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

WV
1t was a dull, rainy day towards the
end OF SePtember-0ne 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
3 in the afternoon. and was sitting In
our little inner Office. looking out at
the expanse Of duh. 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.
l was musing about Kitty Elton and
wondering how long 1t would be be-
fore 1 should be able 70 marry her.
Dear little Kiitiel she was as sweet
and as patient as it was ia the nature
of woman to be; but knew it was
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 pretty. blue-eyed
girl Of 80. with dimple 10 her chin,
and the sweetest roses on her cheek.
was no poet. yet think understood
aud appreciated all her womanly beau
ty as fully as il my hearts thoughts
could shape themselves into verse.
And Il was of them / was thinking
when the door opened and Mr.. Clenner
came in.
MIR. Clenner was our ''ehief'-a
dark. silent. little man, with square
stern mouth and clonded grey eyes.
which appeared almost expressionless
when they were turned full upon you,
and yet which seemed to see every
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 nothingm
Yes. sir"
Well. have something for you to
do"
What Is it, sir?'
Something that viii bring you both
credit and friends. If you manage it
skillfuily. j had INTENDED 10 20 my
self but circumstances happened un-
towardly. and / shall send you in
stead
Hlh HGiu NUhIIu
speaking scarcely above whisper, he
told me the special business on which
was 70 be sent
There had been, ii seems. a series
Of very skillful forgeries lately com
mitted, with boldDess and audacity that
fairly seemed TO set the authorities at
defiance. For some time ne had been
In doubt as 10 the exact perpetrator 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
skillfully 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
apprehend 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
sketched out by Mr.. Clenner. The re-
ward that had been privately offered
was high; my heart leaped as reflect
ed how much nearer Il would bring
me to Kitty Elton, nor did the enter
prise seem particular difiicult 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?'
Now. within half an hour"
so s0on?h
Yes; why DotPr
could think Of no sufficient reason,
except one. which / did not care to
communicate to my superior - the
longing 70 see Kitty once more before
i started.
Just as you decide, Mr.. Clenner. of
course. / said rising. ..If | take the
night express 1 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 IL, and what you have to do must
be done at once"
All through that long night journey
i unused upon the task that lay before
me. The house to which / was direct
ed was quite in the country, about half
mile beyond the village of Berwood.
and was the residence Of Mrs. Matti-
son. the mother Of the audaci0us
forger. IL help was needed was full
" authorized TO call upon the con-
stabulary authorities at K; but
expected 10 need no assistance.
The rosy dawn was just ushering the
eastern sky when ] alighted, stiff,
weary and AIDED. from the train.
Can you direct me to Mrs. Matti-
sons place?" | asked of the sleepy
station-master.
"Mattison-Mrs. Mattison; / don't
know her. but can tell you where she
lives Just you follow the main street
of the village to wood, with foot
path running through il. Get over the
stile, follow the footpath. and in a lit
tie while you'll see yellow house--the
last place in the world where you'd
expect to see a dwelling. There's
where Mrs. Mattison lives"
thanked my informant and set out
at brisk walk. carrying my travelling
bag in my hand. II was half an hour
ere I diverged 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
" overgrown with honeysuckles -
presently rewarded my search, and, as