Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01

neeonrenr with tnat form OF communlca-
ton.
On reflection, he decided to write the
letter.
Prompt employment of time might be
Of Importance, if it was possible to pre-
vent any further communication with
Lord Harry, on the part of his Irish cor
respondent. Using the name with which
Iris had provided him, Hugh wrote to in
quire ii it was familiar to Mrs. Nimpany,
as the name of a person with whom she
had been. at any time, acquainted. In
this event, he assured her that an imme-
date consultation between them was alb
solutefy necessary in the interests of IRIS.
He aided, in a postscript, that he was in
perfect health. and that he had no fear of
lnfectlOn-and sent his letter to the ma
iron to be forwarded.
The reply reached him late in the even.
ing 1t was in the handwriting of stran-
ger, and was 10 this effect:
DEAR Mr.. MOUYTJOY-It is impossible that
can allow you 10 rul the risk of seeing me
while am in my present situation. So seri-
Gus is the danger OF contagion, in arlet
fever, that I dare not even write to you with
my own hand, on n6te-paper which has been
used in the Sick-rOOm. This is no mere fancy
of mine: the doctor in attendance l.ere knows
of use in which small piece of injected
flannel communicated the disease after an
interval of 10 less than year. / must trust
to your own good sense to see the necessity of
Waiting until [ can receive you without any
lear OF consequences to yourself. In the
meantime, may answer your inquiry relating
to the name communicated in your letter. I
first knew the gentleman you mention some
years since: were introduced to each other
by Lord Harry: and l saw him afterwards on
more than one occasion.
MOuntjov read this wise and consider
ATE reply TO MS letter with 1udlgnaIlon.
Here was the good fortune for which he
had not dared to hope declaring itself in
20 r luis
could be persuaded to write to her friend)
was the opportunity offered of keeping
the hot-Jempered Irish husband passive
and harmless by keeping him without
farther news of the assassin of Arthur
Mountjoy. Under these encouraging cir
cumstanceS the proposed consultation
which might have produced such excel
lent results had been rejected, thanks to
contemplate fear of Infection excited
by story of trumpery piece of flannel!
Hugh Snatched up the unfortunate let
ter (cast away on the fioor) to tear it into
basket-and checked himself His angry
hand had seized on it with the blank leaf
of the nOte-paper uppermOSt.
On that leaf he discovered two little
lines of print, presenting, in the custom
airy form, the address of the house at
which the letter had been written! The
writer, in taking the sheet of paper from
the case, must have accidentally turned
it wrong side uppermOSt on the desk, and
had not cared to recOpy the letter or had
not discovered the mistake Restored to
his best gOod-humor, Hugh resolved to
surprise Mrs. Vimpany bv visit, on the
next day, which would set the theory of
contagion at defiance and render valuable
service to Iris at a crisis in her life.
Having time before him for reflection.
In the course of the evening, he was at no
loss to discover formidable obstacle in
the waV of his design.
Whether he gave his name or concealed
MS name, WHEN lie aSkeu IOr MIS-. VIuIp-
any at the house door, she would in
either case refuse to see him. The one
accessible person whom he could consult
in this difficulty was his faithful old SER
want.
That experienced man-formerly en-
ployed at various times in the army, in
the police. and in service at a public
school-obtained leave to make some
preliminary Investigations On the next
morning.
He achieved two important discoveries.
In the first place, Mrs. Vimpany was liv-
ing in the house in which the letter to his
master had been written. In the second
place, there was page attached to the
domestic establishment (already under no.
tice to leave his situation), who was ac-
cessible to corruption by means Of bride.
The boy would be on the watch for Mr..
Mountjoy at Q o'clock on that day, and
would show him where to find Mrs.
Vimpany, in the room near the sick room,
in which she was accustomed to take her
meals.
Hugh acted on his Instructions, and
found the page waiting to admit him Sc
cretly to the house, Leading the way up
stairs, the boy pointed with one hand to a
door on the second floor, and held out the
other hand to receive his money. While
he pocketed the bride and disappeared,
Mountjoy opened the door.
Mrs. Vimpany was seated at table
waiting for ner dinner. When Hugh
showed himself she started to her feet
with cry of alarm.
"Are You mad?' she exclaimed. Chow
did you get here? What do you want
here? Don't come near fhep'