The Moseley Mystery,

Lake County Press, Issue 2115, 26 April 1906, Page 2

The Moseley Mystery,

(Copynpht.>

AS TOLD BY A LADY EX-DETECTJVE.

By John K. Leys, Author of "l»<irk Koines,” •'The Bliuk I error.” 'The IJndsiiv s.” “The Sinn of the Uolden ilorn,' ’ Air,, Ac c.

PAJiT 2. SUMMARY Ob’ I'AI! I’ I. J one liambley linds herself m lam doii, har means all ha I I'xliaibi ( i| and starvation threatening her and leuonly companion—lnn' little sister Norn. She is wondering how she ran Jcrep tile won from tile door when she sees an advert isment eminating U-orn a hig firm of private enquiry ag.nts. Why not he a lady detective she asks hersell 7 A t first, the work seems repulsive, hut til length the reeling of necessity conquers her prejudice, and she calls at the linn s office. Much to her surprise, she is engaged, and at once entrusted with an important ease—Lady Parrel I. ol 14 t’nmlierlami-sqnare, has heen defrauded of three thousand pounds, and this is the mystery which .lane ■ is set to solve. Assuming the name of Julia Hamilton, she takes up her residence in the Farrell household as a “poor relation.’’ It. seems that Lady Farrell had sent her nephew—a wild young fellow—a cheque for one thousand pounds. which had heen altered and cashed for four thousand pounds. Lady Farrell believes her nephew to tie guilty of forgery, and while she and Jane are discussing the nnitier, the nephew walks in and the lady detective recognises him as Frank Moseley, an old friend, for whom she still feels ailed ion. I he situation is embarrassing, and Jane is loth to believe Frank guilty ol the crime. She subsequently questions him regarding Lady Farrell's generosity but their conversat ion is interrupted by the entry of Miss Troup, her ladyship’s companion. whose manner suggests suspicions. Having arranged for her sister's welfare at school. Jane resumes the cose and plays the spy upon Frank and Miss Troup. PH AFTER IV. 1 AM ASKER TO PLAY THE SPY I hoard the fatal words with some thing like a pang. 1 no longer loved Frank Moseley ; I knew that he had long ceased to care for me. Yet we had once more "otne very near to one another in mind and in heart. It was terrible (it think that the man who might perhaps have been my husband had almost been my lover. who had committed such a crime 1 He had just declared that his aunt hail sent him four thousand pounds-—a sum J knew from Lady Parrell's lips she never did send him. I’he matter I had lain between him and the man | Har ton, whose name was on the back of the cheque along with Frank's. 1 had hoped that it might turn out that Frank hud endorsed (he cheque and paid it to Marlon, and that Mar I ton had altered it, and thus by his forgery got, four thousand pounds in • stead of one thousand pounds Mnt now Frank had confessed that he himself had got the four thousand pounds ; for had he not as sorted that, the cheque was originally made out for that sum? He, not Mar •lon, must have altered it. I felt eon fused —shocked. I am certain that if .any stranger had come upon Prank Moseley and me at that moment, he would have said that I looked Humore guilty of the two. And yet, when I glanced up at j Frank Moseley's lace, hope came back to my heart ! I could give no reason for it. J could only say that Ids did not look like the face of a guilty man. There was silence between us for a minute or two: ami even during that | short space of lime I found another