Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-04-08


ant. Her objection to his present cours
of proceeding related entirely to the myster,
in which it was involved, and to the uncer
tainty in which the household was left a
to the hour of his return On these ground
she thought herself entitled to an explaKa
lion Moody's habitual reserve-strength
o1ed on this occasion by his dread of ridicult
if his efforts to serve Isabel ended in failure
i-disinclined him to take Lady Lydiard int
his confidence while his inquiries were still
beset with obstacles and doubts. He respect
fully entreated her ladyship to grant him &
delay of a few weeks before he entered OF
his explanation. Lady Lydiard's quick tenn
per resented this request She told Moody
plainly that he was guilty of an act Of pre-
sumption in making his own conditions witt
his employer. He received the reproof will
exemplary resignation, but he held to his
conditions nevertheless From that moment
the result of the interview was no longer IL
doubt. Moody was directed to send in his
accounts. The accounts having been ex
amined and found to be scrupulously cor
rect, he declined accepting the balance OF
salary that was offered to him The next
day he left Lady Lydiard's service
On the 10th of the month her ladyship re-
ceived letter from her nephew.
The health of Felix had not improved. He
had made up his mind to go abroad again
towards the end of the month In the mean
time he had written to his friend at Paris,
and he had the pleasure CT forwarding an
answer. The letter inclosed announced that
the lost $500 note had been made the subject
of careful inquiry in Paris. 1t had not been
traced The French police offered to send tC
London one of their best men, well ac-
quainted with the English language, if Lady
Lydiard was desirous of employing him. lie
would be perfectly willing to act with al
English officer in conducting the investga-
tion, should it be thought necessary. Mr..
Troy, being consulted as to the expediency
of accepting this proposal, objected to the
pecuniary terms demanded as being extrava-
gantly high He suggested waiting a little
before any reply was sent to Paris; and he
engaged meanwhile to consult a London so
licitor who had great experience i'll cases OF
theft, and whose advice might enable them
to dispense entirely with the services OF the
French police.
Being now free man again, Moody was
able to follow his own incinations in regard
to the Instructions which he had received
from Cd Sharon.
The course that had been recommended to
him was repellent to the self-respect and the
sense of delicacy which were among the in
bred virtues of MoOdy'S character. He
shrank from forcing himself as a friend OF
Hardyman valet: he recoiled from the Idea
of tempting the man to steal specimen OF
his masters handwriting After some CON
sideration he decided on applying to the
agent who collected the rents at Hardyman
London chambers. Being an old acquaint-
ance of Moodys, this person would certainly
not hesitate to communicate the address OF
Hardyman's bankers if he knew it. The ex'
pertinent, tried under these favoring circum
stances, proved perfectly successful. Moody
proceeded to Sharon's lodgings the same day
with the address of the bankers in his pocket
book The old vagabond, greatly amused by
Moody's scruples, saw plainly enough that sc
long as he wrote the supposed letter from
Hardyman in the third person it mattereC
little what handwriting was employed, seeing
that no signature would be necessary. The
letter was at once composed, on the mode
which Sharon had already suggested to
Moody, and respectable messenger $50 fan
as outward appearance WENT was employed
to take it to the bank In half an hour the
answer came back 1t added one more tc
the difficulties which beset the inquiry after
the lost money No such sum as $500 had
been paid, within the dates mentioned, to the
credit of Hardyman's account
Old Sharon was not in the least discom-
posed by this fresh check. 'Give my love to
the dear young lady," he said, with his Gus
tOmary impudence, "and tell her we are one
degree nearer to finding the thief"
Moody looked at him, doubling whether
he was in jest or in earnest.
''Must | squeeze little more information
into that thick head OF yours! asked Sharon.
With this question he produced weekly
newspaper, and pointed to paragraph
which reported, among the items of sporting
news, Hardymans recent visit to sale of
horses at town in the north of France
1--WE know he didn't pay the bank note in to
his account" Sharon remarked. What else
did he do with ts Took it TO pay for the
horses that he bought III France Do you see
your way little plainers now! Very good
Let's try next if the money holds out. Some
body must cross the channel in search of the
note Which of us two is to sit in the steam
boat with white basin On his lap! Old
Sharon, of course" He stopped to count the
money still left out of the sum deposited by
Moody to defray the cost of the inquiry.
"All right" he went on ''I've got enough
to pay my expenses there and back. Don't
stir out of London till You hear from me. l
can't tell how soon l may want you If
there's any difficulty in tracing the note, your
hand will have to go into your pocket again.
Can't you get the lawyer TO join you! Lord!
how l should enjoy squandering his money!
It's downright disgrace to me to have only
e Ii. L Aa-.
flesh off my bones when l think of it."
The same night Old Sharon started for
France by way of Dover and Calais.
Two days elapsed and brought no news
from Moodys agent. On the third day he
received some information relating to Shar-
on-not from the man himself, but in letter
from Isabel Miller.
ssFor once, dear Robert she wrote. "my
Judgment has turned out to be sounder than
yours That hateful old man has confirmed
nv worst opinion of him. Pray have him
punished. Take him before magistrate and
charge him with cheating you out of your
money. | inclose the sealed letter which he
gave me at the farm house. The weeks time
before L was to open it expired yesterday.
Was there ever anything so impudent and SO
inhuman! | am too veXed and angry about
the money you have wasted on this old
wretch to write more. Yours, gratefully
and affectionately, ISABEL"
The letter in which Old Sharon had under
taken (by way of pacifying Isabel to write
the name of the thief, contained these lines:
''You are a charming girl. my dear; but
you still want one thing to make you perfect,
and that is a lesson N patience. | am proud
and happy to teach you The name of the
thief remains for the present Mr.. -
(blank).'
From Moody's point Of view there was but
one thing to be said of this-it was just like
Old Sharonl Isabels letter was of infinitely
greater interest to him. He feasted his eyes
ON the words above the signature; she signed
herself, yours, gratefully and affection
ately.n Did the last word mean that she was