THE THUMB-PRINT.

North Otago Times, 3 September 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE THUMB-PRINT.

COPYRIGHT,

BY JOHN K, LEYS. Author of "The Moseley Mystery," "Black; Treachery," "In The Toils."

k STORY OF LOVE AND GRIME,

•• PAPT 6. , CHAPTER XX, THE Ihotbw. Early in the forenoon Gasooigno reaohed Lynmontb, 1 and went »t once to Porchwtcr Honse.' , , He hud no diffioulty in seeing Ella, for tie bud pencilled on his card—"A friend of Mr. Gerald Ashley." The poor girl whs pale aa a sheet, and her syea bore witne6s that she had spent the night in weeping. Gascoigne took her hand in ulrnce. " You do not believp, Mr. Gascoigne, that yoor friend has committed that awful crime f" the said, raising her tear-diinmed Dyes to hit. *"I could stake my life nnon it!" Mia he, fcnently, and she thanked him with a grateful look. '• But I think it would be foolish to deny that some o( the evidence tell* wrongly against him. We must both do what we can to dear up the mystery." "Rut what can I do?" cried the girl, duping her hands. " Not much, perhaps, beyond sending bim kind manages." " Rut can't I see him ? Won't they let me we him?" "Yea, I have no doobt that could oe arraug«d if you really *i»li it, and if you would promii-' to be brave, and not let yoni' uiiwj be too apparent. You know thst would only distress Geraltl the more."

" I will'be brave; indeed I will. But my aunt said it was impossible. She said prisoners wore not allowed to see anyone.' "She was thinking of prisoners who have been convicted, I suppuso. Or perhaps she thinks it would not be proper for you to go. I should not blame her if she did thinkso." "It docs not matter about that," said Ella, with a scornful toss of her pretty head. "If I can be of the least comfort to him I will certainly go. We are engaged, you know, Gerald and I," she added, with a little b!n«h.

thtßcoijpie smiled, but rather sadly. "There in just one thing," he said, "I tnuot ask your permission to do. You know that Mr. Mullen had in his possession certain papers relating to you or some of your friends, and that Gerald was very •niious to got hold of them. Now we may find it impossible to deny that he was in Mnllen'a room that night, and it may be necessary to explain how that was," "Oh, of course don't think of me!" interrupted the girl, dirininir what he would say. " Gerald's safety is the one thing to consider. Of coarse! How could you think my perminion nccenary to tell the truth about it?" "Because Gerald said that he would not allow the reason he had for going into Mullen's room to come out But now that I hare seen you I shall do as I think best when the time comes."

Scarcely bad Gsacoigne finished speaking when the door of the room in which they were was flung open, and he had a sudden vision of a little woman arrayed in a mantle of shimmering, grayish white, in impression of lace, flowers, and delicate perfume. The stranger looked at him for an instant, then her glance fell upon Ella. She rushed up to her, clasped her round the neck, and began to peck kisses on her face, after the manner of her kind.

"My darling I" (Kiss.) "Is it really you?" (Kiss.) "Your own sweet selfl" (Kiss,) "But how pale you aro! And your eyss are red!" (Ki«s.) "Who has been tormenting you?" (Kiss.) Bhe stood with one plump arm thrown round Kiln's waist, and threw a look at Gobcoign* as much «s to say, "Is this your doing, you big, ugly man ?" Gucoigne bore the accusing look unmoved, took np his hat, and bowed himself out of the room.

•'Where have you come from, Lavinia?" asked Ella, linking her friend lit down by her on the coach.

" From India, my dear, and I'm very glad in find myself in dear old England again, I e»n assure you. The heat out there is something terrific." "Lavinia!" cried Ella, who sow noticed for the first time that a fairy-like edging of tolle lay between the lady's bonnet and her fluffy hair, "yon are not —?" "Tea, my dear child, ' Married and widowed since you last saw me. I noticed your name in the visitors', list of Lynmouth in a local paper I happened to take up yesterday. So I thought I would come and have a chat with you." "And what is your name now?" "Oh, that's the worst of it, my dear! That's the reallyabomiiablepart of it! I •carcely like to tell you. But you may remember that I alwaya said that having been christened with that truly awful name ol Lavmia Blood, I would make it my one aim in life to marry a man who had a really good, distinguished name, so as to make me forgei my old name as quickly as possible'. You recollect my saying so, don't you, Ella?" Ella nodd»d.

> " Well, when I was on ray way out to India, with the Simpsons- yon remember the Bimpsons, dear?—l went ont with them in tie hope of getting better paying pupils in Calcutta than I could find in I met »genthmau who made me an offer. He was not yonng; in fact, he was far too old for me. Bnt he was dreadfully in We with me, and he asked me three times. The third time he wanted to know if it was because of his age that I refused him, and I wae compelled to say that it was not. It was solely on account of his name. My dear, his name was- Slaughter!" The widow paused for a moment, that the full force of what she said should have time to penetrate Ella's mind, and went on. ■ "Of course, it was impossible, At least I thought it was. Blood, if rather barbarous, is what is called a good name. There are Bloods, you know, somewhere—l have forgotten where, but I know there are, But] Slaughter! And when I had looked forward to marriage.as a way of escape! It waa too cruel. Well, Mr, Slaughter was so much in love with poor little ms that he promised and vowed most solemnly that as won as we were married he would change his name to any name I liked, even if it took an Aot of Parliament to do it. So we were married. But poor, dear Theodore did not live to keep his promise. Ho died of fever when' we had been married just three months." And the scatter-brained creature dabbed away a few real tears with a pockethandkerchief about the sizo of * cheeseplate. "I did care for him, Ella, though you mayn't think it!" she said, with a sigh. "He was so fond of me, and he left me so very comfortably off that I should be an ungrateful wreteh if I ever forgot him, And I never mean tp. May I light up, Ella f" And she produced from somewhere a tiny cigarette case of chased silver.

