Evening star., 1897-05-15
Chapter Iy-COntinued from last Sat-
uFday.

Chapter Iy-COntinued from last Sat-
urday.
The dictation and copy finished together'
Demorest laid the freshly written sheet De-
side the letter Stacy had produced. Ihey
were very much alike, and yet quite ois-
ttnct from each other. Only the signature
seemed Identical
That's the invariable mistake with the
forger" said Demorest: "he always forgets
that signatures ought to be Identical Win
the text rather than with each other
But Stacy did not seem to hear TINS or
require further proof. His face was quite
gray and his lips compressed until lost In
his closely set beard as he gazed fixedly
out of the window. For the first time
really concerned and touched Demores'
lid his hand gently on his shoulder.
Tell me, Jim. how much does this mean
10 you-apart from me? Don't think OF
me-
II don't know yet" said Stacy slowly.
That's the trouble. And I won't know
until I know who's at the bottom Of it.
Does anybody know of your affairs with
me?'
"No one"
mo CONFIDENTIAL friend, eh?''
Nome
NO one who has access to your secrets
said. as peculiar look passed over Demor-
est's face but this is business.
NO he returned. with that gentleness
that used to frighten them in the old days.
Its ignorance. You fellows always say
'Cherchez la femme when you can't say
ANYTHING else Come. now, he went on
more brightly. look at the letter Here
a man commercially educated. for he mas
used the usual business formulas. on re-
ceipt of this and advices received. which
I won't merely say / dent use. but Which
few but commercial men use Next mere
a man who uses slang. not only inaptiy
but artificially. to give the letter the easy
familiar turn it hasn't from beginning 70
end. need only say, my dear stacy that
/ don't write slang TO you, but tnal nooouy
who understands slang ever writes II III
that way And then the kroWledge OF my
opinion of Barker is such as might be
gained from the reading OF my letters py
a person who couldn't comprehend my feel
ings Now, let play inquisitor for
few moments. Has ANYBODY access 10 Hy
letters to your?
mo one / keep them locked up in a
cabinet I only make memorandums OF
your instructions, which give TO my cierhs'
but never your letters.
But YOUR clerks sometimes see you make
memorandums from them
yes: but none of them have the ability
TO do this sort of thing, nor the oppor-
tunity of protiting by ii.
.Has any vonan-now this is not re-
taEation, my dear Jim. for i fancy L de-
tect a woman's cleverness and woman ;
stupidity in this forgery-any access TO
Your secrets or my letters? A womans
villainy IS always effective for the moment,
but always defective when probed-'
The look of scorn which passed over
Stacys face was quite as distinct as DEM
orest's previous protest as he said con-
temptrousIy. I'm not such a fool as TO
mix up petticoats with my business, what
ever ] do
We'll, one thing more. 1 have told you
,i,,;n tha ha a M
n.ercial education or style. that he doesn'I I
know me nor Barker. and doesn't under
stand slang. Now. 1 have to add what
must have occurred to you. Jim, that the
forger is either a coward or his object is
not altogether mercenary, for the same
ability displayed in this letter would on the
signature alone-had il been on a check or
draft-drawn from your bank twenty times
the amount concerned. Now, what is the
actual loss by this forgery
Very little; for you've got a good price
for your stocks. considering the deprecla-
tion in realizing suddenly on so large an
amount | told my broker to sell slowly,
and in small quantities to avoid a panic.
But the real loss is the control of the
stock"
But the amount had was not enough to
affect that" said Demorest-
No. but i was carrying myself large
amount, and together we controlled the
market, and now / have unloaded. too"
You sold out: and with your doubts?"
ssid Demorest-
That's just it," said Stacy. looking stead
lily at his companions face, because l had
doubts, and it won't do for me TO have
them | ought either to have disobeyed
your letter and kept your stock and my own
or have done just what did. i might have
hedgcd on my own stock, but / don't be-
ieve in hedging. There is no middle course
TO man in my business If he wants to
keep at the top No great success no
great power was ever created by it,
Demorest smiled Yet you accept the al
tentative also, which is RUM"
Precisely" said Stacy. When YOU re-
turned the other day you were bound to
md Inc what i was or a beggar But
nothing between However" he added
this has nothing TO do with the forgery
CT, he smiled grimly, everything to do
with II. Hushi Barker is coming"
Ihere was a quick step along the corrilor
approaching the room. The next moment
the door flew open to the bounding step
and laughing face of Barker Whatever of
thouShtfulness or dependency he had car
ried from the room with him was com
pietely gone. With his amazing buoyancv
and power of reaction he was there again
In his usual frank. cheerful simplicity.
tnouSnt I'd come in and say good
night he began with a laugh II got
Sta asleep after some high links We had
together. and then l reckoned il wasn't the
square thing 10 leave just you two together
the hrst night you came And I remern-
pered had some business to talk over too
90 thought I'd chip In again and take a
hand- It's only the shank of the evening
Yet, he continued gayly. ''and we ought to