l'i' i'rri'ii ; that ma v hja< '' had 11" si im,a In us. in do vs 11 hj Ihs latnied re ii \ . I'm- Mis: Troup' • are, in spil,' ~i I hj- eirli'.h appearance ol her shin ~ li' Mii s. hi-r :mmit Ii sk in . a lid lhs i masses of lis;hi hail tin I hack I, from Ins' forehead. I fanri.'d t hal tha ,i !,,,!> was ,i,'iirr.r I dirty Ihan I woiil.v . ~ I'm | have , ,'ldoin seen iin.v lady , old i ~r v oiins look list '■'! I linn I .ady I'ar- ;,. rsll's serielary when sha was at her is There u its not mush son viti-ii I ion ~ ~i labls. \. l.rsauis my hunilil" place I said nothiiis. unless I was ~ |',r: I addressed hy soms one, I'rank ,| Moseley. I noticed < si, lorn spoke to ,| M iss Troup. I hiiii::li Ins eyes wander •' ,'H in her tin eel ion oil en enoiiell ~ When Ihe meal was over we all v\ eul into the dr'a \\ i ri;: n ictii ■'Nov.. Mrs Troup." said Lady ,1 |.';n I'sll. "suppose we finish those haters we were :n Ihis mnrnint;— ~ i his is. if you siin nnni! ,' Miss I lam 111. ,n La a lev. iiiinui as. I'rank , " r.h" N added. turniiiK lo her nephew. And nl with these words she left the room, e ; taking her amanuensis with hnr.

•'lin,-:; n surprise you to hear your Lr, mil, call me Miss Hamilton ?" I o' sk.d. w "Well yes rather." r; " Vmi have not heard, I suppose, of 0J he misfoii uues that have befallen ~., ur fam, ly V ' "No.". ;i "We were not, a rich family," 1 w aid ; "but. we lived comfortably a noiigh in the old home until some w me advised my father to take shares fi n a silver mine in South America, ij ,'ou can guess the end. My poor v, nther was no match for the gentle- I mm of the slock exchange and in the (, ml he became— hankrupt ." Frank Moseley murmured a few b vords of condolence, and I went on : s "The blow broke his heart. My c mly living relative— at least, the ,nl y one I have ever wen—was my u .ister Norn. We gave up Forest t la.H to the creditors, and came to dde ourselves in London." \ ••So you took another name in or- t 1,.,- to' hide yourselves the hetter!" t nieriupted Frank, catching up the dea I had wished him to arrive at. . 'Put don't say thai your sister is /our only relative." ■■ I here' is only my father's uncle, i,,d "- - |# J "No, I here is one ot her. • j ••Who can it be ?" ",\tv unworthy self."- , "Impossible!" "|< is true. I am a second or ( third cousin of yours. I cat >n a i genealogical tree in my aunt's lib- y ,-ar.v the other day. and on one side I • found, to my surprise, that I am de- | s, ended from a lllllllbley, of Lores) I hill, Somerset shire. The I'.-lal ion ship is distant enough, no doubt, but it is l here." ( | was pleased, as well as surprised . |o hear this. I was giad to think ', I here was a I ie, alt hough a slight . one, between Frank Moseley and my- ' s,.|f. I may as well acknowledge I hat I he feeling wit hj w llicll 1 had at one time regarded him had not quite vanished. 1 think :i woman alwavs does retain some little tender sentiment for a man who has lov-d her, even if he has not told her tin- state oi his heart in so man'., words. A,,,! as 1 heard him ramble on. iniking of men and pictures. and what not , I shrunk more t han ever from the' task I had set myself to perform. If indeed. y adding I o some soVe necessity, lie had done this ihing. should mine be I he hand to tear awav the veil and expos" him ns a • luminal ? I loathed the very i hough; p,,,i he was not- -he could not lie guilt v . And if not . it might be reserved for me to pro-re his innocence. So 1 nerved myself t o go on. ■ |io \ on paint much now '.'" I ask ,-d carelessly. •'No! so much as in I he old da.i s." "How nice if mud b'\" 1 '-?;iid. a I inge of bit terness on m,\ \ nice, "to |,,.,ve all one's wants supplied without I la- necessity \r,v w ot'k- -v. it liout rare ~r anxiel y ." "| don't know lhal anyone is I w ithoul care or anxiety ~\ some I 1,in.1." : aid Li mik. gloomil.v . " Put I | ought not i o grumble \l.