"I don't mind, dear, but perhapi my aunt—7-"

"Oh, ill right. I've no doubt they will giro no rooms, and I will mob there. But what is the matter, ehild P What were von ud your middle-aged friend looking so glmn •boot as I came in P Oh, goodness I Don't tell me that he is your lover, Ella, I hope I haven't laid anything dreadful!"

"No, Oh, no. He is a friend of—of my real lover, the man I am engaged to." Then the recollection of what Gascoigne'a strand had been overcame her. The anguish lhather friend's chatter had forced her to forget for a few minutes came back with double force. She could restrain herself no longer, and laying her face down on the elbow! of the couch she sobbed piteonßly. lavinia sat by in silence, her plump, babylike face grave, and a queer expression on her face,' as she gently patted and stroked the head of the weeping, flirl. She thought it ww merely some lover's quarrel or some disappointment that Ella wan taking bo much to heart.

"lam ashamed of myself for breaking down so," said Ella, drying her ejes and lifting her face into the light. "Only it all came back on mo with a rush. You will forgive me, dear, when I have told you mv trouble."

" Good graoinua, 1 never heard of such a thing," cried Lavinia, when she heard all that Ella had to say. "Yonr own sweetheart—in prison, well, no wonder you are •ad. But it will all come right., Yon seeif it don't, And that melancholy gentleman is his friend? Perhaps'it was ont of sympathy with you thai he looked en lad," "I dare »r. Mr, Gweoigne is very kind."

"I drove him aw»y, Ella. I oonld tee, (bit, Had he anything 'partioultt to say to jronP"

"I think he had said all he wanted. But I wished to ask him to go over to Braudlebury with me to see-to hi Mr, Aibley Id»Ii« prison," tWHittJfll." • •: ■

j' i'WUI you, Indeed, Latlniaf How good you are!" ' ."Child, not a word of that.oryou and I will quarrel. Do you think I have forgotten that Christmas whon I was lying in my lonely .London lodgingß ill and half-starved, and vou brought me ". ■ > "."Hush! dear. .That was a very, small thing to " Oh, yes, I suppose so 1 All the same, I've not forgotten it, and I'm not likely to. Aunt Sclina still with you?" Ella nodded.

" Well, fhe and I took to one another like oil and water, you know. So I shan't do anything direotly to interfere with her department. But I'm going to stay in thb house for just as long as you stay here, and we Khali spend hours and hours together; and wherever you want to go, and whatever you want to do, I'm with you. You understand, Ella?" -

Ella said she understood, and thanked Lei friend with a kiss.

The inquest was held at the hotel that, afternoon, nnd Gerald was brought out from Brandlcbury to give evidence. Gascoigni' told him that he had better decline to answer any questions, fearing that he might compromise .himself irretrievably. But Gerald, with a truer instinct, decided that the safer way was to speak out: so he tnld bis friend that he preferred to be called as a witness, and Gatwgne, seeing that his mind was set upon doing so, offered no further opposition. ■Standing alone at ono side of ilia great mahogany table that separated the jury from the spectators, Gerald seemed as rool and collected as a man could be, Ho jpok" quietly, yet so that Ella, standing- in an adjoining apartment, heard every word he uttered. Ihounh the room was packed as full as it would hold, not a sound was to be heard while Gerald gave his evidence, save the scratching of the coroner's quill as it made it» way over the paper, and the humming of a fly tha't wa6 bnzzing in one of the window panes, " I had a dispute with the deceased," said Gerald, "on the day before bis death. He had some papers which I wanted him to give up to mo. Ho refused." "What was the nature of these papers?" interposed the coroner. "1 would rather not answer that question," said Gerald, calmly. The coroner stared at him over his spectacles for a minute or to. Then he turned to the list that had been made of the property found in Mullen's room after his death, evidently looking to see whether he could find any trace of doenmentswhich could have been a subject of dispute between the two men. But Iheie, was no mention of any suell papers. He looked at the witness, and saying coldly, "You decline to say anything stent the nature of these papers f'' ho bt-nt over his writing again.

"I do," arid Gerald, firmly. "Just look at that list," said (ho coroner! " and you tan tell me, if you like, whether the documr'Dts you refer to are mentioned there or not,"

Gerald took the lint and scanned it eagerly, " I see no mention of them," he said at lost.

A faint smile hovered round the coroner's lips as he replaced the list upon the tnble. It was clear that he believed that Gerald Ashley had taken the papers he spoke of from the bedroom of his victim, as well as the money, He motioned tho witness to proceed, and Gerald went on—

"The last time I saw the deceased alive was just before I left Mr, Grainger's room. He was placing eoinc banknotes he had won at play into a letter-case. I did not watch him pnrticnlarly, Ho did it quite openlv, I went out of the hotel and went for a stroll. It was then that it occurred to me that I would go into Mr. Mullen's bedroom when he was asleep, and possess myself of those papers which I have referred to. It was a foolish, a mad thing to do; but I thought I had a right to take the papers, which were of no value in themselves. And I did it. lVhun I went bsek to the hotel I ascertained from the porter, that Mullen was occupying the room I had thought was hiß—No, 79—and went straight to it. The door was not locked ar bolted, and I went in very quietly. "The room was in total darkness except for a faint glimmer through tho blind, Mr. Mullen was not then dead, for I heard his heavy breathing, The last time I had seen the papers I was in search of they were in a letter-case which Mr. Mullen put into the breast pocket of a tweed jacket or shooting•oat he was wearing at the time. It was the <ame coat be wore after dinner that night, f felt about the furniture near the bed, and i'ume upon a heap of clothing among which was the coat, I felt in all the pockets, hut the letter-case with the documents was not in sny of them. "Then 1 thought he must have put it in his portmanteau, and as he was evidently a man of rather careless habits, I thoughtit just possible that he might have left his portmanteau unlocked. I could see the outline of it by the dim light that came through the window blind; but it was much too dark to tee anything clearly. The portmanteau wbb not locked. It oDi2£d.xesd'ly, hilt 1 believe the hasp omit have been urouen. At least, f can't think of any other way of accounting for my cut finger." "You toldtho chief constable, I think, that you cut it with your razor," interrupted the coroner.

