The Sunday herald., 1886-08-29

him again and again. Tears came into the
bright eyes, and IL was evident that she
was bursting TO tell her new friend some.
Thing.
~ love 'oo--and mamma, she loves 100,
loo," said the little one between her sobs
But, oh tan't dive mamma n letter. It's
los'." And she glanced up al his face for an
instant, and then buried her head ON his
breast. Clayton did not comprehend all Of
The child's prattle. lie kissed her and
her glossy curls.
$50 you love me, do you, little one %
"Bs, | does; but 90 mustn't mind II
mamma don't get letter, does 90 20
Whatever are you saying, Belle, about a
letter 7" inquired Mrs. Ransom.
Letter for 90, mamma man 'tole II from
Belize"
Clayton started as sudden suspicion
flashed through his brain. lie had under
stood the last words Of the child clearly
enough. In casual way he asked Mrs.
Ransom whether she had received an en-
velope from Belle. The lady had neither
seen II nor heard Of 1t.
While we talked Belle undertook TO show
to Clayton some Of the bootiful sings" she
had brought home in the carriage the day
before. Opening q drawer in an old fash
ioned armoire, she brought across the room a
armful, old and new together,
with true childish Indifference 10 appear.
ances. Clayton flushed as he regarded the
meager and threadbare wardrobe the little
one had brought to view, which told tale
of long straits and hard battle with pow
erty. Mrs. Ransom, seeing what the child
had disclosed, went over to her.
"Oh, Belle !" she exclaimed, "why did
your Pray forgive her, Mr.. Clayton"
at is nothing" he said softly, taking the
lady's hand in his own where he stood beside
the child. "Neither you nor Belle can do
anything that needs forgiveness Of mine.
We will go now. My friend and have some
business matters to attend to, but you will
soon hear from me again."
lie kissed Belle, and moment later we
were driving rapidly away. Clayton sat
moodily for little space.
"Lispenard," he said at length, "that
man has stolen the money-the 81 ,000."
"What man Z"
why, Ransom, Of conrse-the precious
scoundrel who calls the woman his wife.
Belle and taken the envelope from her at the
door. Now, I'll drop you at your office, and
I'm of to the Central Police Station"
+" For Gods sake, Clayton, you're not go.
ing to hunt mp and prosecute that worthless
fellow II your money is gone, let that be
the end Of it-unless you want to raise fu
rious scandal about our ears"
- warned you, Lispenard," he said dog
gedly, "that I should 60 through with It.
But don't be- nervous I'm not going TO prose-
cute the fellow, even were he the fiend him.
self. l only want TO get down to hard pan
facts in this whole business, that's all. You
have no notoriety TO fear, as far as you are
concerned, in any event."
But somehow, as his coach rolled of
smoothly over the crisp snow, l experienced
a sensation Of keen regret that I had ever
meddlsd in this singular business. What
could Clayton want with me. q patent attor
ney, who never touched a divorce case in
my life, in this matterf Confound him
with his Western notions Of propriety Yet
on reflection, couldn't call up in my mind
q bill Of particulars on which to arraign him
As far as evidence went, his conduct through
out the matter had been sorupulously correc
If anything, a little too chivalrous posi-
bly,. And besides, l confess was becoming
Interested and curious to know how 1t wal
all going to end.
Three days passed before 1 saw Clayto
again. had been unusually busy, yet th'
recollection of the singular affair, in which
somehow felt discrsditably implicated, woult
arise at intervals TO trouble me. l dis
tinctly recall being rudely awakened in tn
small hours by too vivid horror in thu
| shape of nightmare. The hallucinatioi
took romantic form. had sworn to MARI,
q lady other than the lawful partner Of IN,
matrimonial joys and sorrows, and was con
dncting her 10 tue altar, when the meditatet
bigamy was suddenly prevented by th
| Transformation of the lady into stony
hideous Medusa, with hateful, pitiless eyes
while |, simultaneously, was confronted b,
one Of my own clerks, who arrested me- 70
stealing q 81 900 treasury note, the property
of the Medusa aforesaid. awOks in p4rs
piration, and got no more sleep that night
When Clay ton came he looked terribl.
haggard and was evidently in great agita
tion.
"What has happened 2" asked. "Yol
are wearing yourself out in this foolish hun
Of yours after that rascal"
mo-" said he Grossly. 81 located hir
without much difficulty, but l haven
quite finished with him yet. Read that
will you, Lispsnard 2" And lls handed M
crumpled nots--a half sheet OF paper
upon which this was written in pencil:
- HOTEL WASHINGTON, March 9, 49,.
| MRS. RANSOM: Thanks for the service you hay
| done me (unwittngly, no douDD through the chill,
The money your friends Intended for YOU Will sery
q better purpose. The 81 900 Will ok me comfort,
| bly,, 30 that shall not trouble you for more II
some little time TO come. Should your friends d.
sire to repeat the compliment, however, will try
be on hand.
RICHARD RANSOM
"Ths Matchmaking sconndreli" l e,
claimed Indignantly. "Why, the man
worse than common rObb-r to steal frOl
his own wife and child"
| him ~ aaiA fla
quietly, taking the note and putting it ava
carefully in his pockstbOok. "Hs is, rs 20
say, an unmitigstsd rascal, and Ls appear
to have begun new carnival of dissipatio
with the money. IL had no idea, 20
know, that might be able to do somsthin
to help him to become q better citizen Il
her sake, and even said as much to II
fellow; but hs dsted me to my face"
"You did that, ClAytonr'I l said in astol
ishmsnt. had not yet fathomsd the dsptt
Of the mans nature, whom, Till now, l la
regarded as pursuing shadow.
II did; was impslled TO do II to give hi
square chance, as yOu may say. He
booked for the bottom, ifhe keeps On as
is doing. Besides, Lispsnard, though th,
after had gone away, II would bs som
thing to think upon that had helped hi
up again aud made her happy. Aud liz.
bohot VA oouS hoW NY uoott tocic AOE tuo
both"
Then there was nothing more TO be ss
about IL. The sud OF the adventure hs
come.
$50 you 20 West, coon, l suppose" said
breaking the silence.
"Yss, In 8 few days. The sooner the bs
ter. II will be painful memory, and yet
don't think shall altogether regret my tr
to Washington this winter. Aud before
go want you to fix up little matter 4
me, he added, laying down several paps
on the desk, ~ have made some msmorant
here Of bit Of property which l wish
a transfer to little Belle. Her mother c.
hold It AZ trustee during her lifetime, al
then It can 90 TO the child. II will gi
1 them an income that will ut least keep h
> wolf Of hunger away. Did you observe h
contents of that drawer, Lispensrd, VIII,
a Belle tumbled II on the floor To look
4 II made me feel sadder than ever felt
my life."
y took the papers and together We left h
a office. separating on the corner. Clsyt
/. moved away slowly and with heavy steps,
!. q man with deep sorrow at his heart.
a TO look ont for the unexpected and be !
o guard against surprises 10 the habit of I
q professiOu 10 which | balOnp Yat | nav