\ aunt is ! t he kindest , t he mosi generous of | i one I hat meant " You ■ annoi . sure- | l\ be ;n ,-arnest '.'" ■•<,,,. ind.ed." said Lrauk. '• ... armls "She is ;ai~ i o>> L o,od t ~ ; I ~,■ ,'■-.., imp-,• - oid;. la -t v k I got ! mi o a scrape, and I u role t ~ her • for m -:,•■; . I «a. really ;i.-.!i;r I to j i !,, -,,;, d i ime. ' hnl I had had I o J | do Hi.- am.- thing And she sent j Her.. I'ran'k pause,] and seemed i plunged ill re\ el'le I v. as w orkiiis on a I i he tall ing I : had in in; hand . m.\ !.><■■• calm, my j hea t't be,i t ! m; w it li a ■■ t ra lige tiene- ! n-'.-s I'.ui in.v companion's l hough! s | had ,-\ idem !\ w and.red far away. ■■ \ ,-s, Mr Moseley." I said gent ly wi l boii! I if; im; my eyes from ni.\' work : "you were saying that your I auni "• "N'es She was very good more than kind. She sent me a cheijiie The door opened, and Miss Troup glided into t he room. I .. I LHAL'IdsH 111. iAH SlS'l'hlK MWLA. Put it was now gelling late in the j a ft erm .on, a nd I had much to do j t hat af! ernoou. Lor , met liing I i had io find a In ime f, >r my sister. ! She was now fourteen years of age ; • and we were so fondly at 'ached I o j each ot her I hat I knew it would go i ilea r (o breaking her heart to part i from me. Put t here was no help '< for it . doing upstairs lo Lady Larrell's | room, I explained t hat. t he ronversa- ! lion between Mr. Moseley and me | had been interrupted, just as he had I been on the point of tell ing met he amount of (he cheque which he had received from her ; and 1 asked leave of absence for the rest of the day. It was arranged that. I should ret urn in the forenoon of the following day. and take up my abode in j I'umherland square, in I he character I of a dista.nl coll..in of I ,ady Farrell's Int.- husband. Sir .Joseph Far red, liv I In- way, had been a wealth.v manufacturer, and had risen to be ! I ,or,| Mayor, I lis indusl r.v and good I fort ime had beer, I he source of ! he j w ealt hj u Inch his widow now enjoy ed I ea v ing my employer's house. 1^ made my way as quickly as possible ton ma in I horoiighl a re, and railed a "St op at I he nearest new s shop." I ..-nd to the driver, as I entered I he nil,, "and I hen drive on slow ly." " Standard " and a "I 'hurch Times." the i ask which parents perform with • null care and anxiety - I hat of rhoosing a school for ! heir girl;. I was going to undertake with regard I o iu\ darl i ng N , >ra in t he e, airs.- , if I ~ few minutes, w il hj no ot her guide I ha u I he ad\ erl iseinent s in two new .--- | papers. Rapidly I scanned the columns, marking I hose not ires which : in.-d most promising, and then .lire, led j i lie cabman to drive to I he nearest | of I he schools. The address w as llolmwood House. Summei'lield, St. \ j John's Wood There was nothing very attractive j abou! Sumniertiehl road ; and Holm-wood-1 Souse hardly deserved its highsounding name. Put Miss Puncomhe j t he head of f he little esl ahlishinent , j ..,,,.,,„.,) ;, most respectable old lady; I v |jj|,, |,,,|- . j.st er. M iss Mart ha Diiiij eombe <a fill . bright-eyed lit tie body | w ho, 1 fancied. did most of the I work) was evidently a kind-hearted, I homely sort of woman ' ] Thinking to myself that I might