"I did, because I did not know at that time that* Million was dead. I thought he was charging me with stealing the papers, and I wished to conceal the fact that 1 had been in his room," said Gerald, calmlv. "Well, goon," " After poking about among the clothes in the portmanteau for a minute or two, I found the letter-case I was in search of—or what I thought was it. Then I left the room aj quietly as I had entered it, taking it with me. Next morning after breakfast I made up the Ifitter-caKe into a packet, and sent it tc a lady who, I believed, had the best light to the papers. I have been told that the lettercase really contained hank-notes and lOU's; but I did not know that at the time."

"Doyou really mean the jury to believe that you took ihis letter-case, and despatched it to another person without troubling yourself to examine it?"

"I do," said Gerald, firmly. "Nodoubl under ordinary oironmstnnces I would have opened the letter-case to see whether the papers wero really there. But they wert such as I had no right to read, and I wished to be able to tell Miss Westbury that I had not so much as opened the letter-case. It was secured with an elastic hand, and I nevet took the band off. I had not the least doubl that the papers I wanted were inside, as ] knew they were in that case o,nly a few horns before. Mr. Mullen must have taken them out and put the notes in the case instead." " Have you any idea what has become ol those papers you talk of?" "I know nothing more than I have told you."

Some of the jurymen asked a few questions, chiefly with a view of showing their own importance, for none of the queries wero of the least moment. When they had beon answered Gerald was allowed to retire. But when he went back to the small room in which he had ban confined while the juiy were beinir sworn a delightful surprise awaited him. The policeman who had him in custody did not go into the room with him, hut merely ushered him in and locked the door behind him. And inside, right before him, Ella was standing with outstretched arms!

Bhe came flying to him, and nestled on hie breast, almost bofore he had time to realise it was she.

That, moment of happiness tho two lover* never forgot. Tho rapture was the more exquisite that the meeting was an unexpected one, and that it came to them like a ray of sunshine on a day of deepest gloom. For a long time thoy stood clinging to each other, without uttering a word, forgetting all hul the delicious sense of each other's presence, But by-and-by they were able to whisper wordsof endeaiment; and then Gerald became conscious that they were not quite alone. A short, plump, little creature, in the daintiest of dresses, was standing in a corner with hei back to (hem, affecting to examine a' print that bung on the wall; and Ella introduced her aa " my own trne friend." ' The meeting had. been arranged by jGascoigne; and in view of the verdict whioh he feared, he did not think it advisable that the lovers should be together when the result wai known. So he came in while tho coroner wai engaged in reading his notce to the jury, and persuaded Mrs. Slaughter to fake Ella away. "Prepare her for an adverse verdict by-and-by," he whispered in the little widow't ear. "Tell her that it is only to be expected, and that it is not of any real importance." " I will come and see you, my darling, ai soon ae tbey will allow me!" exclaimed Ella, as she hung upon her lover's shoulder at parting. "And lam sure that in the end it will be all cleared up. Lavinia says she is sure ol it; and think how happy we shall be then I" A look passed' between Lavinia and Gas-coignt-a look that .told only of fear and doubt. But neither of the lovers saw it.

When Ella had left the hotel, Gascoijnie stayed with his friends for a few moments, and then returned to the court-room. The jury were out—considering their verdiSt in another room.

Gasooigne had been surprised that no evidence had been given about the thumb-print, but he recollected that there had aoaioely been itae to get thelwu impressions examined by « experl, and ho Imtl no doubt that the rt: mi Kin fowld.

if as brought before tlio magistrates. The. jury remained away ro long, that hope sprang up in Guscoigne's mind. _ He knew mat although an open verdiot.would hnvo.no pra'alicnl effect so far us the release of hid friend whs concerned, it would have some weight, both with the magistrates, and with the jury at the assize ciui'te. Rut it. was not lo bo. When the jury filed into their places, fverybody in the room guessed, from the e*-, predion on their faces, what vurdioi would be Hfivon. ■ , "Wofind," said tho foreman, "Unit (he'

leceased. Daniel Mullon died from ut pistolihot fired by Gerald Ashley, and that ho was thu< killed and murdered by Gerald Ashley." And Gerald Ashley was taken buck to his :ell at Rrandlebury, feeling that, although he lad taken no man's life, the mark of Cain lad been Bet on his forehead.

CHAPTER XXI; A Mtstbbioub Lmteb. It is unnecessary to relate the evidence that was irivon before the magistrates next day, and on several following days, The waiter who had been a witness of the first dispnto between Gerald Ashley and Mullen toM bis tale, and so did Mr. Johnson, the manager of tbo hotel, and Mr.fitv«3<iart. Gascoigne was present at all tbeso examinations, but ho preferred to leave tho nv> i'i the hands of the solicitor whom Major Pomcrny had recninmonded him to employ On> t':ing puzzled him. Not a word was rai.l abi'iit the thumb-print. Vw this, Gnscoignosaid to himself, might ari.'n from oae of two reasons. Either the prosecution, satisfied with the admissions Gonild had made before the coroner, might hnvc come hi the conclusion that it was not worth while to go to the expense of procuring the evidence of experts on the mutter of tho thumb'print, or they might Imvu obtained a professional opinion and found it unfavourable to their caso. If that were true, it was of the first importance, for it would be .conclusive proof that, a second man had been in Mullen's room on the fatal night. But it was in vain that 'Gascuigne made." application to-the Crown authorities oi, the point. They absolutely re- | fused to aIW rhs impression of a thumb found in Mullen's portmanteau to be photo- | graphed or examined by an expert on behalf 'of tho prisoner. Of course, it would be in the power of a clever counsel to make much of that refusal Bt the trial. But Gascuigne wanted something move than this. He wanted the thumb-print photographed and compared with the thumbprints of every man and womau who was known to have been in the hotel on the night of the murder, so far as they could be found, And he determined that before the day of the t'ial ho would make an application to the Home Secretary to order that at least he miffht be furnished with a photographic copy of the thumb-print,

One morning Gascoignc, who was staying all (his time at the Lyntimnih Hotel, went for a sivini before breakfast, and as he was dressing after his dip, he noticed something shining in a crevice of the rooks at a little distance.