ground for entertaining a lingering belief in my old friend's innocence His Language, when he spoke of Ids aunt seemed full of heartfelt, gratitude. IPs expressions were not those of a man who had just robbed her ol three thousand pounds Ponld Frank Moseley have purposely used I he.se .words, playing the part of a hypocrite? No: I could not believe it. “j shall speak to my until about .this.’’ he said, at length. “If she said anything to ymi in Lad you to suppose Huit she repented of biting me. have so much money it she does : regret her generosity— I may as well know it, that’s all. Lntorl nnaleh . I j 1 cannot offer to replace the coin," he | I added, with a biller laugh. I : i This 1 knew very well, tin Hie very day that he had received the cheque, j I he had paid the whole amount ever i : to Hat ton: for tin- draft had been j i cashed at the bank the da; aftei it I had been drawn I I “I t In n! I would, if I a el e i ny • m r j ! place." 1 said. earne-ilv. "lie were m i friends onciv- hi me advise you Me perfectly trank wit It your aunt Tell j t her till the circumstances under winch ' 1 the cheque came into your hands, I I what you did with it. and all about I it “ So saying. I rose and left bun That night, before I had uudreused j I [.ady Pnrrell sent for me Rr-missmg her maid, she asked me to lock the floor, and then kept silence for a few 1 minutes, as she crouched over t tie lire I and gazed into its endiers '' I shn II alter my will.” she said, aloud. “Not yet. Lady Parreli.” I said, I calmly. Ron t condemn your nephew j I unheard “ I' nhenrd '' Ic ei hj I ' U ha I j • hearing could beuelit him? He actual- 1 !y had the audacity to come to me | ; to nigh I . and a-k, in a hall banter | ing way, whether I bad not regret ted j 1 sanding him tom thousand pounds, j when he knew perfectly well Hint I 1 had only given him one thousand, i 1 and that he had stolen the other | '• three!” I 1 “As to (he form of hi question. I ! 1 am entirely to blame for that.” said | 1 1. “I bad to | iretend that you had j 1 repented of your generosity, m order .' to get. him to mention the amount of it I.ho cheque It was a clumsy evpe- |y ilient. but” | 1 “You seem In lake his part,!’ j 1 cried Lady Farrell, angrily. “Has he [ <

not confessed Thai hr committed Ihe foiv'ry by say ing falsely that I sent . him all that rnonr) "No; not <pi i t e," 1 •Win. else eould ha V •hnu- tl*l■''■ .* ‘ "I confess that. I cannot explain : it.” ; 1 "Nni aayl hj aly also' '' l.adv Farrell rose and walked rapid Iy I hrongh the rm mi I 1 "I would have given leu Mines lhe j< money; but what is the use ■»l say j jive- that '.’ There is hist one possible 1 1 excuse tor him,” she added. | 1 I anxiously waited lor her next, i words I "lie 111 a \ have rob bei I me at the ill st ii;ji t ion of amd her I looked ill<ni iri 11 o' I \ into Iter lace. ‘'l distrust Miss Troup She is a 1 designing woman!” burst out 1 ad v Farrell. i mpn Isi vei y 'When she first 1 came here she ingratiated herself with I me to a very great degree. I (irmly believe now that she meant to snp- ' plant frank in ms favour ii she could lie has been pulling my patience to j ( tiie lest preiis severely. Then, when jl she found that she could not do that. M she brought her power to hear upon t 1 him. For some lime past he has been j■' her slave She thinks ! don’t know M it, hn I ! do. " 1 "Then you think”--"I think that Miss Troup may have advised