The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-03-09
A SPECK OF DIRT.

taken at last. 1t had been to let for
months, but now the bills were removed
from the windows, and painters and pa
per hangers took possession Of the prem
Uses, to be succeeded by the young man
with the yard measure and his satellites
who represented a certain famous furni-
ture emporium in the Tottenham Court
road.
Arguing from the fact that a neat
brougham containing a feminine figure
in sealskin and latest thing in Partisan
headgear paid frequent visits to the
scene Of operations, report said that the
new tenant was a woman. The assertion
was verified when she moved in one day,
and the neat brougham, in company
with a victoria and a couple of saddle
horses, took up its quarters in a neigh
boring news. She was young, moreover,
and unmarried, and American from the
crown of her we'll poised head to the
tip of her little arched feet.
Beyond her companion, a British
dame of middle age, she was alone, and
why she required that great ugly man.
sion in dingy Bloomsbury was incom-
~prehensible.
Her left hand neighbor alone hazard.
ed no idle conjectures regarding her.
Mr.. Barlow vas a tall, spare, middle
aged man, but no a%scetic, for if his ap.
pearance afforded a reliable index to his
character he inclined more to port wine
than imagination. He was supposed to
be a childless widower, and his black
broadcloth and fat watch chain were
redolent Of opulent and Philistine re-
s~pectability.
But although Mr.. Barlow took no in
terest whatever in her, strange to relate,
she evidently took a great interest in
him. For when, shortly after her ar
rival, he came out of his house to 60 for
a walk the newly hung lace curtains in
the dining room were slightly drawn
aside, and the eloquent gray eyes of Miss
Sadie B. Ruddock, late of New York,
scrutinized him with peculiar intensity.
The same day a young lady, richly
dressed and alone, entered the offices of
Messrs. Lupton & Doyle, the celebrated
private inquiry agents, and was forth
with ushered into the presence Of the
junior partner. She came to the point
with that promptitude which usually
distinguished the actions of her compa-
triots.
"Nr. Doyle" she said, II require
your assistance in a matter of great i'm
p~ortance to me-a matter that concerns
ested. Plainly, | want you to help me
clear the name of an innocent man who
was sentenced to five years penal servi-
tude. He did not serve his time. The
train which was conveying him to Port.
land was wrecked. In the ensuing con.
fusion he escaped and made his way in
safety t the United States, where he il
now living under IN assumed name.
But he cannot rest until his guilt is re-
futed and the real criminal brought tt
justice. AS he dare not return to Eng
land for the purpose, I have come in hi!
stead. If needful. I will spend thou
sands rather than fail"
'Is he related to you?"
HE is my future husband, " she said
with a blush. "In order to make tn
matter plain, 1 had better give you
brief outline of his trial. 1t was oni,
two years ago. Perhaps you may re
member it? His name is Wilfred Vim
ing, and he was convicted of utterin
forged bank notes. They were given t
him in the course of some bushes
transactions by Mr.. Barlow, who sui
sequently denied all knowledge of th
affair. l am hopeful in renewing inves
tigation, because unfortunately MI
Vining was poor. which no doubt ha
something to, do with the failure of b;
defense" III
"Hum, said the detective dubiousl,
eff I understand you Alright, you wal
to obtain proof. after the lapse of thrt
years, that certain notes were given /
one man to another in an intervie
without witnesses. My dear lady,
isn't possible
"But you don't understand me
ALL" replied the fair American. "Wh;
want you to prove for me is my col
viction that this Barlow's respectful
exterior masks q forger. I was sure
was q villain when that poor boy tol
me his story. ! am more than ever Sui
since I've seen the fellow. Idon't i'll
his eyes. A man with eyes like th'
would do anythingl", 49,. {.
The detective laughed.
my dear young lady, what d sens'
tional theory However. it's possible. I