Impelled by an idle curiosity he went to the spot when ho had finished dressing, to see what it was that had attracts! his attention. It wan a piece of thin copper, twisted in a way that made its original shape extremely dnub'ful. Clearly it had oot lain there Jong-, for it was quite undimmed by the action of the sea air. On one side it was lacquered or japanned over, and on the other it was bright and shining; and it had been tho glittering of part of the under surface that had caught his eye. The question not unnaturally arose in his mind—"How did this thing come here?" Clearly it had not been washed up from the mn, and ax certainly it formed no part of any kitchen utensil or common instrument. Besides, if it had bpen part of anything of that kind the lacquer would have beeu dimmed, and the copper itself worn. On the contrary, it was quite now. Something had crushed it out of shape wilfully, Could it have been in order to conceal it« true oharactor ?

With a smile at his own suspiciousness Gtucoigne tossed tho bit of metal out of his hand. It fell with a clang upon the rock, and he turned to go back to the hotel to breakfast.

But he had not gone half a dozen yards before his mind reverted to a question that had been puzzling him ever since he had first heard of the murder at the hotel—a question that had beon studiously ignored by the Crown lawyers. If Daniel Mullen was killed by a shot from a revolver, how was it that no one had heard the noise of the report? Guwoigne knew that some modern weapons of the revolver pattern mako very little noise when they are discharged, and he knew that it is puß-iblc by taking certain precautions to reduce the noise still further. But he could not bring himself to liplie.vc that a bullet could be fired with sufrHnit force to penetrate to the brain of a man without making noise enough to awaken those sleeping in the adjacent rooms.

Tho theory of tho prosecution was that Gerald intuit haw had a revolver with him at part of his iugu'iige, aixlthatafter committing the murder he had gone quietly bark to hi* own room, stayed there till the hotel servants were astir, and then flipped out. He had then thrown the revolver into the sea, or had hidden it. in a crack in the rocks, along with the rest of his cartridges. Now, Gaseoigne knew very well that this guesswork waa miles away from the truth; but he found himself quite unablo to account for the fact that the report of the revolver had not awakened anyone. It was not till now. when the difficulty jibont the absence of noise and the problem of the strange piece of copper came together in his consciousness, the one idea shouldering the other, as it were, tlmt light broke in upon his mind, "Of course!" ha cried aloud. "Whntan have been not to think of it sooner! It was done with an air pistol! And I shouldn't wonder if that piece of copper it part of the mechanism of the thing, beaten all out of shape, so that it should not be recognised.

He hurried baok to the Bpot where he had thrown the bit of copper, and Boon found it. He now examined it more attentively, and he thought he couid make out that the copper had been once a sphere, and that it had been first beaten out flat, and then twisted and bent till not' a trace of its original shape presented itself to the eye. If it had been picked up by a fisherman, or anyone without a keen eye in his head, it would not have attracted any attention or aroused any'snspiidon. Indeed, it was by a kind of accident that Gascnigne had come to think that the thtiig.Niiglit bitve some sigm'fi'vmce, He put it. in his pocket and went back to the hotel, Mfi'vinif to takn it to London that, vory day, and submit it to the examination of someone skilled in the manufacture of air-pistols and air-guns.

As he was sitting at breakfast, however, he received a noto from Ella Westbury that, had tho effect of turning his thoughts into another ntwmel. She wrote to say that she had receiv. d by that morning's post a very strange ; letter, and she would bo glad to have his | advice before replying to it, p I " Humph!" said Gaseoigne, as he chipped jan egg, "She might as well have enclosed ' the letter, and then I could have told her in Writing wiiat I thought eho had better do. Now I shall have to waste time going up to Porohwter House, and that woman will be there all the time." " That woman" was Mrs. Slaughter,' He went up to Porchester House the moment he had finished his meal, hoping that by arriving so early he might find ENa alone, Jtiw Elliott generally breakfasted in bed, as Ella herself had told him. But his plan did not work. The objectionably frivolous and Qhiectionably wealthy widow was jeaUi.pn a; baasockat Ella's feet when Gascoigno was Jiinounced; and when he advanced to shake hands witf. Ella her companion did not trouble herself to rise and leave the room. I

', Gascoigne treated her to one of his stateliest bows, which the widow acknowledged by in amused smile, and the most perfunctory of nods.' ''

1411 a did not see this little byplay. She was reading for tho third time an opou letter which she had received that morning, and only glanced up to bid Gascoignc good morning. "Just look at that, Mr. Gascoignc, and tell me what you think of it," she said to him, putting the letter into his hand. He irew up a chair, and began to study the letter. It ran thus:—

"Yerulam Buildings, Chancery Lane, "—August, 18-. "Madam,—l take the liberty of writing to you on a subject which, it i*b believed, is of vital imponance to you. By an accident, or rather a series of accidents, with the details of which I need not trouble you, ut gentleman who is a client of ours.has acquired certain information which' he believes to be "of the greatest possible interest to you. It is-.pos-sible that he is mistaken in so thinking,' hut if he is wrong he begs to tender to you his sincere regrets and apologies for having troubled you in .the' matter. You may possibly think it worth your while to call and see me nn behalf of my client, when I ihall be happy to give you all the information in my |mer. " It in Htot'tolj wjutM W if jwi m»

to this office you nhonld.be unaccoinpanied, mid that you should not make any third soii.coguiaautof the offer now belng'niade to ■you. Any- attempt at a breaoh of confidence, would have the' effeot of .breaking off negotiations altogether. .. " If,you (ian make if convenient T ahall be glad to Be« you here on Thursday next, between the hours of eleven and twelve in the forenoon, ■.O ■■, '

"lam, Madam, ." Yours most obediently, "'Thokm R. Fr,irroin«."