Frank In cheat me, or, at least . may have suggested it to him. either to help him to a sum of money |‘ that he needed badly. or to get him j disgraced, and dismissed from the ‘ house " 1 "lint if he loves her." said I- and j 1 I felt a little sling as 1 Uttered the | f words—-"surely n would suit her bet - F ter to ina rrv him "Our would think so. Hut who ran i J tell the objects and plans oi a deceitfill woman 'Von think she is that ?” "I am reri ain of i 1." * "Hid Miss Troup know that you had sent a eherpie to Mr MoseleyV" 1 I asked. "I believe she did, or may have | ' known of it." said l.adv Farrell "M v cliwinc-book is fretpieni.lv in her j hamls—in my presence, of course. In deed. sh<* may have had an opportu ! idly of glancing at the ronnterfoil, j and learning the fact while I was j writing tlie note to go with the , i cheque. 'Won did not men lion any part ienlar sum in y one note "No. 1 merely said 'the enclosed o' cheque.’ " Volt pn I Ihe I he.jne 111 Ihe ell Ve - j lope yi m rsel f. I snppi >se S es. and aildressed n my sell', and put it in Ihe let 1 er-ho.\ in the hall, of which I alone have i lie key I *iil Mr Moseley tell yon what Inbad done will) till' cheque I asked, alter a pause. "ITe only said that he had paid a I debt with '!. My belief is. M wa - a jj gambling debt.” ’’ I I'il It ' I exact i y say how the in- j ’ qtiiry would help ns, ve I should 1 like lo litid oni something aimnt ibis .Mr. Had on." stud ! "Help ns'.' Nothing can help is How r.-ii! a guilty man be made in noenilt by showing I hat he spent the money in a particular way "I do not hrlii'i'e that Mr Mi is a guilty man I -aid 1.. • 1.1 i . "Nil! he! lev e p' y . .11 have 111 mg } faith;" and l.adv I'ai ivll hingh--d bp I erly "'Mini ground, h.i v yin tor your bel ii-i in him’.’" -he asked abrupt I y "lie ilnl noI look like a guilty I man; nor did lie -pea k oi yon a- a guilty man would have spoken ■ 1 I’evhaps he Ini.- been !mo n; I ■ Miss Troup’s school" was Ihe reply , "1 ought lo have d i nuns'. 1 1 Ist I long ago: hut she has made herseli very useful to me Now jt is 100 late." ’ ’Then yon think that M i Ir< "ip planned the crime, and goi Mr Mo r ley lo carry n nut. with tin oloe.-i of getting him disgraced and In.in-h-----ed from t In- hiaise ’’ ’ I a-.1-.-d ■ l l think it i.- pi is •-! I de, ’ i■ •; 11111 ,-i j l .adv Farr.-ll; .mil ymi might lilnl out whether 1 1 is .o. it y. n ronhi ni"l' Ilea r si mi" of the con v c>- a lions I . ■ tween Miss ’Tron|i and my nephew M ■ cheeks hn ri md . and 1 stalled involuntarily as I heard Hn- suggestion. "I thought you had undertaken in do work of that Kind.” said my employer. coldly. She was right 1 ought either to tak. all the usual meaie of solving Ihe mystery, or let the rase be placed m the hands of some other agent l.adv Farrell was watting foi my i--I'l.v "May I beg of you lo promise me one thing." I said —"that anything which I may overhear of Mr Moseley's private I'onv erKii I ion may not be Used lo his discredit, or his injury’■ I mean. t hat I should not like Ihe information gained by me in such a way I'.i result in making things w ms" lor him The ha rd- tea I tired woman opposite me looked at me keenly Her ey.es seemed to pierce me through. I '-aw that she suspected that I took an mi j usual interest in her nephew; and I knew that she was. not unnaturally, attributing my reluctance to (day the ! spy upon him to the worse cause j She