Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-10

|
away"
"fhen suppose he altered the books, ;
said Mr.. Fletcher; she must be rathel
clever"
ale could initiate writing so MS to de
ccive tho bankers" said Miss Hensnawe
that was how he got the securities and
things away from them"
"Do you think they suspected him be
fore he left ?"
81 believe he thought some Of thu
directors thought something was very
wrong, and Were going into matters; in
TACT, he knew they were going to en-.
ploy detective"
"Eh? p said Mr. Fletcher, "you heard
they did that?"
FEATHER found 1t out somehow, but Of
course they may not have begun at once
and we got a good start" she said.
You see | talk Of it as we; half feel |
am thief, and know that ny father is. ;
She drew her hand across her fore
head as if her head ached.
docs no one know anything of this
but you 2"
"Father thought Rogers, our old but
ler, knew of things going on. He saw
the books once and came into the room
when father was talking to me, but
father sent him out to his nephew in
| Australia"
"ie would be dangerous witness, OF
course" said Mr.. Fletcher meditatively.
And the secretary" hecontinued, after
a pause, "did he help your father ~
he knew nothing; he was i'll when
father did it," she said. ale told me
SO. He thought suspected something,
and to get me moro in his power by
frightening me he showed me every
for him."
what SORT Of things?"
signatures he had forged or prac-
tlced, the seal of the company which he
had copied"
"Ihew!" whistled Mr. Fletcher.
Its terrible for you to hear it," she
said: "Ihink what it must be to tell .
and, encouraged by his hand, she went
on: 81 have some of his keys, safe keys,
| believe, mixed UP with mine, and
bonds and bank notes, quite bundle OF
them. am to conceal them going
ashore. and if anything is found it will
be my fault, and my having them will
pc enough to convict me as well as
| father"
They would not be SO harsh as to do
that, said Mr.. Fletcher. "lf they knew
he made you Brute" he added, eyeing
his future father.in-law, Mr.. Ienshawe,
saunterlng up and down the deck smok
ing a cigarette.
You must not say that" she said,
ne Is very kind TO me sometimes, but |
dare say he will get on very well with
out me II | leave him and-and-"
| Marry me and settle out west" said
Nlr. Fletcher. That would be all right;
we Will be married in New York if he
will let us-shall | tell him now?"
perhaps we had better wait until
after We land" she said, "but do you
really, really mean it? VIII it really
make no difference ?"
| And FOR the fourth time that morning
he assured her of his love and that
nothing her father had ever led her into
doing would make the slightest differ
| ence to it,
~ have plenty in my past, too" he
said, "that must tell you of some day"
Can't you tell me now?" she said.
| The idea of his past also not being spot
less seemed to create n bond between
them and reassure her.
lie laughed. "Perhaps it would make
me as doubtful of you il | told you as
you seem to be of me. But about these
papers-where are they 2"
II have my share in box" she said,
with all my clothes and things; some
are in the lining of my trunk and under
false bottom father had fitted to it,,
some shall wear under my clothes, but
the custom house officials are fearfully
strict, are they not 2"
Dreadful" he said, "but ! think
have Il plan | have crossed before
many times and know one of the custom
house officials well; he would do good
deal for me; can't take your box
through as mine "
"But father" she said.
"Tell your father you said thew were
dress stulfs you wanted to smuggle and
! said | would do the trick for you. Bv
Jove, they are getting ready to signal
for pilot They must have sighted a
sail" And Mr.. Fletcher was off 10 help
to get up sweepstake or u pool to be
won by the lucky drawer of the pilots
number. The only social intercourse
Mr.. Fletcher had had with any of his
fellow-passengers besides Miss Hen
Shave had been over the daily "pool"
on the ships run. Perhaps he did not
mind that, as it brought him chiefly in
contact with the men in the smoking
saloon He had gained their respect, too,
by winning on more than one occasion,
which might be luck and might be
science. They were "auction pools"
purely American institution, and Mr..
Fletcher had shown wonderful judy
ment in purchasing the numbers which
Others had drawn. The "sweep" over
the pilots number was an ordinary
English lottery, and Miss Hamilton won
with ticket Mr.. Fletcher had bought
for her; he brought her the money after
the pilot had come ON board.
81 spoke to father," she said, "about
your offer to take my box ashore; he
says it will not do"
Mr.. Fletcher looked disappointed.
"Do you know | really think he
thought you wanted to steal n" Mr.
Fletcher smiled grimly, and she looked
as near being amazed as she had looked
for days, but she was very pale and
misunderstanding when the smile passed
away.
II can sec he is getting very
frightened" she snid, "and SO am |. He
wants me TO separate from him very
soon after we land. Oh, Jack, will YOU
take care of me2"
"l'll arrange for everything as soon
as | can, dearest" he said, hurriedly;
"but what does he mean-what's his
game?"
"lle says the Directors before we left
were putting everything into the hands
of detective, AS told you; not a police
detective-a private man, Finacane. Do
you know him?"