"Ah, I think I must Ask you to let me atlcnd to this," said Gascoigne with a smile, as he deliberately folded up the lawyer's letter and put it into his pocket.

CHAPTER XXII. Thk Meaniho or the Lima,

"What do you mean to do about it?'.' said Ella, with a troubled look, as Gascoigne put the letter away.

"I will go at once and see this man, and Hnd out what he means."

" Rut don't you think—isn't there a danger that he may refuse to tell you ? You' seo he is very particular to say that I , must not confide in any third person, and must go alone. He may know something of importance for ub to knuw, and your going may have the effect of .making him refuse to toll us anything." ••Ella is right." etrui'k in the widow, decisively. "I am sure that at sight of Mr. Gascoigne hewuuld simply shut up, and,we should be no wiser than we are now."

"If I thought there was really anything in it," said Gssiwisoie, alter a pause, " I would not object to your seeing the man, so long as you did not go alone—that I would never consent to, But I look upon this ar meielya trick for swindling you. Take my word for it, the writer of this letter, or his client, is a scamp who in some way has found. out the relations between you and Mr.; Ashley, and hopes to make a profit out ol your fears. I don't believe he has any secret to sell—or at least anything of any intpottance. He will tako your money <md give you. nothing in exohange."

"I would risk that sooner tlian lose a olranco of helping Gerald," said Ella, her Ihco Hushing in her excitement.

" I will go with Ella." said Mrs. Slaughta*, in the same tone of decision sho had usf-d before. There sepmed to be a kind of ant*, gonism between her and Gascoigne. It wiib not the first time that she had opposed hiiM, and what was more, she had generally hiid her way. So it was fated to be on the present occasion. Oawoigno did not believe in tho myste'ious letter; but ho thought it quite possible, indeed probable, that it might in some way refer to Gerald's trouble, aiid he saw that Ella would torment hcrscn" by thinking that she had not (lone the bout for her lover if she did not see the writer rif the letter herself. So, as he thought tba,v could be uo danger in' her calling on tint snlioilor, especially as Mm, Slaughter was to accompany her, and that.the worst she mishit haTe to bettr was unpleasantness, and perhapsi impertinence, he let W have her way, But. he insinted that no money was to be paM over, no arrangement was to be made, Jw promise given, without consulting him. ■Ella wished to start at once, but Guscoigiie pewußiled her that it would hare a look of too great eagerness on her part to do that, und for once the little widow agreed with h mi. So she merely wrote a few lines to inf firm Mr. Fletcher that she would oall at his office on the following forenoon. Next day all three went up to town, and drove to Chancery lane. Mr. Fletcher's office was in an alley leading out of the Inne, and Gascoigno said he would wait for tihem at the corner.

Ella- and her companion went dowa the alley a few yards, found the house thoy wanted, and mounted the stairs in almost total darkness. Then they came to a landing, and opposite them was a door, half of ground glass, upon which they read: THOMAS R. FLETCHER, SOLICITOR,

COMMISSIONER FOR THE ADMIMIS TRATION OF OATHS IN BANKRUPTCY.

Mrs. Slaughter, passing before her fiiend, opened the door and went in.

A tall, thin, bald-headed man in a frock coat of rusty black sat upon a high stool poring over soino papers, At the appearance of the pretty widow he looked up und stared in mute admiration.

"Is Mr. Fletcher in?" she answered, sharply, "What name, ma'am?" said the man, slowly getting off his stool, "You cau say Miss Westbury and a friend."

On Mrs. Slaughter's right was a door inscribed with the word "Private," The elderly clerk opened it gently, as though it were the portal to some holy place, and advanning on tip-toe, softly closed it behind him. In a minute he reappeared, and stealing up to Mr«. Slaughter (evidently taking nor for Miss Westbury), he paid in a solemn tone: ••Will you pl-aee step in, madam? The other lady cm wait, here."

Hie widow, after motioning Ella to remain whore Bhe'was, followed the clerk into the other room, where a short, sparoinan, with a sly, disagreeable expression, was sitting behind a tabic, covered witb AirW'wrogted paper tied no in bundles jiu rose and bowed. Tha pintle iilsw s :hair far the lauy and withdrew. Are. Slaughter waited till he had gone, and then 'aid pleasantly-" I suppose yon think I am Miss Westbury?" The lawyer (save a start, "Certainly!" he said, with some asperity, " Miss Westbnry ia outside." ■ " Hut I partionlarly said in my letter thatl wduld only see her alone," said the lawyer angrily.

"Just so, but I think it highly improper for a young unmarried lady to pay a visit anywhere in the city alone., So I came as her chaperon. I am her confidential friend, and I know all her seorets. You need not I'esrto trust me."

"This is absurd!" cried Mr. Fletcher, an an«ry flush appearing on his sallow checks. "I will see Miss Westbury alono, or not at all!" and half-rising he struck sharply on 8 hand-bell that stood on his table.

" In that case," said the ,widow swectlv, " you will not see Miss Westbury." " Then she will lose all ohance of hearing what my client has to say to her." " Oh, not at all! We will advortise for him, and deal with him directly ; and I think it is quite possible that that may turn out to be the best arrangement after all." The solicitor frowned, but the stroke told, He knew that if he did not succeed in optming up communications between the parties, it would fall to another solicitor to do so, and his fees would be lost.

The door opened and the clerk appear cd, waiting.

"Don'tyou think ho had hotter ask ;the lady to step in?" said Mrs. Slaughter: She received no answer, for Mr. Fletcher had not made up his mind what he should do. He was very desirous that there should be no witness of the coming interview, but to lose the business altogether —! " She can come in," he said abruptly, The widow took caro not to smile. I !he know she had scored the first point in the game.