snspeeied that i here had been j something between ns. and Hint it, | might he torture to me to overhear | Ins prival" talk with another woman i I Imre l.adv Farrell's tare 1 steadily, though ih.it I was conscious that my | i hi-ek-. |iiirni’il nig|e| 11, '"l mi need not be alraid,” -he said, j in Hn- ame rohl. ha rd, mensnred lone- "I a I reai ly look upon in v lie phew as guilty ul Hus mine, lie is lost to ni". Von cannot hear anything that won id make Hie rase again l him worse than it is." "Ilnl it I slum Id he able lo lea in something which would I brow a doubt on his guilt, or even to prove that lie was acting blindly, or at the in siiga ti on ot another ’ "You would do both him and me ;in inestimable service." rejoined lai ly Fa i r"! I \in I I ran tel I yon how it may be done," she wept on ' I have ascertained that Miss Troup and my nephew are in the habit of slipping into Ihe breakfast room now and then, for a lit Me private conver ai uni. when they ran find a suitable opportunity. The breakfast room is hardly ever ii-.-d in the latter pari of the day Ih-tweea ii and the dining room there is a large dark, closet, which I Keep locked I will give yon the key. Nobody will ever suspect Iha i yon are I here; and yon will find lha • a door opens fi in n the i b iso I in In the hrea blast room Von must use vo u i own wit. and. Iw very cautious, for it Miss Troup once smqieel.t. that j yon are keeping a watch on her move I meats—if she imagines for one mom '■ni that you are anything else than a pool relation of my huiibfuui’K —

y.”ii I!, ■••i'u i le’as will be destroyed at rtnli 'll.a;,- words l.ady laneli closed tile I-. >!i vrsul 11 m . :i ml be ini.. I li'i’t 1 1• • i room -.ln. Itainl. .1 im; a ;-|inrl . nisi I key -ill" key of I lie .11 nmu roimi rliis. i (111 111.' fill IO W 111 a morning I tool-, ill; i ip]" >fl mill y ol’ examining' thr i lia.'i i;i rrl u I ly . |i u'ns very large. nearly as 1 .1 1 ■ u • 1 a.-, a small sized room Kv'..n Ilii HU in it was coyer- -d wjlli ilitst : lull I a rra nged a sisal in it (or 1 11 \ st’l I* In llir help ol an ■ • 111 (»I y box wliirli I foimil 1 lirrr, ami soinr news | i;l pers The srronil iloor lII* I hr rlosrl . Innl my to ihr breakfast room, yeas hard Iy \ i;• i l l l r l o any oll.■ si( ( illg in ; 1 1;11 room. hj ha ppened that in Ihr breakfast l oom. I hrrr was. at lhal fairt ol lhr partition wall whrrr thr rlosrl door Win- placed, a srl ol bookslleiyvs which ellect nally i.'onimloi i( I'rmn view. Thr ntrans tor carrying out nn (I isagreea hlr task yy ere ready to my hand I had only In open thr door between Ihr rlosrl and thr lirea k t'ast room tor a i|itarirr ol* an inch, and sit tirhind it. and I should hr able to hear whnl was said in (lint apart Illrtil . as easily as it* 1 had been in i hi’ room ilsrli*. Nor was ii lour- before I had an opportunity for putting the matter to Ihr test Miss Troop had expressed an intent ion of going out . she Inin not left the house: and I not iced that Mr Moseley, who had ended i.as hr genera Ily did in thr afternoon), did not remain in (.hr room where his aunt was sitting. but went flown stairs, saying that he wanted to write a letter. I concluded Mint both hr and Miss Troup ware in the breakfast room But at Ihr last moment I fell so strong a repugnance to I lie task b. fore me. lhal 1 was ou the point of abandoning d altogether (‘’very senl intent of honour, every natural feel mg. rose m rebellion It was not until ! had reminded myself that (‘’rank Moseley was in his aunt's opinion merely the tool of an unscrupulous woman, and that my ob.iect was lo learn Ihr nature and thr extent of her inflnrtirr over him. and discover, if possible. whether she had had a hand in the ini'isT.i , that I frit aide to go . .ii with my pa rl , ll was m 1-Tank Movie) s own interests (li.ii i was going to play the ■p \ upon him Ii was in ordrt lo j.i'.n .