The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-10-24
A Chapter of Coincidence
ALARGE FORTUNE WAIVER
ING IN THE BALANCE.
THE MISSING HEIR.
THE CAUCAsIAN's ORIGINAL STORY
BY JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
IContinucd from last issue. |

ICOntlnucd from last issue.
A newsboy came into the car,
and | bought a World contain
ing accounts of Simon Ferdinan-
dc. the political spy, with a
portrait of his long, foxy coun-
tenance, and some notes of his
career. After giving his evi-.
dence before the commission, he
had disappeared from London,
and was supposed to be now i'll
Spain. The newspaper account
added that Ferdinando's life
had been declared forfeit by
the secret organization whose
affairs he had betrayed, and
that we might soon expect to
hear Of his assassination or sui
eide.
All this served to divert my
thoughts; and the car, which
was quite full, had reached
Union Square, when a young
woman entered it and took her
stand opposite me, holding on
by strap. She was a comely
girl, under twenty years of age,
realty and modestly dressed; her
face was refined and Of pure
outline, but she was very pale
and looked distressed. As no
one else offered to stir, l put my
paper in my pocket. and arising,
offered her my seat. She ac-
cepted it with a scarcely audible
"Thank you, sir" Our eyes
met for moment, and I felt
something touch my hand.
GlAncing down, | saw that she
was rendering me a bit of fold
ed paper. 1T was an unusual
and by no means a conventional
proceeding on her part; but |
had been so upset by the chest
nut episode that perhaps my
customary powers of discrimina
tion were in allegiance; at all
events, l took the note and pnt
it in the side pocket Of my sack
coat. She sat down. No one
had observed what had passed.
In about a minute | again put
my hand in my pocket, took out
the note and read it. Here it
is:
81 have decided to give this
to whoever looks trustworthy.
Whoever you are, for Gods sake,
do as [ ask. [ am an honest
girl. | am in bitter trouble.
Something has happened that
threatens to ruin my reputation
and endanger my life, maybe. l
have no one to ask help Or ad-
vice of. " hen leave this car,
please follow me, and tell me
what I had better do"
There was nothing else in the
note. After [ had read it | re-
turned it to my pocket aud
looked at the girl. My profess
ion has enabled Inc to judge
something Of character by the
face. This girls face had no
guile in it, and there was in her
eyes a beseeching and withal
/ arror- stricken expression that
could not have been counter
feited. I made up my mind to
do as she requested. Though a
lawyer, | am not too old to be
visited by occasional impulses
Of ina gination. not to speak OF
curiosity. The girl saw my con-
sent i'll my face, ard sigh of
relief escaped her.
She remained in her seat nn-
til the car reached Astoc Place,
Then she got up, and passed
out. She gave me one glance
evidently there was not an atom
of coquetry abou! her. Iwaited
till the car was at tine corner of
Cooper Union, aud then ], too,
got off. She was walking toward
Broadway; / soon overlook her
[ lifted my hat, as if | was al
acquaintance of hers.
"My name is Garset," | said
-"Eom Garset, Trinity Build
ing. May / ask your nane?'
ruth Jadwin," she replied
81 thank you with all my heart
Isir. / don't know what vou
must think of me. Pm almost
out OF my wits. 1--we been
walking about all night"
"What is the cause Of that
Have you no llome-no lodging,
at least?"
"Oh, yes; I am going there
now. But when I got back
from my work last night-l'm
a girl at Cras haw's on Sixth
avenue-and unlocked the door
of I1iy room" She stopped
with a despairing gesture, and
added: "ft was too terrible
You will understand why, wheI
oh, l can't see why such
thing should happen! Luckily
Mrs. Foote doesn't know. She
is the landlady."
"Have you had your break.
fastg / inquired.
"No-no-oh, / can't ,at yet
I have money. Wait till"
| We had been walking dowT
Fig nth street, had crossed Broad
way, and were nearing Wash
ington Square.
IContinued in next issue.l