" Now, to come to business," said thelawy w, when Ella hud beon accommodated with, a chair at the side of her friend, "my clie lit, whom we may call Mr, Brown, by an accide lit, I may say, finds himself in the possession of certain newspaper cuttings and what seeraato be the proof of an article—" ■ He stopped, and looked ouriously at KHit,: tor she had involuntarily uttered aery, and wt ■tending' forward with parted lips, her hai ids clasped together on her knees. !

" Which he thinks may possibly have seme interest for you, Whether it ; is so or not, of ionise, I cannot say. At any rate, be*, is willing to dispose of them, and if they are of iniy value in your eyes he would let you hilve rhtm for a moderate sum. If you take no interest in them, he will probably be »hle ; to •lisposeof them to some pressman. I know little of such matters, but I, am told that 'here are always men in London who find fliat it piys them to purchaso papers of that Wind." i .

" He would sell thorn to some blackmailer, you mew—or to the editor of some scurrilous print?" put in Mrs, Slaughter. " He would naturally- do the bent he eonli'i withthem," slid the lawyer, speaking to the widow, but keeping his gaze feed on Ella. : "And what would he call a moderate 1 price?" asked the widow. . . 1

Klla turned an appealin? glance on her, aglance that said—"Oh,' don't haggle in a matter of this kind!" but Mrs. Slaughter paid 110 attention to it.

"A moderate price?" echoed the lawyer, " Oh, perhaps five or six hundred pounds." Mrs. i Slaughter leaned back, in her chair and laughcd-not noisily, but with an air oi; genuine enjoyment. "I think if I were Miss Wentbury'B father, or any relation of hers, I should think suob a sum we* spent to prevent the pain, which Miss Westbnry would suffer if thesftpara. graphs and that article were to appear in any society journal." said Mr. Fleteher, still keepiinf his orafty eyes upon Mla'a fane. '• Don't you think,' Mr. Kletohw, tWi- it rather \langerous work for youP"said tiht widow, with a captivating smile, , " Dangerous P What do W ni«an,

' "In this way f'mean;.. 'What you. propose It really blaolmial money with menaces, f'lo they call it'leirally? J never. can .reirt'ember these legal terms." Mr. Fletcher di'ewhimßelf up haughtily; bill Ma, as well as her.friend, noticed that he .turned peroer/dbly paler. "Of course I know next to nothing about these things myself, butitseems/tomethatif my fraud were to go to a juiigd rind just tell the story,-yon know, the jndgo might interfere and prevent the paper? i being printed. Then we would not have to pay? anything, you know. And don't you thitift it might be a little awkward for.you?" ■•; ' . Mr. Fletohf r jumped up from his seat in a towering rag p, rushed to the door, tore it open, and waived his bund, an if inviting his vieitora .to A 1 spurt. Ella rose trembling, with a timid look at her companion, but Mrs, Slaughter ki ipt her scat. '"Why, v /hat have I said ?'' ehe inquired, with a look jpf innocent wonder.

' '■ I am a jreapeotablo solicitor, and you have grossly insi ilted me,!' said the lawyer. "You had better to I l .' "Not til you have heard me ont," said the widow. "'I only said you might find it awkwuvd, But if you don't think so, ol ooiirse ' you wouldnlt, and it's alt right; Do shut '/bat door, for I'm not going just yet; and -you wouldn't leave me all alone in the lion'eden, would you, Ella?" A little silvery ripple of!laughter Mowed; and-Mr. Metchei. 1 , seeing that he could hot very well turn out his two visitors by.force, did close the doftr, and returned to iris chair.

\ " Now I was goin,'? to suy when you interrupted me," went on the lady, " that neither; I nor my friend are fond of going before judges and that sort of thing. Besides, it would cost a lot, wouldn't it P So. if your client likes to let. us have those papers—he picked them up in the street, didn't he f" She paused for an answer, but the lawyei gave her none, and sho proceeded • " Well, if he is willing to take a moderate and reasonable sum for the cuttiugs—say'ten or twelve pounds—why, perhaps wo might buy them, so as to savo trouble."

" You don't seem to understand the case, madam, and it is useless to arguo with you, YoU are wasting my time, and ray time is o) value, if yours is'not, so—" "Now, Mr. FLetcher, that is'very rude ol you. It is indeed. Tor my part, ns I have told Miss Wiwtbury, it is rather naive of het to give any thing for the cuttings. Who is to guarantee that they have not been copied ?" A glanco that had something of admiration in it passed across the lawyer's wowien features, "There would bo no fear of that, if a proper sum were' paid for them,'.'he said grimly; "but I scarcely think it would be wise to throw away ten or twelve pounds on them. They are scarcely worth that—or thoy »re worth a good deal more." \ ''Well,, perhaps we might go as far as twenty, mightn't, we, Ella?" "Oh, yes, yes!" oried the girl, eagerly.

Mrs, Slaughter smiled uponheriudulgcntly. "We (fill say twenty, then, us an outside price," and the lady rose and gave her skirts a little shake. " You may tell your bashful olient. that the lady is prepared to pay him tweuty pounds for these papers, provided he will give some security that they will not bo printed after all." " I shall tell bim nothing of the kind, It would not be worth iny while, or his while, to act in the matter at all for such a paltry Bum," said Mr. Fletcher, haughtily. " J)«ar me! See what it is to deal in large sums as you and Mr. Brown do. To me, now, twenty pounds neema quite a lot of money to give for mime cuttings out of old newspapers. But perhaps Mr. lirown may agree with me that they aro not wortfunore," "I refuse to transmit the offer to him. I repeat that it is not worthy of being taken seriously." "Oh, yes, you will tell him of it, Mr. Fletcher, for you see it's that or nothing. Good day, and thank you so muoh!" So Baying, Mrs. Slaughter sailed out of the office, closely followed by Ella, who would have liked, if she had dared, to whisper to the lawyer in passing, that she would pay a ahundred pounds-twolmndred—anything, to get those odious paragraphs into her handß. "Oh, Ijavinia, I knew you meant it for the best, but you have ruined us!" cried Ella, when they were safe oatside. "Have IP Wait till you heat what our solemn friend says to that!" oried the little woman, with the light of triumph in her eyes. "What has kept you so longp" asked Gascoigne when they met him, "Another five minutes, and I would have come to see what had become of you." "Oh, Mr. Gascoigno, what do you think?" cried Mrs. Slaughter, too excited to stand upon ceremony, or answer his question. "We have as good as found the man who killed Mullen!"

