The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-14
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By HUGO ST. rIH1sTERRg. Il D.
Copyright, 1907, by the Author.l

Perhaps my recent experience had
sharpened my wits, but as sat quietly
smoking my cigar the whole plot, as 1
believed it to be, unrolled before me.
The letter received couple Of days
before from Chicago and signed
"Budd," was written by scoundrel.
with whom Harold was guiltily connect
ed. A suspicion Of that fact was in the
mind of Detective Cone when he called
at my rooms. He suspected the envelope
in the wastebasket and the glimpse
which he caught Of it fixed the hand
writing in his mind.
Without. knowing that had tele-
graphed to "Budd," he believed that
another letter would soon be due from
the same quarter, and he adopted bold
plan for securing it.
It is the very audacity Of such schemes
that brings success. had Withdrawn at
the critical moment, and he secured the
letter just as the elevator boy described.
When he stepped to my door, with
his back toward the waiting lad, no
slipped my letter into his pocket, while
the one brought with him for just such
an emergency was dropped through the
door into the room.
The begging missive from the invent
i've young man was blind. 1t had been
prepared by Detective Cone and took
the place Of the important letter
had telegraphed to "Budd" to write
me the particulars, and the time had
elapsed for him to do 80. Doubtless the
whole plot was revealed in that letter
which Internal fate had sent astray.
Had it reached me as intended would
have been forearmed against a most &C.
rious danger.
"Well, if the storm breaks on my
head, must take 1t. The only way Of
escape that l can think Of is to take Co.
vey Cone into my confidence and tell
him everything.
Suppose i did sof He wouldn't be-
lieve me, and, since no one can be con-
WINGED that am not Harold Westcott,
the whole thing will be looked upon as
a miserable dodge by criminal to save
himself.
II am dead set against revealing this
unprecedented state Of affairs to any
one, and am mighty sure not to do SO
until certain it will effect some good"
Reselutely forcing the matter from
my thoughts for the time, addressed
myself to the other equally important
phase Of this extraordinary business.
The course Of cabling to Harold, as 1t
presented itself to me On my way home
from the Lawrences, with statement
that Miss Lawrence had arrived, that I
had seen her and that it was imperative
ly necessary he should return at once,
seemed to be SO simple and straightfor-
ward that, as l have said, the wonder
was it did not present itself to me at
first.
But now, in the light Of later events,
more than one obstacle obtruded As
matters looked Harold was hopelessly
involved in the criminal scheme Of
''Budd" of Chicago, aud, much as he
might wish to return, he would not dare
do So
Nevertheless I would not have hesi-
tated to cable him had it been in my
power.
Again, what seemed a very ordinary
matter proved to be hopelessly difficult.
Seemingly all that was necessary was
to telegraph to Liverpool, so that the
message would meet him before he
touched land. Had this decision been
made few days before that would
have been the true course.
Over week, however, had passed
since Harold sailed in the Lucania, and
by looking at the papers I found she had
reached Liverpool more that two days
before. A telegram, therefore. to that
city could not be delivered. for it was
not to be supposed that Harold had left
any directions except for his mail, and
even that was doubtful.
"No," I said grimly, II must wait
till I receive letter from him, and
there's no saying when that will be- He
may have dropped me line from Liv.
erpool, or it is more likely he has Thought
that unnecessary and will put it off for
several weeks.
but he must learn before long, if he
has not already done So, that Jeanette
and her mother are on this side Of the