; o farther and tare, worse, i gianceo nee a few of the "parent's letters" which were shown to me, and 1 ar•anged at once to bring my sister m the following morning, 'then 1 ivenf back to m.v lodgings. Norn, who had been sitting alone ill day, sprang up with a v\-y of welcome, when 1 opened the door, and threw her arms around me. It, was then (hat, the [lain of parting from her, for 1 knew not how long a Lime, seemed so hard to bear ; and worn out. wilh the events of the day, I sat down and fairly burst, unto tears. Nora pulled my head down on her breast, and began to soothe me as if she had been the woman ami 1 the child. Whal is it . dearest .lanie 7" she asked. "lias some more trouble come to us '.'" "No. dear; it was coming—coming very fast; but it has gone away for the present. 1 tun tired and foolish, thai is all." She tried to interest me, poor child iu ' , hl . „„.;,! she had prepared forme, and did her best to cheer me. "You have always been so brave, ,lanie," she. said, seating herself on my knee, and stroking my cheek with her soft slender hand. ■■Well, it. is your turn lo be bravo now, my darling," 1 answered, snuling, and dashing away my tears. "I have found employment; but- 1 must live awa.\ from home. And so, Nora, sou will have to go to school." 1 somet hues 1 hink that in ouv natural desire to keep our girls as long as possible at our side we unintelitionalh 'l' l Llu'in harm. They remain children long after the time when they ought to be exercising their own judgments; and thus, when misfortune befalls I hem, they are as little aide to bear it as the sensitive plant is able to bear the frosts of an Knglish winter. Something like this passed through my mind, as 1 tried to soothe Nora ; and encourage her to face the inevitable parting. Hut my own tears had been but a sorry preface for my brave words; and I lie sight of the poor child's wistful looks, her trembling lips, and her bursts of weeping, cut met o the heart. Wither of us slept much that night and in the morning 1 gave up my rooms, and drove off with Nora to Miss huncomhe's. When [ returned to Cumberlandsquare, I found a small but comfortable room near the top of the house ready to receive me. "You must dine with me every evening, of course, and I will ask Miss Troup to join us regularly,"

said Lady Farrell, when 1 had reported myself to her. "I expect, my nephew to dinner this evening. After dinner I will ask '.Miss Troup to play at chess with me, and so Frank and you will he thrown together. You must try to lead the conversation back to the point at which you dropped it yesterday afternoon; and 1 do hope thai by your fact and skill you will force Frank to say positively what sum it was he received from me.'My I act and skill! Already I was beginning to distrust myself. Already I was beginning to doubt whether I was really lit for the work 1 had undertaken lo do. "You must get the exact figures from him," continued Lady Farrell. "Ii necessary, you can say that 1 luld .-, ou to ask him. If he says that I sen! him one thousand pounds,he ma,\ oi- may not. be guilty. Either he or this man Hart.on, or some one else may have altered the cheque. But if he declares that I sent him the four thousand pounds which he got. from the bank, when I know that I only made out the cheque for one thousand"— The proud and hard looking woman slopped, unable to linish her sentence. "Will you let me look at the cheque once more'.'" I asked, to break the awkward silence. "1 wish to see exactly how |he forgery was committed." Lady I'arrell put the bit of paper into my hands. "It was easy enough," she said, almost impatiently. "See! The forger had only to add the letter *F' before the word 'one' which 1 wrote. Then (he 'o' of the 'one' served for the 'o' of the 'four,' and the 'if of the 'one' for the 'u' of the 'four." A tick of tin' pen changed the 'e' at. the end of the word into an 'r.' Two short strokes turned the '!' in the figures ill.ooo into a '•!,' and the forgerywas complete." "You ran make nothing of the'F' — form no guess as lo the handwriting" "Not in the leust. I should have said that the handwriting was my ou n," was t he a nswer. Thai afternoon there was nothing for me to do, and .1 was thankful for I he rest . Frank 'Moseley made his appearance just before