. Ella and he both started. " What do you mean?" he asked eagerly, "This man's client wants to sell Ella the outtings that he took from Mullen's pooket, or from the portmanteau. He must be iiw/nlly hard up, don't you think, to think of playing such a dangerous game?'' "Can this be really true?" asked Gascoigne, bewildered with the importance of the news.

"It is truo enough; andlhavebeen spending the last quarter of an hour in trying to make his lawyer believe that we were thinking merely of what we must pay to got hold of tbem. If I had let him see that we were in any way < anxious to meet his client, he might have taken the. alarm. Bntlam sure he does not snspect that we know how awfully important it is for us to trace the man who has the papers to sell.' Hp asked five or six hundred pounds for them, and I offered ton pounds and then rose to twenty. The man will be sure to como here to talk over the matter, and then don't you think we might have him followed?"

"Of course! That is the very thing we shall do. Mrs. Slaughter, you have managed ueauttfully^catritally!" A pleased look came into the widow's face, and she blushed a little, which made her look ten times prettier than before, They all three walked Blowly back to Holborn. Mrs. Slaughter glancing behind her now and then, to make sure that the gaunt clerk was not following them.

"Flotohcr will certainly write to his client, and tell him the result of the interview," said Gascoigne. "The client, whom I suspeot isnoue other than Captain Yolteur, will either write or call in anßwer. If he is cantioun euough to write, we can do nothing, but must wait for another chance, However, as a rule, men like him do not. like putting "pen to paper about their little transactions; And besides, he will probably want to ask the lawyer's advice. The chances aro that he will call. Wo must have Mr. Fletcher's offico watched by a man who is accustomed to that sort of work,

"While you were in the office, I went up and had a look at the outside of the door, anil it struck me that not very many clients enter in thereat. If so, the job will be easier. Fortunately, I have got the descriptions of Yolteur, Grainger, Stoddart, and the other man all written out. Keep up your heart, Mi»s Westbury, I feel as though we were going to succeed. And it is you, Mrs, Slaughter, whom we have to thank for it." He called a passing hansom, put the ladies inside, and saw them drive off on their way back to Lynmouth, and then he set about finding the office of an inquiry agent,

CHAPTER XXni. On Tnß Tiun,, GaftWjne found an inquiry agent's office, and eugaged him to tend a man to watch Mr. Fletcher's office. But on thinking the matter over, he did not feel comfortable at leaving so important an affair in the hands of a stranger, of whom he knew nothing, If the rmin selected for the work turned out to bo stupid, an excellent chance of tracing the murderer would bo lost. '"''

He therefore joined Ella and her friend at 'the railway terminus, and travelled back to Lynmouth with them. There he had an interview with Mr. Johnson, and with his consent took one of the waiters back to London 'with him on the following morning. This waiter was none other than the mau James, who- had been employed by the manager to keep a watch upon the man Gerald Ashley. As it happened, there was a room in the building opposite Mr. Fletcher's office which was to let. The window looked into the alley, so that it was easy for anyone standing at it to keep an eye upon all the people who passed uptbe Btairs that led to tho lawyer's office. Here Gaecoigne stationed James and the man from the private inquiry office, and having giv.eu'them full instructions he left them, in order to devote himself to a matter that seemed to him of scarcely less importance—the identification of the piece of twisted copper; ' He made a list of all the. manufacturers and vendors of air guns and air pistols to be found in London, and visited them one after the other till he found a shopman who reoogni>cd the piece of metal, in spite of the damage it had received. The shopman said he was certain that it had been a sphere I attached to an air-gun suld, by their firm, j lis purpose was to bold the compressed air by n'nicli the bullet was discharged, At Gascoigne's request the man showed him one of the weapons, which they had named the "air carbine." > It was. smaller .ind handier than an ordinary air gun, bqt 'imiiuli mow powerful In its effeeta than a tauiuunn uir pistnl,

ami intelligent at the same time, and Gas■■.tene arranged to meet him' after he was at -jicity and'tell him the reason bo bad fot' making'these inquiries. They niet at a publio-houFO in the city, and the shopmau,' whose name was Harding, wan •jrreatlv.intorestni in ths.Mory (feiatrni: told iiim. ...

"Really, now, that does seem a shame!" he exolaimed, when ho h" ! ird of Gerald's imprisonment. "I am quite sure no Such stent ut yon describe has bought' oiie o 1 them jarbines off our firm since we brought out the weapon." •"lam afraid the police will saytbatho may have got Bomeono else to buy it for him, or may have become possessed of it in mine,other way," answered Gascoigne, with i smile; "But there is a person, whose name I hnd better not mention yet', who, I suspect, may be the real criminal. Now, if I can find an opportunity of taking you to a place where you can see this man, would you mind coming to take a look at bim?" " I'd do that like a shot., And I say, sir, if you can let mo have a look at the bullet they took out of the poor fellow's head after he was dead I'd tell you in a moment whether it was fired onto' one of our carbines or not."