■ h;s iiii oi rnrr or it least to si 11 ui i r his guilt, i: hr w err guilt y l or. 'S 1 . .rr 1i . Ii i in, i; p< iss iI dr 1110 avoiir ol hi- aunt, upon which Ins .1 hj. 11 • ’ I*l i( II I'r di 11. ■! Idi w ! Tins llioughl "ja\r 111.’ I'a- lire.--SMI V ■ouragr i passed into the diningroom. and sl'pp.-d noiselessly into the ■lo.si'l I had purp'.-i'ly left the do..r »r) yy i... 11 if ami Ih- ■ brrn kla si room -lightly y r r.y slightly alar; and 'ardly had I ia km ni.\ pbier. yvh.’li 1 (ear. I thr sou mi . n y.mv:

(* I I A I'TI !K \ , ( w ii \t i (i\ i i; 111: \ i; 11 i \ rn id:t; \!■. i ■ \s r mx >m . \ 1 '! . ' 1 1 ' 1), I op "."I the door I w hi.ii ■- p •; .it.'d me i; . ■ 111 ’he br.-ak | last ro mi and i be mom -,u | d’d 1 i I a ■ lone .' • i • ■ yy ;' hj i n tn-'i. |r me j nmiri'' i a ml ' i'a i no rapt uroif. |.»v r I M 0,,: - wl.o ;„s -p.'.ikinc v. In a, ■ r yen lid ' .. me \ ■ • * Is- a M il : am hardly . I aid" i ~ ~ w or.i .y i ; ii y on now ' ■(his. in i-o i. * 'ii a ion.- 1 i'a i ! . ■. 11 1 hj i ' I' is I rue Now yy d i mm immu" 1 " re* i. : j * i'r' an hour or two tin.-. : a ' i rr Miami ;it■ me m K rnsilit; 1 on I (• .11 <l. • 11. - 1 " ! "till (i'ra Id-. I i;a I is i itip . - i i .1.■ j "l! lioui.i in ) OU yy . mid -a). I ha f * * Is i hr do. r . 1 1 .s.’d . frank "" * i I a rn 1 led I! yy a- not I ii-.-l rsad j ! y a ,i -.Mim ..rn- we,-.- i j rniiin vv i r ii - i Hum I .1 I: ( i 1 I i i ; I'U . I !*. • * 1 ‘ ■| it.-i, fh-ic u.r- ,u,ist \ re \ Oil g, eng ! . > do W hat 1 a -i-.r.l i you. I "a i. k •> * a d t |m girl. •■What is til,ii ’*' '"I 1-. iioyy y r i , yi .■, | * 1 to you me a ii a Imii i your ) ,d i rrs ’ | '■V"S " " M h.v do you wish me to burn i I br|.| ' * * I yy isb I had never wri Men i hem '' 1 : ' i t-’d Miss Tr.mp. passioiir. I .-I . " I to you" Thai floe,- mil soimd very j j bo i ng ! * * ! "It is only prurlriicr. \ ou may ! j Ira y i ■ i hr in lying a lion t ; or scrv.i nt s | : may pirk them up and read them, | Mind so your a uni may coni” in knoyy j o| i an a I I a. hit lent "And what if she does'' She must j know. -o. nn a or later.” \ nil yet von told me it, yy on Id be j your non if sin- sir-pect ol anything ” j * * Vi mi : aid 11 yy ou Id In’ sour ruin. I ami I agreed yvtth you that for both | our sake:; our riigagi’mriit must be j kept see re | m the meantime But yy r must tel! her some day, and I think I hr sooner I hr b‘M I ,-r "I a.m sure that I shall noi hr ai- j lowed to slay a day in the house j alter y i mi do led her. \ ii. TTa nk, I , often think you 0111111111 led a great j mistake in tailing in lo\r yyilh poor j me !” j "(•firs lhal mean lhal you are fared j 0 I u 1 e. A 1 1 r r V * ’ ’ The word: were . aim, but the (one j was full ol suppressed passion | "Tired ol you" No’ Wh a I an idea' | 1 might rather ask if you ate not I growing tired of me ' Alice 1 Non knoyv it is no( so.” j "Why. (hen, do yon refuse me the I small layout’ 1 asked cm you V" "To burn y our let 1 