dinner. He was in very much better spirits than he had been the day before, lie talked and joked away, almost without ceasing. exactly as if his conscience had not a single stain on it. then Fatly Farrell's severe expression relaxed once or twice, and. Miss Troup's demure. face wore a pleased '.hough respectful s mile. When dinner was Lady Fa r re]] carried out the arrangement which she had proposed. She and Miss Troup sal down to chess in a corner of the drawing-room, while Frank Moselo,\ good-naturedly offered to show me a portfolio of engravings Ile was lon well-bred to show his discontent, bul I could see t hat t his arrangement did not please him at all. lie would have liked much better if l.ad.v Farrell had shown me the engravin.es, and left him to play chess wit hj Miss Troup. M'ter leading up to the subjerl as well as I could. I rel'erred to our con\ I'l'sni ion of the previous day. and went on : "Vim w ere gi 'i lie, to give Hie all ill stance o\ Fad.v Fnrrell's kindness to you. when yon were interrupted yeslerda.v ." lie 'looked sliglllh surprised Hint 1 ! should have ret urned I o the subject al all. and onlv answered : "l.ad.v Farrell is one of the kindest and lno'-i generous of women." "I am ipli * e willing I o del ieve it," said I . "and . I am ver\ glad I o hear it. She is vi'V) wealthy, is she not?" ■•\rry. ,% "And I think you said she had been very generous to von lately'.'" I was aware that this sounded like mere impertinent curiosity; but 1 • could not help that. Frank Moseley raised his eyebrows slightly, and said, rather stitlly : "She is always generous." I was no nearer my object. How 1 wished Miss Troup had not chosen tc come into (lie drawing-room just when she did come, the day before! I felt that if 1 would retain my em-

ployer's cnnfidftncfl T must mako some progress; and J was making nonn whatever. So 1 determined to use (lie power which Lady Farrcll had placid in my hands. "I wonder whether Lady Fanvll regrets, sometimes, her nets of pen erosity," 1 said, with a half careless smile. My companion was evidently amazed al hearing me speak of his aunt so freely. "What, on earth do you mean?" he asked, involuntarily. "Well, the truth is." I replied, as it' with a hurst, of confidence, "we wen' speaking about y«,u —Lady Farrcll and J." "Yes ?" "Oh, yon needn't look alarmed ! Nothing was said to .your discredit. But don't you think some people have a way of being very generous on the impulse of the moment, and then regretting that they were not more prudent '/" "My aunt is not a woman of that kind I" cried Frank, indignantly. "JJidn't she send you a large sum—a very large sum—within the last few days ?" "She did," answered Frank, with a look of astonishment crossing Ids face. "Larger, perhaps, than she quite intended," I said, with a little nod. I assumed a careless, ha I l'-ini pertinent manner, as if I were teasine, Mr. Moseley, and questioning him for my own amusement ; hut I was closely watching his face all the time. [ had hitherto read in it surprise, displeasure, but nothing like fear or embarrassment. At my last question, however, he turned perceptibly paler, and opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed again. "It was a larger sum than I expected," he said, at length. My heart began to beat painfully. Hitherto 1 had little doubt of m.v old friend's innocence; and indeed I would have put the question to him plainly long ago, had it not been that I wish ihl to prove his innocence without his knowing that ho. had ever been suspected of a crime. "Cati it 1*3," he sa.id, as if speaking to himself, "that my aunt really meant to send me less, and by some tin account able mistake" — ".How much did she send you ?" I asked, looking my companion straight in the face. "Four thousand pounds." {'Ml ) (To be Continued.)