Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-17

were more than forty of them, and there
are only about thirty here. Let me see.
By Jove, have it! She told me there
were only a few of them that were of a
doubtful character. 1t is just those few
that are missing. He has them in his
pocket and I've failed again."
He sat silent and still for moment.
dazed by this discovery; but he quickly
regsined his habituaI GOODNESS and
decision.
WELL" ne said, II may as well see what
the other letters are about"
He began rapidly TO read them. They
were in various handwritings, but most
of them in one which he somehow or
other thought he had seen befose. These
letters were signed simplp with an III, .
and were couched in the most afectionate
terms.
Il wonder who this H can be-" he
said. "She's evidently very much gone
on the count, and no mistake. There's a
love or 'dsrling' for every other word.
Here's an invitation for the 18th; how
sweet it is. But here is one in which she
has gone farther than the H It Is
signed Helena. Now, I wonder VINO
Helena is? Hullo, what's here? A
letter from man, and signed 'Svendeleri'
the old Jewish money lender and re-
ceiver of stolen goods. That at all events,
looks suspicious.'
He read the letter very carefully. When
he had finished it he lay back in his chair,
and dreRa long breath.
"Good heavens" he said, when he had
recovered his composure, "this is dis
covery! Was there ever anything SO
ortunate? I'm off by the morning train,
and our friend will be safely in quod
before he has 4 chance of seeing Sir
Charles"
but stay" he said to himself, sit
isn't quite so simple as 1 thought 1
must account for how I came by this
paper, which will be difficult. Besides,
I'm not sure it will be evidence against
him unless it is found in his possession.
Let me see"
He paused and reflected. Then, after
few moments, with a cry of triumph, he
set to work repl9 cling the contents of the
bag. When everything was in except the
letter from Svendeleri and Lady Noodles
CORES pondence, he selected about ten Of
the most innocent of her letters, and, re-
placing the remainder in the back of the
brushes locked up the portmanteau.
Then he placed Svendeleri's letter in one
of Lady Noodles, put them in his pocket,
restored his disguise to what it was when
he claimed the counts luggage, and, TAX
ing the portmanteau in his hand left the
office. When he reached the Strand he
called a hanson and drove to Euston.
At Euston he asked for the statioE-
master. That official was duly forth
coming.
This find" said the detective to him,
sis not my portmanteau after all. [
thought it was at first, as IL has my iuI-
tials on the side and is about the same
size, but find that my key won't go into
the lock, so il can't be mine"
mo, sir, it isn't yours" replied the
stationmaster; sit is Count Ulrici's. He's
been kicking up deuce of a row about
it. We've had half-a dozen kilograms
from Peterborough already. Pm glad
it's recovered. What about your own
sir?"
"That's the question. You had better
telegraph down the line about it. It mus
have been put out at ole of TIE citations
the five o'clock train called at, suppose.
I'll call and hear what news you have to-
morrow, Good night" And the detect
i've walked off.
Before four o'clock next morning Mr..
Wylie was at Euston, not disguised this
time, but in his usual costume. He took
ticket by the first train for Rottenbor-
0ugh, where he arrived about eight. AT
ter swallowing hasty breakfast at the
hotel in that interesting town, he OBJ
tanned a cab and drove to Darlingbourne.
There he inquired for Sir Charles
Noodle. Sir Charles at once saw h N.
He explained to Sir Charles that he was
detective. He had long, he said, been
shadowing a foreigner who was suspected
of great crime, and who, he learned,
lately, was about to try to levy blackmail
upon Sir Charles by pretending to have
letters from Lady Noodle which reflected
on her reputation. He was anxious to
have talk with this gentleman in an IN :
suspected character, in order to try and
obtain some unguarded statements from
him. He begged Sir Charles to allow
him to represent himself as Sir Charles
when the scoundrel came to the house.
The baronet seemed very adverse to such
a course, but Lady Noodle, who was call
ed in for consultation, so strongly sup
ported it, that at last he was induced to
consent.
About midday Count Ulrioi arrived.
He sent up his card to Lady Noodle, but
she refused to see him. Then he asked
for Sir Charles. He was at once shown
into the library, where the detective was.
The count had never seen Sir Charles,
who, involved in business careers, seldom
went into the gay company mis- wife so
delighted in.
The count at once proceeded to bust
ness in the coolest and most impudent
manner. He had no difidence or hesita-
ton about stating what sort of relation
he wished Sir Charles to believe had ex-
listed between him and Lady Noodle. He
said he had Letters in her undeniable
handwriting to prove the truth of his
statements.
''Show me them," said the detective.
The count handed over the letters.
After fumbling with them for nom ent,
Mr.. Wylie proceeded to read them one by
one. When he had finished he paused,
and said, very cody: 81 see nothing
discriminating in these as against Lady
Noodle. They are all of the most ipno-
cent description. But what's this ~
And he held up SvendeIeri's letter.
The count turned deadly pale.
Can I have made mistaken" he NUT
tered.
''I'm afraid yox have" said Mr.. Wylie,
and he touched bell.
As he did so the count sprang madly
upon him. There was for moUent a
fierce struggle, but before the Italian
could overcome Mr.. Wylie's resistance,
Sir Charles and servant rushed into the
room and seized HIM.
TOO late, my hearty" said the detec-
tive to the count. Look, Sir Charles,
these are the letters he received from
Lady Noodle; more innocent notes
woman never penned. And see what 1
discovered among them-a letter from
that Ieuish soon. q rel Sven0eIer1 Offering