The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-01

charitable action. ! heard, no matter how.
that YOU were interested just now in desti-
tute family, and took this way of assisting
you in their behalf.
Her blue eyes opened wider. 1.-THE poor
are always with US" she replied, "but I
know of no special family just now that re-
quires any such help as you intimate. If |
did, papa would give me what assistance l
needed"
81 was greatly pleased TO hear her say
this, for l am very fOnG of my young friend,
but | was deeply indignant also against the
unknown person who had taken advantage
of my regard for this young girl TO force
money from me. / therefore did not finger
at her side, but, after due apologies, has
tened Immediately here, where there Is
man employed who, to my knowledge, had
once been trusted member of the police.
Telling him no more of the story than
was necessary to insure his cooperation in
the plan | had formedto discover the author
of this fraud, | extracted the bank notes
from the letter ] had written, and put in
their place stiff pieces Of MANILA paper
Taking the envelope so filled to the hotel
already alluded to, placed it at the opening
chapters of Isaiah in the Bible as described.
There was no one In either of the rooms
when ! went in, and | encountered only a
bell-boy as | came out; bnt at the door | ran
against young man whom strictly for
bore to recognize, but whom | knew to be
my improvised detective coming to take his
stand in some place where ne could watch
the parlor and note who went into it.
Sat noon | returned to the hotel, passed
Immediately to the small parior aud looked
into the Bible The letter was gone Com
ing out OF the room, was at once Joined
by my detective.
:" Has the letter been tal1en?' he eagerly
inquired.
81 nodded.
His brows wrinkled, and he looked both
troubled and perpexed.
80 Il dOn'r understand bo III a.
I've seen every one who has gone into that
room since you left it. but | do not know
now any more than before who look the
letter You see.' he continued, as | looked
at him sharply, Il had to remain out here.
III L had gone even into the large room the
Bible would not have been disturbed nor
the letter either; so in the hope of knowing
the rogue at sight. | strolled about this hall
and kept my eye constantly on the door.
but
Y ou say the letter is gomez he suggested
after a moment.
Yes" l returned.
He shook his head. Nobody went into
that room or came out of it, he went on,
whom yon would have wished me to follow.
should have thought myself losing time if
had taken one step after any one of them.'
But who did 90 into that room?
urged, impatient at his perplexity.
Only three persons this morning. he
Il H..
mentioned first Mrs. Couldock"
Taylor, who was lending me the superb
cial attention of a prehccupied man, smiled
frankly at the utterance of this name. "Of
course she had nothing to do with such a
debasing piece of business" he observed.
'Of course not" | repeated. Nor does
it seem likely That Miss Dawes could have
been concerned in II, either. Yet my de-
tectiye ,oid me that she was the next person
who went into the narlor."
. | do not know Miss Dawes so we'll" re-
marked Taylor, eareleSsy.
" But do, said L, ''and l would as soon
suspect my sister Of a dishonorable act as
this noble, self-sacrihcing woman"
The third persona" suggested Taylor.
got up and crossed the floor. When my
back Was 20 him / said quietly:
Was Mrs. Walworth."
l ne silence that followed was very pain
Iui. l did not dare to break il. and he
Doubtless found himself unable to do so. 1t
must n. nave been 1--we minutes before either
Of us spoke. Then be suddenly cried:
Where is that detective, as Won call hImp
l want to see him."
Let me see him for you" said I. So
should hardly wish Sudley, discreet as i
In this affair"
Taylor rose and came to where | stood.
GU believe" said he, that she, the
woman am about to marry, is the one who
wrote YOU that Infamous letter?'
faced him quite frankly. 81 do not feel
ready to acknowledge that" | replied.
"One of those three women took my letter
from out the Bible. where | placed it; which
OF them wrote the lines that provoked it, /
DO not dare conjecture. You say it was not
Mrs Couldock, say it was not Miss Dawes,
but"
ne broke in upon me impetuously.
Have you the letter." he asked.
had 1t and showed it to him.
~. ~ IS not Helen's handw riting," he said.
Nor IS it that OF Mrs. Couldock or Miss
He looked at me for moment in wild
sort Of way. =" "''N
y GU think she got some one ia write n
Tor her" he cried, Helen! Nv Helen.
But it is not SO; 1t cannot be so. W6v
hnntiey, to have sent such letter as that
who. but for The happy chance of yomr m s,,t'
ing her as you did, might never have had
the opportunity of righting herself in yonr
estimation. argues a cola and calculating