The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-01-02


Hope about his own great fraud; DuJ
counsel refused to do so, either because
he disbelieved his client, or thought
such cross-eXamination would be stop
ped, or set the court still more against
his client.
Monckton ragged at this, and, of
course, said he had been bought by the
other side. But now he was delighted
that his enemies secret had never been
inquired into, and that he could fall Oh
them both like thunderbolt.
He was at full next day, and rambled
about the old shop, and looked in ut the
windows. All new faces, and on the
door-plate, "Atkinson q Co."
Then he went in, and asked for Mr..
BARLEY.
Name not known.
"Why, he used to be here. L was III
his employ"
No; nobody knew Mr.. BARLEY.
Could he see Mr. Atkinson?
Certainly. Mr.. Atkinson would be
there at two O'Clock.
/ Monckton, after some preamble, ask
ed whether he had not succeeded in this
business to Mr.. Robert BARLEY.
No. He had bought the business
from Mrs. Duplex, a widow residing in
that her husband hN1 taken it from
Whitaker. a merchant at Boston.
SIS he alive, STRIP
81 believe so, and very well known"
Monckton went off to Whitaker, and
learned from Kim that he had bought
the business from BARLEY, but it was
many years ago, and he had never heard
of the purchaser since that day.
Monckton returned to London baffled.
What was he to do? Go to secret-in-
quiry office? Advertise that if Mr..
Robert BARLEY, late of Hull, would
write to q certain agent, he would hear
of something to his advantage? He did
not much fancy either of these plans.
He wanted to pounce Oh BARLEY, or
Hope, or both.
Then he argued thus: BARLEY has
got lots of money now, or he would not
have given up business. Ten to one he
lives in London, or visits it. L Will try
the Park"
Well, he did try the Park, both at the
riding hour and the driving hour. He
saw no BARLEY at either time.
But one day in the Lady's Mile, as he
listlessly watched the carriages defile
slowly past him, with every now and
then a jam, there crawled past him q
smart victoria, and in it beautiful wO-
man with glorious dark eyes, and a love-
ly little boy, the very image of her. 1t
was,his wife and her son.
MoncktOn started, but the lady gave
no sign of recognition. She bowed, bat
it was to a gentleman at MOncktOn's
side, who had raised his hat to her with
marked respect.
what a beautiful crechaar." said a
little swell to the gentleman in ques-
ton. you know herr"
"Very slightly"
"WhO is she? A duchess?"
mo; a Stockholders wife, Mrs. Bra
ham. Why, she is known beauty"
That was enough for Monckton. He
hung back a little, and followed the car
riage. He calculated that if it left the
Park at Hyde Park Corner, or the Mar
BILE Arch, he could take a hanson and
follow it.
When the victoria got clear of the
corner, Mrs. Braham leaned forward q
moment and whispered word to her
coachman. Instantly the carriage dash
ed at the Chesterfield Gate and into
Mayfair at such swift trot that there
was no time to get cab and keep it in
sight.
Monckton lighted cigarette. "Clever
girl" said he, Satirically. "She knew
me, and never winked."
The next day he went to the lawyer
and said, IL have little favor to ask
you, sir"
The lawyer was Oh his guard directly,
but said nothing.
"An interview-in this oflice-with
Mrs. Braham."
The lawyer WINGED, but went ON his
guard again directly.
Client of Ours?"
"Yes, sir"
"Braham? Braham?' said the lawyer.
affecting to search the deep caverns of
professional memory.
"StOck-brOker' wife,"
"Where do they live?"
"What! don't you know? Place of
busineSS-Thread-needle Street. Place
of bigdmy-POrtman Square,"
81 have no authority to grant per-
sonal interview with any such person"
But you have no power to hinder
one, and it is to her interest the meet
ing should take place here, and the
stOck-brOker be out of it,"
The lawyer reflected.
Twill you promise me it shall be a
friendly interview? You will never 60
to her husband?"
"Her stock-brOker you mean. Not /.
If she comes to me here when want
her."
"Will that be often?"
81 think not. / have better card to
play than Mrs. Braham. / only want
her to help me to find certain people.
Shall we say twelve o clock tomorrow
The lawyer called on Mrs. Braham,
and after an agitated and fearful inter-
view, persuaded her to keep the ap-
pOintment.
Consider" said he, what you gain
by making our office the place of meet
ing. Establish that at once. It's a
point of defence"
The meeting took place in the law
yer's private room, and Mrs. Braham
was so overcome that she nearly faint
ed. Then she was hysterical, and finally
tears relieved her.
When she came to this point, Monck-
ton, who had looked upon the whole
exhibition as mere preliminary form
observed by females, said;
Come, Lucy, don't be silly. L am not