The morning call., 1891-08-27
A SWEETHEART
DETECTIVE.
lady To SEQ vnn- sir.n

She neSltaIeu moment Willle llle uttec-
tive took keen survey of her face, with its
clear-cut features and violet eyes, and
wondered what she had come to him for,
then began hurriedly:
Il read in your advertisement in the
Times that you employed agents OF both
sexes. and have come to you because I've
always understood that detectives are will
ing to pay well for lady's services. Is
that SOP"
MI Braggit began to understand.
We have done so-occasionally," he
said. slowly.
" | want you to employ ne -
But, my dear young lad~, we really
can't" he said, kindly. You must re-
member that we don't require such services
as YOURS every day. However" rising, to
ultimate that the interview was at an end.
you might leave me your address, then, II
ANYTHING should arise
He broke If abruptly for the door was
thrown Ouen and stout, forid man, the
rtner partner, Mr.. ShOlt, entered hurriedly
ard drew Braggt on one side.
The dog from RylGnds mas just arrived.
Croft went to fetch him from Victoria and
says he's quite unmanageable. l believe
the fellow frightened of him; anyhow he
Swears he won't tlke him over the herring
pond unless one of Sir Edwards servants
goes with him aud there's no time for any
me 10 come up from Dev0G>hire if they're
100 20 bA llllS SLtdlutt away cdlNl l4ldl
c0nfuunded brute would be more trouble
than he was worth, only you were so obsti-
naIe you wouldn't listen. What's to be
done; leave him behiud?'
At that moment there was crash in the
outer office as Of something overturned, the
sound of a mans voice. a sharp bark, then
an enormous bOar-h0und Sprang lhr 0ugh
The doorway, dragging behind him several
ieet OF chain, and with bound was upon
the girl with the shabby dress-his fore
paws on her shoulders, making playful
snaps at her with his cleaning jaws III an
excess of bOisterOus canine affection.
At the other end OF the chain was a
rather sulky-loOking man with a silk hat
rubbed all the wrong way and the marks
f muddy paws plentifully adorning his
clothes.
Braggit paid no attention to his agent;
he was looking at the girl. So was Croft
himself, with unconcealed admiration.
Dog knows you, that's evident Miss"
Ruth FOSter!"
Where did you make his acquaintance"
AT Rylands. | was goyerness there
title while ago. lie was always fonder Of
me than any one, with the exception of his
u st-r. Mr. Gcoffrey LennoX."
"A" a quick exchange Of glances
passed between the partners. Then Braggit
turned to Ruth Foster again.
- think we shall be able to give you en-
piuyment after all, Miss Foster. Mr. Geof-
frey I.ennoX has forged his father's-the
banker s-name for 10000, and"
What Geoffrey LennoX :"
The utter increduity on the girls face
made the men smile.
Yes" continued Braggit. "He has
escaped, we believe, to New York. The
dog Is gong over 10 track him. If his ma 8
ter IS in tile city he IS sure to tnd him sooner
OF later and VIII recognize him under any
Disguise. 1t is necessary, however, that
some one the animal knows should be with
HIM Now the question is this, Miss FOs-
ter, would you be ready to leave in three
hours time for Liverpool in order to 90 by
tile City Of Paris? Mr.. Croft will be with
you. VIII you go?'
Yes" she said, and a few minutes later
was seated IN hanson driving homeward
t. her Lodgings to prepare for her strange
journey.
Early the next morning when the City of
Paris steamed out OF Liverpool Ruth Foster
was on deck with her hand on the boar
hounds collar. and by her side her unknown
cumpanion-Walter Croft. 1t was a Pc
culiaT and anomalous position in which the
tuTca Of circumstances had placed her; she
was travelling 5000 miles across the sea with
a man mo was at first an utter stranger to
her.
Not for long though, for friendship grows
very speedily on board ship. The result of
the voyage and the constant companiOnship
was not difficult TO guess, when one was
man and the other young and pretty wO-
man. Walter Crofrs admiration speedily
grew into passion, the strength of which
surprised even himself, and the day before
they landed he asked her to marry him. She
refused his offer gently and with evident
sorrow at his bitter disappointment, but
none the less decidedly.
1t was the fourth morning after her az
rival in New York when the girl came face
to face with good-!oOking fair man Of
about 90. who was coming out Of store.
"Geoffrey." she gasped.
Ruth-Rhati You here 2"
Thank God, we have met again at last"
he cried passiunately. 50 feared had lost
you forever, Ruth, | thought something
must have happened to you; that you were
iil-dead. perhaps, or you would not have
kept silent all those months Why did you?
1t was cruel-it was wicked ;" he ended, al
most fiercely.
ION. Geoffrey, it was for your own good,
dear. She-yOur mother-told me l didn't
care for you, only for myself, or else l
shouldn't be doing my best to ruin you and
make your father disinherit you, as he
would certainly do if you married me. l
couldn't help seeing she was right, so I
never wrote to let you know where [ was.
L meant never to see you again, but now
now you are in trouble, alOne-my place, if
you wish il, is by your side"
In few hurried words Godfrey told her
the story of his crime; how he had for ged
the check to give the money to his sister,
who had married against her fathers
amount of the check was his sisters mar
riage portion, which his father refused to
give her after her clandestine wedding
He was evidently unaware of the danger
he was in. In a few words Ruth told him
all; that she had come in order. if possible,
to save him. and that he must quit New
York Immediately.
Ruth Foster had barely reached home
when Croft came in. 1t was the first time
she had seen him that day, but he did not
offer shaEa hands. a
her with peculiar expression on his face.
GU met Godfrey LennOx to-day" he
said angrily. mo, it's no use denying it, |
saw you. followed you as I've been doing
Tor the last two days, ever since you dropped
this, and ! found it,"
he drew piece of paper from his pocket.
1t was anote addressed to her from Godfrey
Lennox at the time she was governess at
Rylands.
Il always suspected you cared for some
other man, though never guessed that this
Jall-blrd was your lover"
She gave little glsping cry.
ihank GOD you can't arrest himl You
don't know where he Isl"
Don't ~" he smiled. "Do you think 1
was such fool as to let him give me the
slip when he was once found? I've set a.
watch on him; he can be arrested any
minute l choose; the warrant is herein
my pocket-book."
"oh, but you wont do it-you wont be so
SLuSA' ~ "OuiN MIL LiIIh! OUe
clasped her hands in an agony of appeal
You said only few days ago that you
cared for me; ask you now for my sake
for my sake to let him 60 free, aud Pll bless
you. Pll-"
He fixed his burning eyes on her.
What would you do? Would you marry
me, Ruth? Listen to me-" ne went on, de-
lDerately. III you care for him as you
pretend TO do, surely you won't hesitate at
any sacrlfice" with sheer-''Jo save him
from convicts doom. If you'll promise to
marry me Immediately, he shall leave New
York and go anywhere-to the deyil-for
my part; II not, | swear, so help me God,
within half an hour he shall be arrested
It's Tor you to choose. I'll give you five
minutes TO 10 il in"
"You yilainp' she painted, then wrung
her hands; "Oh, what shah do; what
shall l do?"
Time is passing" he observed, laconi-
cally.
He held up the pocket-bo6k mockingly.
"Yo GU shall have it if you pay the price.
for