The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-10-13

Dick could not forbear a smile.
"Well," he said, there have been
some uncommonly queer cases Of mis-
taken identity, even to scars turning up
in the right spot; but never mind. what
do you want nae to doy'
"At first meant to go myself to Bel
fort and trace him onward, but, on
thinking it over, have decided that a
man can do SO much better than a wo-
man in such a case; and therefore, if,
as you tell me you have nothing to do at
present, you would be so kind as to act
for me-of COURSE" she added, coloring,
sat my expense-and as g commission
to be settled on quite business footing,
l shall be more, oh, much more than
obliged. Do you think fifty pounds
would do to begin WITH You must tell
me, because do not know. and later on
1 could get more"
Dick would have asked for nothing
better than to undertake the adventure
at his own expense, but 1t was absolute
ly impossible to the poor fellow, so he
took the straightforward proposal in the
best manner possible, declaring that fifty
pounds would go an enormous way, and
that, unless bribery were called into
play, he should hope to spend less, and
that as for anything over and above ex-
penses (Which he silently resolved should
not include his own iving), that was
out of the question, and he was much
obliged for the chance.
All was very speedily arranged, and
then poor Anastasia looked over the list
of all the salvage Of the family wreck
She loved every article Of it, every bit
Of old plate, jewelry. china, old damask;
half belonged to Lottie, but they had
been valued and divided, and if she could
get money in no other way she would
sell her half at Christie's. She was
obliged to consult Dick Sherrieff about
it, and he was most unhappy at the no.
ton of the sacrifice, though it was not
for him to prevent it. Finally she
picked out pearl necklace and ear rings
and some bits of plate and sold them for
rather more than she had expected.
Seventy pounds in crisp notes she handed
over to Dick, who said it was his first
experience of money responsibilities.
Ill
The post card from Belfort was also
in Dicks hands, two photographs Of Os-
mund Questin and his last letters from
Rome. Anastasia's latest idea had been
the bold one of advertising for Mr.. Sep
timus S. Perkins in The Times, The New
York Herald, and LIE Petit Journal, Civ
ing Anastasia's address and Dicks Paris
hotel.
The first thing Dick ascertained was
that the proper number of tickets taken
for Paris on the day Osmund Questin
travelled through were delivered up
His next step was an exhaustive
search for his name throughout
the Paris hotels. He was soon
able to inform Anastasia, whom he chose
to call his client, that he had discov-
cred it at the Bristol. At the Bristol he
had evidently stopped for several weeks,
but nothing special could be gathered
about him beyond his having been re-
marked for his wonderful skill at bill
iards. From thence he was traced by
the aid of detective up to the very day
of quitting France for England. The
history was clear and commonplace, and
Dick began to feel he had let himself in
for rather an absurd chase after a phan-
tom fancy.
However, while he fingered unwilling
to throw it up yet, card was one day put
into his hand, and brisk little gentleman
Immediately stepped up and, shaking
hands warmly, announced himself to be
no other than Mr.. Septimus S. Perkins.
Sand now, sir, what dye want with mel
/ rather expected to see Mr.. Osmund 9.
Questin, but guess you are not much
like that gentleman"
sPm delighted to make your acquaint-
ance, though" rejoined Dick. 1--WE
come over to trace Mr.. Questin, and
want all the information can get"
"You don't mean he's missing2 I
thought he was in for a pretty severe
sickness when we parted but if he fell
sick on the way surely he didn't die
without wiring his friends2"
"He seems, on the contrary, to have
fetched Paris in excellent health" said
Dick. Then Mr.. Perkins gave circum-
stantial account of every hour he had
spent in Osmund's company, which were
not many.
at wasn't that we hoped you could
tell us much, but you were the last friend
he named in his letters. Here's his face,
do you recognize it?" Dick continued,
placing the photographs before Mr.. Per-
kins
"Yes," he said, examining them.
''That's him, but oddly enough, they re-
mind me of trifing incident that had
slipped my memory. A man got into
that car while we were coming along
the outskirts of Rome City, more like
your friend than ever saw twin bears.
Droll? Mr.. Questin didn't particularly
notice it"
''Did they know one another?"
"Not they, and didn't meet again SO
far as know"
'Ah, there we are, you know, just
where we WERE" said Dick disconsolate-
ly, sid better tell you the whole story"
he went on.
THAT'S what meant to have when
answered that advertisement that got
hurled at me through three organs"
Whereupon Sherrieff gave the full his
tory, reserving any opinion on it.
'If you take my advice, sir. you will
just reserve your operations, and watch
the man in London, whether he is the