Mohave County miner., 1890-10-18
PERLErS PRETTY SISTER,

1t was dull, rainy day towards the
end OF Sepsember-one of those days
when earth and sky are grey and
dreary, and the rain drops pattering
against the window sounded like
human sobs. The clock that hung
against the wall pointed to the hour OF
In the afternoon. and was sitting in
our little inner Office. looking out at
the expanse Of dull. grey wall that
formed my only prospect from the not
over clean window. and thinking. /
had read every square inch of type in
the newspapers.
was musing about Kitty Elton aud
wondering how long it would be be-
fore / should be able to marry her.
Dear little Kiltiel she was as sweet
and as patient as it was in the nature
of q woman to be; but / knew it was
hard life for her in that oyer-crowd-
ed milliner's work-room. and longed
to set her free from the monotonous
ecaptivity. She was pretty, blue-eyed
girl of 80. With a dimPle in her chin,
and the sweetest roses on her cheek.
Twas no poet, yet think | understood
and appreciated all her womanly beau
" as fully as If my hearts thoughts
could shape themselves into verse.
And IL was Of them | was thinking
when the door opened and Mr.. Clenner
came ia.
Mr.. Clenner was our ''chief'-a
dark, silent little man. with square
stern mouth and clouded grey eyes.
which appeared almost expressionless
when they were turned full upon you,
and yet which seemed to see eyery-
thing at q glance. He sat down be-
side me.
Meredith" he said in a quiet sub
dued tone that was natural to him,
''didn't you say that you were tired of
doing nothing!"
''Yes, SIR"
We'll. have something for you to
do"
What is II, sir?"
Something that will bring you both
credit and friends. il you manage il
skillfully. had intended to go my
self, but circumstances happened un-
towardly, and | shall send you in
stead
Bending his head toward me and
speaking scarcely above a whisper. he
told me the special business on which
was TO be sent.
There had been, it seems, series
OF very skilIful forgeries lately COM
mitted, with Doldness and audacity that
fairly seemed to set the authorities at
defiance. For some time he had been
In doubt as TO the exact perpetrator Of
the crime; but after much quiet in
vestigation and casting hither and
thither, he had detected the hidden
spriDg-one Perley Mattison, who had
skilifully eluded all pursuit, and was
now somewhere in hiding in the north
OF England. His whereabouts had
been ascertained as nearly as possible
and II was for me 10 go quietly up and
apprshend him before he should be-
come aware Of our knowledge Of all
his movements.
! sat and listened TO all the various
details of our plan, as thew were
sketehed out by Mr.. Clenner. The re-
ward that had been privately offered
was high; my heart leaped as / reflect
ed how much nearer it would bring
me to Kitty Elton. nor did the enter
prise seem particular difficult to ac-
complish.
DO you think you can do it?" Mr..
Clenner asked, after the whole thing
had been laid out before me.
Yes. sir. When shall start?r
Now, within half an hour
so soonPn
Yes; why pot?"
could think Of no sufficient reason,
except one, which / did not care to
communicate to my superior - the
longing to see Kitty once more before
j started.
Just as you decide. Mr.. ClenBer. of
course" / said rising IF | take the
night express / shall lie there early in
the morning."
Yes, and that is altogether the best
plan. He will not remain long in any
one place just at present. depend up
on IT. and what you have to do must
be done at once"
All through that long night Journey
Unused upon the task that lay before
me. The house to which | was direct
ed was quite 10 the country. about half
mile beyond the village Of BerwOOd
and was the residence OF Mrs. Matti-
son, the mother OF the audacious
forger. If help was needed was full
ly authorized to call upon the con-
stabulary authorities at K; but
expected to need no assistance.
The rosy dawn was Just ushering the
eastern sky when ! alighted, stiff,
weary aud iaded. from the train.
Can you direct me to Mrs. Matti-
sons placer" / asked Of the sleepy
station-master.
'tMattison-Mrs. Mattison; I don't
know her, but can tell you where she
lives just you follow the main street
ct the village to a wood. with foot
path running through ii. Get over the
stile, follow the footpath. and in lit
tie while you'll see yellow house-the
last place in the world where you'd
expect 10 see a dwelling. There's
where Mrs. Mattison lives"
thanked my informant and set out
Mt a brisk walk. carrying my travelling
bag in nv hand. II was half an hour
ere diyerged from the main road, or
rather lane. The stile at the end Of
the footpath through the wood was
quickly reached. and the little yellow
house--a cream-colored cottage LITERAL
Iy oVergrow0 with boneysuckles -
presently rewarded my search. and. as