The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-06-28

munication with Mrs. Dunkirk's end Of
the line, and how she contrived to gain
information which that lady would not
be at all likely to furnish her, cannot
for my life conjecture. Here is the
place where q missing link must be
supplied. There is evidently third
party somewhere! However, acting
upon her own knowledge of the circum-
stances whenever, wherever and how
ever gained, she proceeded, with the
aid of my brother and that third per-
son, whose identity must yet discover,
to concoct the conspiracy out Of which
grew this forged will.
"At this point arises the question:
How came this forged will to be dis
covered in Mrs. Dunlkirl's desk after the
first fruitless search for will had been
abandoned? This is one of the
mysteries that must try to solve. That
Noll did not place it there ] would
stake my life. That Mrs. Maynard did
not do SO, seems equally evident. Who,
then, did? That undiscovered third
person! Nothing could be more OBJ
vious. Now, where is the clew that
shall lead to the discovery of that third
conspirator? Mrs. Maynard must fur
nish 1t; and this Is one result toward
which must bend my energies when /
see her next. y Taking it all in
all, this case grows sufficiently inter
esting! anticipate even some degree
of pleasure, from purely professional
standpoint, in tracing it all up; taking
a more personal view of the matter"
At this point his thoughts, instead Of
pursuing the straight line of definite
ness, began to circle dreamily around
the many possibilities of the case. A
vivid recollection of that last little
scene with Mrs. Maynard came over
him; there was a grave speculative
smile on his face as he now reviewed it.
81 wonder how often these interest
ing little crises are liable TO occur?" he
mused, apprehensively. Mrs. Maynard
evidently regarded my proposition to
take upon myself all the consequences
of this forgery without revealing her
share in the transaction as u particu-
larly edifying exhibition of tender
hearted chivalry. Little does she know
Allan North! Before would languish
in durance vile for lovely woman's sake
] should try to keep the laws of my
country in something at least approx
mating an unshattered condition. That
isn't my way Of showing devotion. On
the contrary, indorse the sentiment of
the poet who sang in immortal verse:
'Td sigh for her,
'rd cry for her,
But hang me II I'd die for her!''
or sacrifice myself in any other way!
True, there's no telling what might
do If were in love-that semi-dement-
ed condition in which no man should be
held accountable for his actions. new
er was in love but once, and that time
well, I'm none the worse for it now!
But at firstly Jove! it was hard to be-
lieve that Myra could be false 10 me,
that such a strange inexplicable shadow
could como between us and separate us
foreverl Well, it didn't break my heart!
Fortunately that important organ isn't
made of such brittle material; but II has
hardened my character, increased my
recklessness, intensified all my faults.
At least my friends, with true friendly
candor, assure me that have changed
thus within the last four years; and /
know only too well what is the bitter
drop that has thus diffused itself
throughout the whole draught OF my
life. The wound in my heart healed
quickly and left no visible trace; but
there is restless discomfort and long
ing there that nothing has ever salts
fed. Myral Myra! It Is you that
want-you alone!"
He started up and paced TO and fro
for several moments. In that brief
time he seemed completely transformed,
there was such forceful emotion, such
passion and longing in his rapidly
changing countenance.
But he was resolutely fighting against
this mood, having sworn long ago that
he would never yield to such weakness;
and at last he conquered himself,
thought was with sternly-set lips and
few hard lines in his brow.
Resolutely forcing his thoughts from
the bitter past to the present and fu-
ture, he took out his memorandum book
and wrote briefly the results Of his first
twenty.four hours in x; then, hav-
ing still an hours leisure before dinner,
he decided to improve 1t by making his
meditated call upon Col. Clipper.