Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-18
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER Ill
The postcard from Befort was also In Dicks
hand, TWO photographs OF Osmund Questin, and
his last letter from Rome. Anastasia's latest idea
had been the bold one OF advertising for Mr.. Sept-
mus s. Perkins in the Times the New York Herald
and lie Petit Journal, giving Anastasia's address
and Dicks Paris hotel.
The first thing that Dick ascertained was that
the day that Osmund Questin travelled through
were delivered up. His next step was an exhaust
I've search for his name throughout the Paris ho-
tells. He was soon able to inform Anastasia, whom
he chose TO call his client, that he had discovered
IL at the Bristol" At the "Bristol" he had evil
IDENTIFY stopped for several weeks but nothing spe-
cial could be gathered about beyond his having
been remarked for his wonderful skill at billiards.
From thence ne was traced by the aid OF q detect
land. The history was Clear and commonplace
and Dick began TO feei that he had let himself In
ior rather an absurd chase after phantom
However, while he fingered unwilling to throw
IL up YET, card was ore day put into his hand,
ana brisk little gentleman Immediately stepped
up, and shaking hands warmly, announced him.
SELF to be no other than Mr.. SeptimuS s. Perkins
And now, sir, what dye want with me? rather
guess you are not much like that gentleman"
I'm delighted to make your acquaintance,
though" reJoined Dick. 1--WE come over to trace
GET
"You don't mean he's missingf thought he was
In Tor pretty severe sickness when we parted but
II ne Iel SICK on the way surely he didn't die with
out wiring his friends?"
"He seems, ON the contrary to have fetched
Paris in excellent health" said Dick. Then Mr.
PERKINS gave circumstantlal account OF every
hour he had spent In Osmund's company, which
at wasn't that we hoped you could tell US much,
put you were the last friend he named in his let
continued, placing the photograph before MI. Per-
kiEs
"Yes," he said, examining them ''rhat's him.
but oddly enough they remind me OF q trifing in,
cident that had slipped my memory. man got
Into that car while we were coming along the out
skirts OF Rome city, more like your friend than
particularly notice IT,"
"Did they know one another"
, mot they, and they didn't meet again as far as
IA. ..Ah; there we are you know. Just where we
WERE said Dick, diseonsolately, aid better tell
you the whole story" he went on.
Ihats what meant to have when answered
that advertisement that got hurled at me through
Whereupon sherrien gave the full history, re-
serving any opinion on 1t.
III you take my advice, sir, you will just reserve
your operations and watch the man In London
whether he Is the Simon Pure or not"
TaAlng the hint, Sherrien wrote to Anastasia.
Instead Of a letter came a telegram:
"ln Paris since Thursday"
$50 much the better for u, /" commented Mr. Per-
kins. Now LOT round OF notels again"
III he goes back TO THE Bristol It's ten to one
In his favor"
He was not at "The Bristor' this tin. but at
LAY
ther, MIR. Perkins moved himself into "Meuricesp
and by cunning bribery got into Mr.. QuesIin's
room, and made notes OF all he found there. He
recognized among other articles the small valise
he had noticed In the tramcar He invited Sher-
rieI TO dinner, and the pair waited with intense
He came in when they were seated at table drhote.
crimson. and slightly Kicked his friend.
"Oh, It's the man." murmured Mr., Perkins
rather crestfallen and yet pleased to see his ac,
qualntance again. HOW are you, sir?" he said
across the table, 'Glad to meet you again, MI
Mr.. Questin glanced sharply UP, bowed, then
seemed 10 recoliect the speaker for he said cordi
ally that he was glad to see him
You look pretty Mt now, SIR" remarked Mr.
Perkins, "but ! thought you likely to De real sick
when we parted in Rome"
.! was for a bi1" the other answered; "but
"You were well out Of Naples; they had cholera
at compound interest after you iert."
to meet"
.See anything of 1t when you were around?D
"On believe the poor beggars were dying Of IT,
but IT 3 smuggled away as much as possible
"Ah! Didn't you tell me that you had a kind o.
nerv0rs shrinking; that it was about the only
"Just that" answered the other with a slight
laugh; then he turned TO some topic OF the day,
and an animated conversation ensued.
Mr.. Perkins took no notice OF Dicks eager uues-
lions and comments, until the two were at the
latter's hotel, when slowly removing his big cigar
he said: "She's right, as young woman In love
should be. It's another man"
AT this astounding announcement Dick seized
him by the arm, gasping with anxiety to hear
more.
"Face same; voice, same; action, same: inside
all wrong; not hit that on. Now to discover II he
has murdered the other. Can't make out II he is
the other man In the car"
Dick wrote at once to Anastasia, saying that
they had a clew at last.
Snow" said Mr.. Perkins "we1l get right cute
day and night"
Directly Anastasia heard that there seemed
possibility OF her Idea being correct one she BEGAN
TO put together all that Osmund had ever toid
about the Questin family, wita the conviction that
II there Was an lmpostor In the case, so strong
likeness could not be a mere accident. She then
wrote TO Sherr.en, telling him that Mr. OuestIn's
younger brother had married sister OF his Wire,s
ana that when ne declined supplying their extrav-
a3ant wants any longer they had vanished from
sight, and that they had had one, II not more sons
whom OSmund had never known.
Anastasia was now Id a condition OF fevertsh
anxiety; her nerves In terrible state of tension:
haunted by pictures OF what might be, weighing
IN INT me balance the chance Of ever again having
hopes TOO nigh In dread OF their being knocked
After having suffered the cruel abasement OF
that sudden cOntemptous desertiOp. after nsvin1
her love torn, crushed and bleeding from her heart
an these hopes and fears were strain upon her
TOO great 10 nave been long endured
She had made up her mind TO bear it. neverthe.
less less Ior some time yet, when telegram relieved
"You are wanted.-SHERRIEFFn
IweNe hours later she entered the Hotel de
France, ana was met by Dick scarcely able to con-
tain his excitement
Pale as death she grasped his outstretched
hands, but could not speak
HE Is found-alive," said Dick almost in a
whisper, overcome himself by the sight of sup
pressed emotion stronger than he had given
human nature credit for eSA
Then she gave little sob and turned away. Oh
unspeakable mercy; should not she give thanks
and praise In her heart, even before She asked a
single question.
Dick could not have made long story OF it then
though ne did afterward.
I'VE tracked him-the fellow-at last IN a r,,,.
son de sdnte outside Paris; and there ne is-ill
rather; mas been very tll-that's only na1uraI
That scoundrel placed him there as an insane rel
alive, ana goes 10 see him, believe for the sake
OF studying Ills part You must come and swear
10 ms llentty, ana then we will telegraph for the
father" ~
She could not see him till the next day. when
she and Dick went together and found the dear
SeptlmuS Perkins waiting for them, because he
would not thrust himself upon her sooner
"Got him safe, ma'am," he whispered 1erk1ly
"Dut you mustn't expect to ind his hair curled and
his handkerchief scented" This with great earn
e5tness.
The door opened, French doctor with a waved
moustache bowed himself into the room and In.
vlted Anastasa 70 follow him into the inner one
III the doctor was 30 moved that he could only
shed tears copiousy into a large cambria hand.
kerchief; II Septimus Perkins was stamping and
coughing In the other room to keep his sympathy
within bounds; II Dick had o mist before his eyes
ful reunionf All, dear love and unfailinR truth
what matters pale, sunken face and lean, tremb.
ing ngure? II was Osmund himself though Q
wreck.