er;. ?" "Or give I Item back lo me. ami J yy 1 11 burn I hem . ’ ’ "Alice, yon really cannot care for me, or you would uevei dream of asking such a thing." "You are a goose. What does it | mailer about (be letters?" "Only lhal I like to keep them " ( " \nd that you don't care whet her ' yon please ui“ ot not ITanl. Moseley was silent I lancied that I could see his face, anxious, disl.urbed, puzzled ' "I don't understand von, Alice," 1 he said, at length "You say you loir me. yet you yvnn ( eon sen I that ( my aunl should lie I old of our rn 1 gapeiiienl , and the one point, that, 1 you insist on is that I should burn or give you back your letters! If I I yvere not- -Who yvns that yon were ! walking wif.h in Oxford -.st-reet the I other day"" he asked, with a Midden ( change in his tone t ' -lealotts again! I never knew any 1 one so 11 (treasonable! ( "Who yvas it ?" persinted Frank iloyy can 1 tell? Home one ] met ' by chance, I suppose. What day wan 1 it V" <

- | '‘.Last. Thursday.” i .. . ■ i' irj ll ;■ c Imvv I ><•<■'ll my i j cousin from Birmingham ' " \ < o(i >- cousin n oin Birmingham! • I V> lilt I is Ills |,l! [i|,. ■>' ’ ' 'MI, natn«? . f nlm, if you 111 'Oil | have it " i ! ' >folm I'roup. <)u yin) im'.an V "Acs And now I iu. (id i hat ymjr ; teal I .us mrifi:a I y is sin is's-w ” '’Forgive in.-, Ain 11m, -< ns- li. da I you 111 1 lll.it-... 111!* ii ;i 1. ,tis ' ■ ' M a Vi- I |.\ .11’ ;;i VI n ... s I I’ll ll'D" "I ■ I on'i siu Mia! you li.uv Hut j ’ oss I .11,1 I,n toils by ;;1 hit \ ml i iim- you .so!” '' 1 lush! Sin, on.. list . , \ or I :■ d r ■ ; oil V. -. ■ .... c.ii . •; :; | I Si,; * | »T. IIO'.V 111 , I I | I , ■ | , I 1 I,- I : IS 111 Its. I ■. . , ■■Whom ,1., •, . 111 111 ■o' ~. I\. ■. 1 1 !• rank. Mi i Mi I>.lll-lit.m, ..I n.u; ll i my 1 1. 1 1.-!' i ii... • ~ , .ii.■ 1,111,1 ) u ,., 1 .i■ 11 , i s i ll i)| i- m ri;,■.' - I ’ 'liny !>, ■ I : 11; I m 1,.., | I j.., | |,|. : ! 111.'.'!''ll IIS I is an | ( 1;,,,;,. V, ~1-iK, " Non ■ '■ Iff.-tl Km uk •■ "ii ■ 1 1 u ml i! - I in,mi, | |, 11 ~,, ,s , II ri-l.’l I I, si Ilf 11, \ till,. 11 r 11 ;. ■. in,,; silli mi ' s l l 11 ..u ii i .if ' 1111 ■ | won i ! I, a r i you si.i on.. \> hm| aaaiusi 1 1 ,■ • ■ non.! I > iml ' I !• r lumpy has , ,| .... n ~, i ' 11,1 " oi'hl, I tail i i j., 1,,, ■ ; ivii-vni why ••»>.• «hou!d m.t ho re . : . , i . I I " < )ii. i if course sol Ii ;. 1! n,.. j M'ls if siu. hi;., no -p nil,l sl.„ r i , n , j ronmi- here. vvhv s |... uii-. nn- ! linr a fa Is.- ua n•.■ •>'' [ I Started so - w < I > i. • 11 ) \ Ilia I my i flross. and th- new sp.tp. rs v. Inch ■ sliioMul inn from t he dust, nictled; j and I ( roti,hied 1.-s’ im iiuimi; place j shoiihi i„. iliM'.ivi ivi) Pan I I eagerly forward ,o listen In I he I a nsvv.-r. i it is um (h<*r your business nor ■ mum to inijuirn into the ladv's i-sa j suits for rhnnging !'<•<■ name. Perhaps | soum members of her family liavn . misbehaved- or a hundred i-asmis i may he guessed Formerly she moved I in vary frond society; nmv that she i is iu a dirfi'rant non, ion : |m ma\ not | choose in Im known l,y her own nil Ilia | 'Vila i is liar own mi um ' "Who is rurinus now. \ 1 1 <-<• '*’ ’ ; "11a v< -a' t I a n mid to Im ninou a:-, wait as you ' You asl-n-d mo my cousin's ti.'uii". and ( told you a! Thai Mas ~ vers different thing.” - "Mas if’ I faury tin \\ : ■ I tarn: I 'on a, la.s, N r . has hwti an old i siv.-i'i Im n . u vs uirs \ Ii 1 ! 