"I have thought of that," said Gascoigne, "and I will strain every nerve to get the bullet put into your hand if you can identify the man I have in my mind as the purchaser of one of these weapons. I think it mini have been bought within the last month, or six weeks at any rate. But there's no knowing. Tito'murderer may have had it in his pos«ssion for a long time. "Not so very long, sir," cheerfully responded Harding, "for you,seo this is a special kind of article, not' two years on the market. And I guarantee to spot any gentleman that has bought ono from us, within the last three months at any rate." ' The good fellow wont on to give his host some instances of his quickness in remembering faces, but Gascoigne could scarcely listen to him. Now that he had done all he could in the matter of tho air-pistol, he whs anxious to know whether the watchers he had placed opposite Mr. Fletcher's office had had any success, He took Harding's address, gave him a trifle to recompense him for the loss of his time, and took a hansom tu (Jhancery lone. It was a. fow minutes after, five, but many of the offices wore not yet olosed. To Gascoigne's surprise neither the waiter from tho Lynmourh Hotel nor tho man sent by the pr'ivato inquiry office was in his place. Surely, he snid to himself, they cannot have gone off at the stroke of fire, like a couple of British workmen paid by the hour, ■

He waited a few minutes, and then went to his hotel, where he found the waiter, James. Ho had beeu doing the honest fellow an injustice in his mind, James had come to the hotel in order that Gasgooigue might learn the news at the earlie.it possible moment.

He said that about half-past four that afternoon Captain Voltair walbl 'rapidly down the alley, and after glancing around him in all directions had mounted the stairs' whioh .led to the lawyer's office, Iu a quarter of an hour he reappeared, looking angry and discontented, aud made his way into Chancery lane. The agent of the private inquiry office bad tit mice followed him; while James, seeing that no purpose could be served by waiting longer at hie post, had returned to th« hotel to report progress, He said he was quite positive that the man he hud seen was Captain Vdlteur, whom he knew perfectly by sight; and he udded that the captain was plainly but decently attired, no disguise being .attempted.

Gascoigne did not like this last statement; however, he paid the man liberally for his trouble, and despatched him to Lynmonth by the next train.

Two hours lator the private inquiry man made his appearance He said he had traced the captain without any difficulty to a board-ing-house in filoomslmiy— Number 88 Chclmsford-street, Russell Square, The man had prudently waited for some timo, keeping an eye on No. 88, in case Captain Voltenr should be merely paying a oall. But now ho felt sure that the captain either lived there or was so well known by someone living in the hoiiso that it would not be a difficult matter to trace out his quarters, On the following day Gascoigne had a telegram from Ella, containing only the words, "Offerof twenty pounds accepted." Rue this mutter had now no interest for liascoigne, comparatively speaking. He thought EUa was rather foolish to part with her money so readily, but if it gave her peace of mind to put the scandalous tiewspupoi outtitigs in the tire, why,should he try to prevent her speitdiug her money in that way f He replied; "The purchaser is the man m suspected. I have his address Can you come up to town aud consult as to next thing to be done f"

| Gascoigne had a double reason in asking 11511 ato como to town, rather than g-oiny down to Lynmouth to see her. He thonsrht that the nmreehknge came into her life, the mure journeys she undertook, the mow people she was compelled to see, the better for her mental and bodily health. It was the only way she could be kept from brooding over the great and terrible peril which himjf overtho head of her lover. And in the second place he did not wisli to leave London just then. Ho was engaged in ut detei mined orWt to elucidate the third point of his inquiry—in other words, to get the Crown lawyers to give him to have the thumb-print photographed. Itis just possible thatunlcnown to Gascoigne himself there was a third reason, tho fact that in alllikolihnodMrs. Slaughterwould accompany Ella to town, The gay little widow had becomo h much more important; personage in the barrister's eyes since she had played her cards so well in the matter of Mr. Fletcher and his letter.

| The conference was held, but nothing came of it. _ Ella and her friend could only say that Gascoigne seemed to be doing all that could be done. They could suggest' nothing new. A great point had been gained. The suspected man had been , found. The next thing was to acoumulato proofs, or rather to produce one or two proofs of the lanttiin's guilt strong' enough to induce the authorities to abandon the prosecution of Gerald Ashley, And Gascoigne was doing sll that he conld in this direction.

Mrs. Slaughter paid another visit to Verulam Buildings, and paid Mr. Fletcher on Ella's behalf the sum oi twenty pounds, receiving in return the worthless papers for the suite of which .Gerald was suffering so much.

When this had been done she and Ella went back to Lynmouth, leaving Gascoigne to conduct operations by himself, Under ordinary circumstances Gascoigne would have tried to hit upon somo plan of bringing Captain Yolteur and the shopman Harding together at once, or as soon as he could. But he now looked upon that part of rho work as practically done. He assumed that Voltenr would be identified, as the man who had bought an air-carbine at Mesars. ijolding and Sons, id Graceohnrch Btreet. J t is said that everything may be bought in London, if you only know where to go for it. It is equally true that every sort of'skilled person may be found in the huge metropolis if one has only patience to look for him. Gascoigne was generally deficient in this quality, but he had a quality that makes an excellent substitute for patience—dogged perseverance. He grumbled, but he went on And after three or four days' tiresome seokiug he unearthed a man in Gower street who knew all that is to be known about finger and thumbprints.' ,

This man wasa German—of course, Hen Baumgartner was his name. He assured Gascoigne that' these impressions when examined under the microscope revealed such infinite varieties of line, depth, and ground plan, so to speak, that it was a thousand times easier and a hundred thousand time* safer to identify a man by his finger-prints than by his fane. Hesaidit.was all but impossible—practically impossible, that anyone knowing the science could malts a mistake if he declared that two thumb-prints had been. made by the same man, And this was Gascoigne's sheet anchor; for he was firmly oonvinced that the man who had left that thumb-print on the morsel of paper in If ollen'f portmanteau was the man who had visited the Irishman's room and shot him that night, after Gerald Ashley had gone. Gaecoigne had now got one of the two thumb-printo. How was he.to gat the other ? How waß he to get Captain Volteur to submit his thumb, or an impression from: it, to examination?

In this emergency ho thought that Mrs. Slaughter's quiok wits might possibly find a way out of the difficulty. Somewhat to his own surprise, he found himself, on the morning following his interview with Herr Baumgartner, going down to Lynmouth, with no other objeot in view than that of taking the pretty widow into his confidenoe and asking her help, (To be. Continued.) .1