The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-28
CHAPTER XII.


aronton Robert Harbut returned by the 9
o'clock train to town. AS he went up to
town he thought over the incidents that had
happened since Constance Corbyn came to
England. Everything had gone well until
il was found that the leaf had been alb
stracted from the register. This at the time
he had unhesitatingly put down as the work
of Algernon Corhyn; but he no longer felt
sure of this. Now that he learned that
some one else had been at work from the
first, that inquiries had been made about
Morson within fortnight of Mr.. Corbyn's
death, and that as Constance supposed she
| had been watched While in London, the
aspect of the affair had changed, and it was
unite probable that the first act of these
mys .erious opponents had been to obtain
possession of the one absolute proof of the
marriage. That James Ferris could know
anything of the affair he regarded as alto
gether out of the question.
II have great mind to consult him on
the subject ne said to himself, 81 suppose
it won Id be most unprofessioDal proceed
ing but then the whole affair is unprofes-
sona as far as | am concerned, and don't
see anything else to do. OF course, should
not take sucn step with any one else but
Jim; but he is the soul of honor, and would
never have put me into this thing unless
ever thing had been perfectly straightfor-
ward | can make neither head nor tail of
it, and can see nothing to bedone but to ask
him if he can throw any ligat on the mat
ter. will drop him line in the morning
and ask him to come in aud smoke pipe
with me at o'clock tomorrow evening, if
he has no other engagement; and if he has,
to make an appointment to give me an hour
at the earliest time he can fix"
The clock was just striking on the fol-
lowing evening when there was a knock at
the outer door of Roberts chambers, for he
had closed this lest any of his Temple friends
might drop in.
"Well, Bob, how are you?" James Ferris
asked, cheerfuliy, land what is the matter
with youg and what means this mysterious
summons to midnight conferenceH
III 81 am well enough, jim, but am wor-
ried, and will tell you all about it when we
have got fairly settled. There's the 'bacoo;
there is a clean churchwarden if you like 1t.
There is a box of cigars, and good ones, help
i yourself; also here Is port and whisky
Port goodp
Eyes, very fair"
Then we viii begin with that, anyhow,
Bob. Now then, our pipes are drawing,
our glasses are filed. unbosom yourself. Go
ahead"
81 am rather in a queer position, Jim.
Ou SCS JOu pun lll0 lutO ILLS dlldlT.
You forget, my dear friend" Jim said,
mildly. THAT at present | have not the most
remote idea Of what affair you mean"
This Corbyn affair"
"Oh, it is about that" Jim Ferris said, in
some surprise. HAS the girl come over?
Have you persuaded her to go back again?
have you fallen in love with her?'
~ will tell you all that in due course
jim, but first of all let US recall our CONVEX
Satlon on the subject l understood from
you that Miss Corbyn was likely to come
over here TO make some inquiries as to a
late client of yours. You said that you had
not the slightest belief that such marriage
mad taken place, aud that your object In
asking me to interest myself on her behalf
was tnat the girl was nice girl, that she
Knew nothing of the world, and would al
most for certainty fall into bad hands.
VINO would encourage her search and fleece
her and her friends out of their last penny
unless would act as her mentor"
All this IS true oh, king" James Ferris
agreed. What next?o
Next, you said that your client in the
matter was very honorable young fellow,
VINO was ready to do the handsome thing in
Tue way OF providing for tne girl, and who
would be the last man in the world to offer
any opposition to the xceadingly i'm
proved"
Jim Ferris nodded.
nose are still your viewsm
VI course, they are" he replied; i've are
9oliciIorS tor the property rather than for
tnlilp Chtneroe. We would, of course, advise
INN 70 resist any claim that did not appear
US 70 DC lndlsputable, and not to yield
proofsn -
wen, what are you doing in the matter,
Jim, if may ask the uuestiongn
DolhS' Jim repeated, in surprise,
wnat should we be doing but taking steps
~ ~. Vne payment OF succession duties, and
mat sort of thing"
MI men what on earth, Jim. are you en-
moying detective people fora Why are you
"GAiug inquiries about Tom Morson2"
.n I'm FERRIS took his pipe out of his mouth
a auI stared hard at his questiouer. 81 don't
aealiy know what you mean, Bob. We have
empIQyed no detectives; and as to Tom Nor
Soh, never heard the name before IN NV
HE as far as | know
be- Jinw '-0 "0ooo o''u ~
MY dear fellow, | shall be able to helm
NJ uu 10 guess perhaps when l have some
A, A ,e OF what you are talking about.
~, present L am utterly in the dark |
Sa.ner, however, that Miss Corbyn has come
i, mas consulted you, and has set about
| Ter search
No, III, nat Is so, Jim. She has been over here
sSalIy nve months. She came few DAYS
w you spoke to me about her.n
IN ell ana what nave you been doinggn
ven, Jim, we have done a good deal,
NJ u We nave discovered to what, in my
m ruI, amounts to certainty that the girls
NJ B 1er was married to Mr.. Corbvn.n
nj py Jovel you don't say So" Jim Ferris
't GAINED. " You astound me. Confound
tais is serious business, a deuce of a
~ sness. Wait a minute, old fellow: do
gs. say anything more; let me think it
.aihes Ferris was altogether uuprepared
a,S ne news. In recommending Constance
soyn TO go to this friend he had been
os Jung In the kindly wish to save her ex-
ase, and had never for a moment dreamt
r rl1 Cals would be the result. For some
s soie ne sat without speaking, and then
Boz %seL' see no harm in hearing the story,
bro.,I see no harm in it, or should not have
v D1 to tell it you; in any case, it will
a,h NY DUTY to lay it before you and your
as solicitors to the estate. for the
nm iteration of your client. OF course, if
- were Inscriptions people, determined