11 i iso i iruoss,.,) , t from i in* tiiwt day I saw you f o.;iu her. Wha, is ■h.-r rnal name, (•’rank ’ ! a ..a! t all y, iu ." "Mill you i,-|l nia if | guess' 1 [s |l ! i a iu I .lay ■' Yus. i I am right I low 'lid you guess'.' I lad you mat 1 Im lioiora ’' ' ' Naval lial you let fall ilia hrsl j svl In (ilo, you ms,.'” "'Veil. now t|l;il your rurt.tsil V is • ni is dad. |,.i as talk of so m .u htng niTioiS What mil st.-on i there " If my ana! -bouJd aoi )„• , ~j,i ~, our am.at;;.auaul "I'oii ’ say any a *• a n 1.1 u 1 1 ’ Von no <i.. 11 1 1 , !-:ii. nv ii w as ay,'.'ad I ha i u a 'A ha I la . 11 sa 11 si *! Ilia I w a - oiil v m do pat no I ' ' only a i j i s • , am . a muni - ' I Ad 'a i ' aafiini'ii l , ’ 11 yoij |, k<> Simply 1 1. ia a - .a. I i ..Ii I ..on I ..I hoi, ... I ha n.o I day " 'An' hiuj; . .ft hr kind I I all you, Asia I .Iml I hha hj nil iu: tips : rom j ' I'k'l 1 al ! it.lll you . I, ‘sa |-\ a, | i|;i|v j I s:i\ " I 'o t.iuj !, un v, w ha i stia . I" i lata- j " I’anl y oii! .lapis a a: i in I'A'iu I !y " * •';nn h?.'•) <’ i>h. I'r.«>i!v. \«m t mi uy Ip ' fallow 1 You prom I.." 1 1 no' in "I know I wa- an am ! was j 'II.IV. n in’., ll I Ist 1 maid I’.u! I ha Va j no 1 p.a.a again. and 1 don't mean | 1 t' l I ■' i ■ *'r lour t housii nd pound.-. j In ..ii" ill;' ii, In ' * i m n drill i ' Wall. W a W -IV pla \ mi; for l wo or ( | l I’, ran ii I 111 s Hut p w a: ail '' hr- sarna ; ihi.nl,' a - I ha nigger said whan his I mast it \va iitod to lidv him ilia second lima lor Pami; I I ps'y . ’ ’ ' A d so I aid v h'a rial! paid all that mi mat V ■ ’ N as : hut ha didn’t know how it want j hardly axpai’tad that sh<* would hava sent ma rairji a Inrirr miiii I \nd I itaJi iinaain,. ,sh<. has rajuuitial ! if stnos 1 stud to her the other I '' N r.n? What did you say t <i har ?" I u.sk-ad her wind in•! sha did not ra|nup of her panart .s, I y to a aoodfur not lima fallow like ma, and sha looked so oddly ai ma , hat I fniirn'd sha s u.spar i ai I liou tha money had IT olia "I don’t think your aunt is; one lo r.-p.up <u an art ~t kindness,” said Miss I‘roup, speiikiny slowly, and as ii sha wara ronsidarute, liar wonls. "If I w era y oil, I wouhl i a ke raiv iml fo ailuda lo l ha sidiii.rl apam." 'I have sometimes wotuleivd if my aunt meant to writ .■ me a fhepue lor lour hundred pounds, and throinrli ahsenee of mind wiole 'four tliousanif hy mistake " "Nonsense' l.ady I'arral! is not likely lo have made a mistake of that soil lake my ad\nv. and think no more ahoui it Try to 1., a yood hoy and pla.u a your mini a: wall as yon 'au \s yon say. --ha das.'iwasil, Hu' . I lierl.u re' P is a I ou lour' Your aunl will e\peel me -she must he. w aP our l or in,-. ! must mu o(i a t nil' e And we have wasted al! our time oi 'iispiPonr and lalkmy ahoui ail manner oi linin'"! I must have one kiss, then, at least, hafore you ;;n ” I h.-ard ilia noise of a sliyhl srullie and I hen 'he opnninp and elosmi; ..f a door they had left the room. i remained where I was for a mometit or two lonyer and liien. after rare.lidly shut tiny the door w lm hj op.-neil into I.he break-fast room, I made my escape from the closet , and went up to my own room I here 1 sal down, and Is pan lo ml down the su I ist a ui'O ol the con versa tom which I had just, hoard, while it was still fresh in my memory. I <iid so, the facts mine out more clearly in my mind. 1 had learned more tinnps than one In the first place, it was clear thai l.ady Farrell's idea that possibly Miss Troup had incited Frank to rob her was ill tei lv hasele.ss Nothing ' could he plainer than this—that ' there had boon no previous consult a lion or conupirncy between litem on I he sulline I They had that idteiiiooii imagined I themselves t.o ho quite alone; if they ' had formerly discuaned kite question < oi the choauo. eonu him. sY it must 1

