Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-16

that Lo had no ring on his little finger.
Then looking ct Mr.. Saunders hand |
saw that his ring had evidently been
worn long time If his ring should be
removed, there would be deep mark APP
parent on his finger, and there was no
such mark on that mans hand"
Saunders was almost overcome with
emotion. Turning again to Mr.. Fair
leigh, he said This is too amazing for
me to grasp all at once. Does it not
open the door for an explanation of all
the mystery?'
cone moment" said the lawyer. "You
were at the charity ball, were you not?"
"No, sir" said Saunders. II have not
been at any of the public balls this win
ter"
"Well, it is certainly strange" contin-
ued Fairlcgh. IL would have sworn
positively that l saw you and spoke with
you on the floor. There seems to be no
doubt that you have double SO far it
is clear enough, The next question is,
What of it?'
why, papa" Julia broke in, ut
makes everything perfectly clear. It
was Mr. Saunders double who took his
money when he was i'll. 1t was he that
Mrs. Gregory knew. 1t is evident enough
that she must have known him very un-
favorably, to say the least, from the way
i'll which she spoke to Mr.. Saunders when
she first met him. And, more than all
he is the man the policesuspect, and they
think it is Mr.. Saunders
,"Softly, softly, my dear" said her ia
ther. "All that seems plausible enough
The difficulty is to prove it. We have
first to find the double and then to es-
tablish your theory. We are on the
threshold of a very difficult case. Very
interesting, | grent you, but one that it
will be very he d to establish. 1t will
indeed be little short Of marvellous if it
should be established"
Il believe it WILL said Julia conf
IDENTIFY, land believe that the fact of
this awful suspicion resting upon Mr.
Saunders will be the means of clearing
up the mystery about the loss of his
money
Yes murmured her father to him
self, our first cases generally do result
in some such way--in our minds" But
he smiled indulgently, and addressing
Saunders said: "What is your impression
of it all? introduced You to my daugh-
ter as the silent member of the firm, but
it seems that WAS wrong, Thatappears
to be my position"
stop teasing papa" said Julia, and
Saunders spoke up warmly.
1T seems to me-" he said, that she
is inspired. Everything is as plain as
day to me now, and my only wonder is
that in all my broOGing over the case
didn't find the solution. God bless herl
She has put now courage into me. felt
before like IA man in the dark, with some
peril near by which he cannot under
stand, bat which lie realizes. Now |
think | can see light"
That is very good as far as it goes,
but the next thing is to learn the extent
and nature Of tho peril. Have you any
knowledge OF this beyond what you
wrote:'
None, excepting that am still under
surveillance. A detective followed Inc
here and is doubtless waiting outside tc
see me 90 away"
HIM! That is annoying, but not
serious What do you propose to dc
next
81 wrote you that | would be guided
by your advice replied Saunders, but
he looked at Julia as he spoke and hel
father, smiling, said, well, counselor
what do you advige:'
u think you and Mr.. Saunders should
go directly to Inspector Wilson and ash
him the grounds for his suspicious" SHE
said promptly. "And | think Mr.. Sam
ders need not hesitate to talk with en-
tire franknesS to him."
THAT is certainly most unprofes
sional," said her father laughing
You'll never build up great practice
by settling questions offhund in tina,
fashion. However, he continued, Sc
riously, Il don't think it is bad advice
under the circumstances. What do yor
say, Saunders"
Il say, let us go now" said Saunders
rising to his feet.
TO be concluded next week.