Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-28

to avoid peruslng It, ] could not have
done so, as took 1t Ia at one glance.
uSend the money or L. u. shall know
all: swear he shall"
knew IL was the letter that Gresham
had torn, and my heart leapt as II told me
for whose name those initials stood. !
felt that Chesham was delivered into my
hands. The very way by which should
hunt him down stood clear before me.
For second thought of keeping the
letter, but decided against so doing.
Asmodeus would miss II, and would
doubtless return TO find 1t. His suspi-
cions would be aroused II he learnt that
IL had reached my hands. Besides, did
not want Il, or not enough TO run any
risk by retaining IL. Every word IL con
tanned was burnt into my brain, and as
the writer's name and address were want
ing, it was of no further usei SO | re-
turned It to the waiter.
at belongs to Capt. Gresham. Put it
in an, envelope and give 1t to him when
next he Is here"
walked at the top Of my speed to
Albemarle street, threw myself into a
chair and began to think how TO turn the
circumstance To account. ] breathed the
lreer as / thought that my distasteful
task Of Stimulating friendship with man
scorned was coming TO an end.
Accident had given me the clew, but had
not stopped TO associate with the man /
should not have been in his society when
the chance occurred. That should fail
after this, never entered my head-that
tn, sc initials stood for Laurence Est
mere was to me matter of certainty
that should find the writer and wiring
the truth from her was natural Sc
quence.
was in a state of delighted excitement
when Valentine was announced. In my
moment Of triumph had almost forgot
ten the cut direct he bestowed on me Just
now and ran forward to greet him. Seeing
him stand with his right hand fixed un-
moyeably in the breast OF his coat was
like a shock of cold water to me.
"Will you not shake hands, old fellow"
/ said.
81 will not. did not intend to come
here, until | thought it was mean to
sneak away without telling you what in
tend doing"
"Well, sit down, don't stand up in that
tragical way"
"Can't you see am not joking, Philip
Norris2 believe you are bewitchedln
81 was never In fuller possession of my
---"Yet you ask me TO take your hand. You
who so far forget what is due to your
friend and your friends mother-even to
the girl you love-"
81 forget nothing, Valentine"
"You do, say. No one, not even you,
who calls Chesham his friend shall be a
friend of mine, Philip, could not be-
lieve my eyes, | could not believe my
ears, when people told me-"
His voice at the commencement had
been almost fierce, but as he spoke the
last words 1t sank to regret and tender
ness, whilst his eyes glistened.
valentine" | said, ''you will not
throw old friendship aside tor thls?"
81 must, and will do 50. II you can
explain, do SO. | will entreat your par
don"
al cannot explain?"
"Then goodbye. lose my best
friend"
"But you forget your mother and Clau-
dine.n
"Nly mother, as much as it will cost
her, will follow my example. Claudine !
have no right to speak about"
paused Should tell him with what
object had sought Gresham? How full
of promise that intimacy had proved?
Curlously enough, Lord Rothwell's SUI
perstition that / was destined to carry
this matter to the end without aid by now
had taken full possession of me. Be-
sides, | might fail after all. If so why
raise false hopes? | determined for
time TO remain under cloud in Valcn-
tines eyes
"Valentine," Isaid, "we have been true
friends. viii you do me a favor?n
lie nodded.
when do you go away again-and for
how long?"
"To-morrow-for couple of months,
Iexpect."
"Will you until your return try and
suspend your Judgment win you think
till then that you may have been too
hasty2 Will you say nothing about this
intimacy which troubles you to Lady
Estmere or to Claudine?"
"Youask great deal, Philip"
"No matter; do It for me. Promise,
and give me your hand on it,
lie held out his hand. grasped it
heartily Then without another word
he turned and left me,
Perhaps, after all II was as well. ANY
show OF friendship between him and nue.
would make Gresham mistrustful and
my great object still was to lul him into
fancied security.
As soon as Valentine had departed, |
resumed my former train OF thought. NV
first steps needed no hesitation. That
morning had been to my bankers aud
drawn out f200--a fifty, five twenty
pound notes, and the rest in smaller pa.
per-one of these twenty pound notes
had given Chesham.
looked at the numbers of those left In
my pocketbook. These notes were brand
new, and numbered consecutiyely. had
taken the note from the top so was able
TO determine its number. / had but TO
give this TO a person whose business IL Is
TO make confidential inquiries, and sooner
or later 1t would be traced back fro.n the
Bank OF England to the person who re-
ceived 1t from Chesham
lost no time In setting the matter
afoot, but ! had to walt few DAYS for
the information. The note had passed
through very few hands. II reached the
Bank of England from another bank II
had been paid into that bank by large
firm of wholesale grocers. 1t had come
70 them in two halves from retail grocer
and general dealer in the little town of
Surbury, and he had changed IL for