The herald., 1896-01-28

the matter his attention. And now the
will itself lay there before him in the
| mahogany box on this table, along with a
number Of the late Bielersterns letters,
which were OF no particular value to any
body. His first impulse was to report the
matter at once, and thus enter without
delay into the enjoyment of the first fruits
| of his triumph. But as his superior,
whom he cordially detested, had received
another appointment, and would leave the
service in twenty-four hours, he decided to
wait until the new chief arrived, so that
none of the reflected credit of the discovery
should fall upon his arch enemy.
| About 9 o'clock the servant entered his
room, carrying a tray, on which was a
dainty little jug of eteaming hot coffee, an
| other jug of boiling milk, a silver sugar
bowl and three fancy breads. such as are to
be found nowhere outside of Budapesth and
Vienna. She was arcut to place the tray,
as usual, on the writing table, where the
mahogany box stood. beside the reading
her to lay the things on the round table
that stood before the sofa. He had just
| finished his first cup OF coffee and was pour
| ing out the eecond when the servant re-
entered and announced visitor
Tall, thin gentleman, sir in fur coat
he says you do not know him."
| "All right; show him in.
elegantly dressed individual of about forty
eight entered. He was evidently a man of
| the world, of distinguished manners" and
so forth, but could hardly be called prepos-
sessing. Beothy rose. glanced at him and
| in CHEEKY voice exclaimed:
amy news OF the girl yet?"
| The visitor seemed dumfounded by the
question for he had not given his name or
! uttered a word as yet AS soon as he re-
covered his self-pogsczsion little he asked
in tone in which wonder and annoyance
seemed to struggle for the mastery:
But how do you know that THAT l.
ooh, come now, Prince, you surely don't
mean to imply that detectives in Russia are
less observant than we here in Hungary. 1t
is my business to look around and before
me, ard do it. You've come about the girl
governess-Olga-who has disappeared. Am
right?"
Prince Lidoff admitted that he was, but he
was so utterly astounded by the detectives
sharpness that he could hardly go on with
the conversation. Deothy, of course, did rot
tell him that he had sent his own assistant
in the guise of a chance acquaintance to Lii
doff the day before, to find out the par
ticulars of the case, and to suggest that the
Prince should employ the services Of the
celebrated detective and that he had heard
Of his intention to call in person. Beothy al
ways did that He also had Lidoff's appear
ance described 20 him the day before, but
the visitors dress spoke clearly enough
under the circumstances.
But let us get to business, Prince. First
of all, then, may take it that your own in
terest in this matter is exactly such as one
might expect, considering the position the
girl occupied in your family?"
"Well the fact is, it is stronger. Olga
Militch is a relative of ours-of mine,
rather-unacknowledg Of course, but not
the less dear on that account. You under
stand me?'
Beothy nodded, and Lidoff continued:
This, Of course, is between ourselves.
Even my wife is ignorant of this part of the
story. She knows that Olga was well edu-
Gated at my expense. but she believes her to
be the daughter Of one of the former serfs
OF my father. to whom our family owes
many obligations. 1 have initiated you into
this secret that you may thoroughly under
stand my anxiety about the girl. There is
no sum of money that I am not ready to
sacrifice in order to shield her from harm
II you can help me in this, believe me. you
will never regret it. A daughter is none
the less daughter because she does not
possess the right to her fathers name.'