The morning call., 1891-08-28
AN UNEXPECTED
TRANSFORMATION.

retired detective anu l. Ie was III q Aothi-
niscent mood
mo doubt you were occasionally surprised
at the termination of some Of your investi-
cations" | ventured to remark.
well, yes," he slowly admitted. "The
fact is, on one occasion l was more than sur
prised; was absolutely dazed. Early in
my professional career I set out to find a
young forger named Berry Gray, an ab-
seconded clerk of a ST. Louis firm. After
foundering around for about ten weeks,
at last located him at Austin, Tex. Not in
. the town exactly, for he lived with young
farmer near by.
"When l trudged out to the farm found
that the owner was Dick Clayton, friend
of. my boyho d. and he received me with
much heartiness. He was unmarried, and
was running a large ranch on which he did
not owe dollar.
"While we were chatting on the porch,
young Gray, the man was after, came up
and made few inquiries about the work
for the afternoon. He was a straight, hand
some, .smOOth-facei fellow, with bright
brown eyes and curly hair of the same color.
80 Is that one eli your farm-handsT L
asked as the young man retired.
80 Yes replied my friend. He hasn't
had much experience, but he has great ad-
aptabiity and is very willing. He is of
great use 10 lie, DQl 1 IL lhb assign IluGu VI
the hard work TO him, as he doesn't seem
very strong.
40 How long has he been with your l
asked.
80 Three months, was the reply.
"' What is his nameY
90 Berry Gray. BY the by, he's we'll
educated fellow and quite companiOnable.'
"a minute later l announced my vocation
and my errand.
My friend did not reply at once, his as
tOnishment was so great
80 You detective and he thief" he
gasped.
81 simply nodded.
"'Surely there is some mistake here
Dick Clayton said in distress, slowly recoy-
ering from the shock.
80 No;' / declared with positveness.
I've tracked him every mile of the way.
HeIe Is his Photograph
"DIck Clayton looked at it steadfastly for
few moments.
You may be right he said. but do
you know, TINS thing has sort of knocked me
endwse? Berry, he called, for the young
fellow was just crossing the yard with a
sickle in his hand. He walked briskly for
ward.
"'rhis gentleman is detective Dick
Clayton said, and he is here to arrest you
for defrauding a ST. Louis firm
"fhe young fellow betrayed no emotion.
His brown eyes merely took on a darker
shade. The look in them as they met mine
disturbed me a trlfe, and | afterward
learned why.
- I am not the party he said, in a soft,
musical voice. 1t is a mistake
Isn't your name Berry Gray p l asked.
Yes he replied.
"'And isn't this your photograph as
my next question.
He took the picture with a start of sur
prise. He eyed 1t critically, quizzical ex-
preston lowering about his Iips.
II is not photograph of me, he said.
ION, II isn't, ehY l ncreduouSly replied
We'll, you are IN TX, and you will have to
get out Of II as best yOu can. | will have
to take you before magis rate
He became nervous, and cast an appeal
ing glance at his employer, who said:
I'm sorry for You, Berry, and sympa-
thRe with you and all that, but can't in
terfrTe.'
young Gray interlocked the fingers of
his shapely hands and seemed lost in deep
thought iur little whiles
y a Il allow me to get ready. sup
pose ne said, the brown eyes seeking mine
in an annoyed yet fearless way.
"'Oh, OF course | replied.
'He hung the sickle on a nail, entered the
house, and went upstairs to his room
Dick Clayton and l sat on the porch and
talked for half an hour.
Young Gray didn't promise to come
back Dick remarked.
He understood | replied
There's rise in the ground in the rear
Of the house, and its an easy jump from his
window. \ 4ou'n find him gone
If so, he'll not 60 far / rejoined.
y our confidence in him seems to be as
great as mine was Dick said, with grin,
"At the end of ten minutes | rose and
said:
His room IS directly opposite the land
ing specified Dick.
Il ran upstairs and opened the door, and
saw a pretty girl standing there. got
red in the face and stammered out, excuse
me, please for [ supposed that had en-
Oh, come in,' she said, with a little
laugh, and shut the door, please
Il obeyed, and the big brown eyes, full
of mischief, again met mine
II sat down, half daZed, the transforma-
ton was 50 great. Diamond earrings spar
kled in her ears; her dress fitted her to per-
fectiOn; her attitude was one OF graceful
ness; there was red glow in the brown
che ks. and her lips were tantalizng in their
ripe fulness. | was impressed that l had
met her somewhere-but that, l thought,
was owing TO the photograph and my hay-
ing seen her in male attire.
You will perceive that you have made
mistake she quietly said.
a. That isn't settled yet l replied, not
knowing Just what to say.
80 You have not been playing detective
long, infer she said, with a tantalizing
little laugh. You should have noticed that
my ears were pierced for rings. Come, now;
acknowledge that you were way of, Mr.. -
She pronounced my name insfull, and
it was like exploding bomb at my feet
"' You know meP gasped. TELL me,
who are you?'
".Again that ripping, provoking little
laugh
always thought You liked me, and am
pIqued to think that you have forgotten me
so soon. 7 ou used to call my monogram,
Big A, little A, bouncing B. am Alice
A. BrintOn.'
Yes, am excessively dull I con.
fessed, after l had found my voice. But,
Miss Brinton,, in heavens name what does
all this mean@
"Tll tell you,' she said. 1 could not get
along with my stepmother. Father sided
with her, and made matters still more
aggra1atlng. left home. l drfted here.
L could not get a school; nobody
wanted a governess. | put on mems
clothes and found employment
Does your father know the strait you
are imp l asked He is rich. WHY don't
you writeP Why don't you go home?'
guess l will since this thing has hap
pened' she thoughtfuIly said. 4 beg of You
tokeep my. secret from Mr.. Clayton
promised faithfully to do so, and then
Dick Clayton walked into the room. He was
in his own h0use-the door wasn't bolted-
be was curious over the detention. He
stared at his farmland in amazement.
MT - VIII explain, she stammered,
looking at me, her face burning with
blushes.
Yes, Dick said, motioning to him to
follow me out of the room; but, as we left,
! said to her: IN return in few minutes
=" When told Dick her story he was en-
tirely satisfied. More than that, he seemed
delighted, and | noticed that he was doing
some rapid thinking"
That story rounds up In the usual way"
1 said; the young ranchman married her,"
mo he didn't either," replied the detec-
tive. "When l returned to the room l said
Alice, you must go East with me-
"'Oh. can't objected she.
"'Yes. you can. I'll be your escort. This
is-no place for you
u had always liked her, and she looked
SO pretty just then, that fell madly in love
with her.
"'Get ready at once ordered.
"'Don't be silly she retorted.
''Still / saw that she regarded me with