The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1890-10-31
PERLEpS PRETTY SISTER.

lLl.LLlO Ill ! UiU LII,
1t was a dull. rainy day towards the
end of September-onc of those DAYS
Wien earth and sky are grey end
dreary. and the rain drops PATTERN.
against the window sounded like
human sobs. The clock that hung
against the wall pointed to the hour OF
8 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
tine newspapers.
WAS musing about Kitty Elton and
wondering how long it would be be-
fore should be able to marry her.
Dear little Kittic! she was rs sweet
and rs patient as it was in the nature
OF u woman to be; but [ knew it was
a hard life for her in that over-crowd-
ed milliner's work-room, and / longed
10 set her free from the monotonouS
captivity. She was Il pretty. blue-eved
girl of 80. with a dimple in her chin,
and the sweetest roses on her cheek.
! was no poet. yet think l understood
aud appreciated all her womanly beau
ty rs fully as if my hearts thoughts
could shape themselves into verse.
And it was of them l was thinking
when the door opened and Mr.. Clenner
came in.
Mr.. Clenner was our ''chief'-a
dark. silent. little man, with square
stern mouth and clouded grey eyes.
which appeared almost ex~preSsionless
when they were turned full upon you,
and yet which seemed to see every
thing at a glance. He sat down be-
side me.
Meredith" he said in a quiet SUBJ
dued tone that was natural to him.
.'didn't you say that you were tired of
doing nothing?"
Yes, SIR"
We'll, l have something for you to
do"
What is it, sir?"
Something that will bring you both
credit and friends, if you u it
skillfullv. l had intended to 90 my
self, but circumstances happened I'M
towardly. and 1 shall send you in
stead"
Bending his head toward me and
speaking scarcely above Il whisper. he
told me the special business on which
l was to be sent.
There had been, it seems, a series
of very skillful forgeries lately com
mitted. with boldness and audacity that
fairly seemed to set the authorities at
defiance. For some time he had been
in doubt as to the exact perpctrator Of
the crime; but after much quiet in
vestigation and casting hither and
thither, he had detected the hidden
spring-one Perley Mattison, who had
SkillfUllv eluded all pursuit. and was
now somewhere in hiding in the north
of England. His whereabouts had
been ascertained as nearly as possible
and it was for me to go quietly up and
appcehend him before he should be-
come aware of our knowledge of all
his movements.
! sat and listened to all the various
details of u plan. as they were
sketched out by Mir. 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 &C
complish.
DO you think you can do it?n Mr..
Clenner asked, after the whole thing
had been laid out before me.
Yes. sir. When shall | start?'
Now, within half an hour
$50 soon?"
Yes; why potp"
I could think of no sufficient reason,
except one, which I did not care'to
communicate to my superior the
longing to sec Kitty one more before
/ started.
Just as you decide, Mr.. Clenner, of
course" 1 said rising. IF l take the
night express l shall be 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 l was direct
ed was quite in the country, about half
a 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-
stabuiary authorities at K; but l
expected TO need no assistance.
The rosy dawn was just ushering the
eastern sky when l alighted, stiff,
weary and iaded. from the train.
Can YOU direct me to Mrs. Matti-
sons place?n | asked of the sleepy
station-master.
..Mattison-Mrs. Mattison; l don't
know her, but l can tell you where she
lives. Just you follow the main street