The morning call., 1891-03-08
By OUiDA.

mol TOUDtI1, anu lHt iuOllNC
"By heavenP' Wilfred broke in passion
ately, "you cannot-do not suspect or sug-
gest that my mOther-Margaret-
"HuShi DO, no." interposed the woman
pityingly, land it grieves me to pain you
with questions which you may misc0nstrne,
but unless l may so ask and probe L am
handled"
Forgive me-" he said, turning aside a
moment 1T is all such bitter misery that
that feel half maddened sometimes. Cues
ton as you will, Miss Laval"
THANK you, will spare you all l can,
believe me-"
Then she questioned him first in close de-
tail as to the day and night of the murder,
and asked for the handkerchief, remarking:
81 For of course you have got 1t for us p
Romaine gave her small parcel, watch
ing her as she examined the large white
handkerchief. with its curious mark where
initials should have been
1.-The handkerchief" said the agent at
length, " is a mans, but not of fine enough
cambria for a gentleman's; and this little
square here has once been red, cut should
say, from some old red handkerchief and
sewn on by, evidently, very bad needle
woman. | must keep this, please. l con-
slider it an important clew ana evidence,
especially on my suggested theory. 1t is a
unique mark decidedly, and even comical
were not such tragedy behind 1t, putting
the handkerchief back into the paper and
into her pocket" Now. please, likeness OF
Mrs. Romano"
Silently, with sorTOwful reverence, Will
fred drew forth an oval morocco case and
laid it in Geraldine's hand. She started \
little as she opened the photo case and an
exclamation escaped her
Is that a portrait of your fathers wife?"
she asked quickly.
Yes" he answered.
"She was in Russia when-when youwere
there as an attache of the American lega-
tlonP"
Yes; and you may have seen her with
us"
Geraldine had indeed seen the two to-
gether in St. Petersburg, and, guessing mis-
takenly that they were lovers, had let
jealousy madden her. But she did not now
betTay her emotion.
"What lovely face such a one as men
| rave about, rs some perhaps 90 mad to lose
and never forget or forgive the loss. In
that, possibly, lies the secret OF this dark
crime. When did your father marry this
lady and where? Tell me everything you
know of her life, past and present"
Romano told her all he knew. Ten years
ago his father had met and married Mar
garet Carr, then SX-and-tWenty. She was
the orphan child of a lawyer in a rural vii
lage, where he had died some two years be-
fore her marriage But Margaret had
never spoken much of her earlier life, as it
had not been happy. She bad never men,
TONED any lovers that Wllfred heard,
though she might have told his father more
than she had spoken Of to himself
"a girl so lovely must have had admir-
ers," said the agent, resting her pretty chin
on her hand and looking at the artist,
however poor she was"
She was no coqurtte, you see, to boast Of
couquests," he added, with a fond, proud
memory OF his dead. ''She loved my
father and cared for no other alteration
But others may have cared for her. and
since no clew is vsl bic in the present, | shall
60 back TO her youth and try that trail
Thank you; 1t IS now quite in your
hands, but you must have plenty OF money,
laying roll OF notes before her.
She counted them, smiled little, and
SAID, half that was plenty at present, "
but ROmaine ANSWERED. decidedly that she
must uot be hamDered.
You like your own way. l see, Mr..
Romaine," Geraldine said, smiling again as
she wrote out receipt, this win be &C
| counted for to you. of course"
LAS you please, he said carelessly, but
! biting has lip as he rose and began refasten-
ing bis ulster. Il wish Mr.. MaTSden we're
here and | would tell him myself that
want you to do this"
The agent laughed and pointed to the
door, which she, facing it. had seen open
whilst WilfTed said the last words, and he
turned quickly to see a fine-O0king, brown
bearded man quite 40 or ID. with an erect
and direct shTewd gaze that went straig hit
to the visitor.
IL bag pardon, sir" he said bowling. ~
was not aware any one was with my agent
but l heard your wishes, and you shall
certainly be obliged. as Miss Laval is just
diSengaged, and l myself, as rule, find the
executive post as chief fills my hands,
Certainly, thank you, Mr.. Marsden
| then l shall consider that settled, for this
| lady seems to so exactly understand my
| business. She will explain it to you, doubt
| less, so will take leave"
1t was too much pain to him to repeat the
| story needlessly, and Geraldine felt that as
| he shook hands with her exactly as he
| would with any other lady in her own draw
| ing-room. or rather not like any other"
| for no other face so haunted his vivid imagi-
nation and soul as this one. What cruel re-
versal of fate had flung her into such a life
as this? He longed 10 question Marsden,
who escorted him to the street door, but of
| course could not, for naturally such Ques-
tons might be miscOnstrued. He must wait
| for chances favor, and meanwhile paint
| her. Memory would serve the faeile hand.
Good evening, Mr.. Marsden," he said,
passing out.
Good evening SIR
Marsden went back to the warm room
| and fireside. "By Jove. that's a handsome
fellow" said he, bending to hold his hands
| before the fire, ''but looks troubled Who
is he-what's his case? A runaway wife to
| trace, stolen heir or"
Murder" said the girl with a quick
frown. Somehow the usual careless, pro-
fessional tone jlrred out OF tune on her this
| time. 1.-The Romano murder"
Marsden swung round and faced her with
a long "Whew-ew." Then, striking one
hand on the other in eager gladness, "By
the Lord, what luck for US to get such a
easel Unrayel that horrible mystery, and
the reputation of this office is made And
| that was ROmaine?"
Geraldine shvered.
Yes, " she said, looking down into the
fire. Poor fellow; i. is such tangle. We
must not hope too much-nOr you-clever
as You consider HE, and experienced as
| | am"
"Pm too old bird, my dear, to expect
| miracles" returned her chief, half laugh
| ing. "On my word, it's too bad for you to
| have the luck of such a piece of work as
| this. Don't think I'd lave promised it so
/ easily if had known-oHiy really my own
| hands are full, looking meditatively in to
| the blaze 'So-well you've got the wealth
! erside Of luck, my dear, anyhow, and of
/ course If you do falter here | am to consult
with. II is 10 your hands now. and you
must do your best not to fail. Are you 60
ing home now?" for she moved TO take up a
fur jacket.
"Yes, have some packing to do. 1 am
OFF early in the morning TO make a start"
"Ha, ha! Smart work Where to. 1
wont bother you for details now"
/ Il 20 to where Mrs. Romaine came from.
| Do you know the placer
''N OF at all, my dear, do you?"
| mo, how should |, when I've lived
| abrQad-knocked about, l had better say,
til came to your service three years ago.
! Good-by."
They shook hands and the agent went out.
CHAPTER IL
! If you don't want any particular thing or
! person, that very thing or person will in
/ trude upon you at every turn, but the mo-
! nient you want them they vanish by magic.
| SO, In small country town, it is a standing
| aphoriSm that everybody knows everybody
| and so they do when you don't care about
| their knowledge of their neighbors; but try
| to find out any one individual, and the par
| ticular native you address has never heard
| of Or seen such person. When to this pc :
versity of fate is added the lapse Of twelve
OF more years. during which death, mar
rage, removal and other changes have taken
place, it is easily seen that the difficulties OF
the detectives research are immeasurabIy
increased. Geraldine Laval knew her task.
Lawyer Carr had been dead twelve years,
and memories had waned. With skill and
tireless patience the detective pursued her
inquiries; often baffied, weary and dis
i