I htivfi (.‘Kfrtped one or other of them. .i 1 4r-ii must have a.-.sittned that the I i:>.-is r. known to the other, (hi 1 I the r.,.it rer .'. Mol a Mil l»!e wits j spo;.;.-n ii’iim which an niea eonni he 1 | | liter/-, d I I Mi ss Tl ■H, (( li .1(1 I lie i I e(| ! | rati! ait er the <1 nt jsj •. It.- v. otihl j rha \ e |V it Jt I It- iarre « >1 T--ak- /■ j j n;; a!:<ail tt to her ;s hr- tied ( l M ne. | \t tin-; point hi my iiel i bera t I ons I i (.slopped short, and paw- mys.-lf up to ■ palatal reik-el tr.li:- V.a't it possjlile !n jilotiS; alter t hi-; that 1-Tank Moseleyi I had .-1 -ei .. 1 1 I i*h 1 •.1 his own a- - I | an/I, and had <|. Irand.-d In-- anm of i hr. . - 1I a .it: a nil ) n anals to sa l isty :■ I ; h,.noiir? ! ides-.. Lady i i j it i.j |j i* >■*•'«• li’ ni;m I. ■ miiih 1 miiii:I I, ~ :i, ’ :,;-ie and ’ one v. oi.ld >a-. | nn 1 m! i ■ I,! i. e. ii -r. reason eniild sip i | t -a eo e rounds even lor sn-.pend iM" ji'ji*- -1 a■ ■ 11 1 a;; alns I him Vet I relneinj i..-1-.-d i In- ion.- oi the .nine' man's I | , m-e as he apohe of his ,111111 e\ ell 111 , ! this ! a.si eon \ er- alj on . (in ly an inj no.-, -id man or a ronsnmma l e hypoj .-rite miild ha e used I hose aeeent s ! had I mm. n Prank Meseley well jla 11 -r. proba b!y . limn his aunt had ’ I ever known hint. I kin-w hi--, u.-iikm-sv r land I. is tmliles. it was like him to I -. eld i o i In- i asm nation of the ea m t j ins Ia i 1 * ■ alter IPs solemn promise to > | r.-i n 11111 ■• ■ I he.se plea ‘it n-s , I 1 was like ■ I him !-. li.-.-oma inial u.-il.ii ahout Miss Troup, i I was like him to he Je« I OHS - ;tm| ■ o pnnn/s of her. lint i 1 was not ) like in in to play ihe hy puerile. 'Pel who else could have committed the erim - Mini else could have heliej Ip.-d hy ii ’ 1 j I lie [iroldem se.-m.-d iiisolnhle. ■ j Pan .in the second place, I had also ' I learned that Miss Troup suspected. and more than suspected the real " I reason for my Ir-iny at ( 'umbcla ndspnare. She had discovered that I I was p.-e sini; umter a in kse name, and I Ilian is to [.’rank's carelessness —site - hml learned my t rue name. Why had ' she been so desirous to know what it was? Perhaps it was mere fentiI no;.- curiosity. At. any rale, it tie- ' In-m-d me to he rlonhly on my guard m t lie ftil.nre. 1 \ nd. in the t.hird place. I had discovered that Miss Troup was playing ins! and loose with Frank Moseley’s h.-art. Met desire to pet hold oi her letters to him. or have them destroy - ed. eon Id only V»e interpreted m one j way I disbelieved aI! opei her ill the j story of Mr Troup, oi Mirmiiigharn. j The woman's voice had had a nn"- oi | fa 1 selloo.I m it as she spoke of him. | ! ‘roll.-i lily etna'eh. I thought. Miss I Troup had another Inv.-r. and l-’rank i had ,-e. n them together. Whnt her oh | j.-ct could he. 1 could not even imag- ! ine Surely her interest must impel 1 her to keep her hold on t lie nephew iof the wealthy l.adv l-'a rr.-l!. and | marry him. What i.-ottld she yam by j deceiving him ? t - iTo be com i mic.r i