The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-14

place, Is :, somebody at all, or Ia II
just dodge of our friend Borderhamp
IL he had ghost of an idea that any,
thing of the kind had been done, it'sall
on the cards he'd get such letter writ.
ten to himself just to bounce us into
throwing that trump card down ON the
table. IL stands to common sense that
he'd give a lot to get the difficulty Of
that dagger business cleared up, and IL
he could show that it really was Lady
Walcote's dagger and not Miss Leyces.
ter's 1t would be good enough thing
for him to conclude that Lady Walcote
was the person wanted. And, don't
make any mistake, that inspector would
give half his nose to spot the truth in
this thing. never saw man keener
He scents promotion in it, removal to a
busy center and reputation as a clever
spot-I mean, detective. know him.,
His manner was in the highest de-
gree courteous to me-" said Sir Jaffrav
in reply.
"'Cause he's no fool" twas the blunt
answer. He wants to stand we'll with
you. and. if anything is to be found out
that will pain you, to have il seem to be
forced out But he's quite clever enough
to try TO use you all the same, Sir
Jaffray. You see, he argues in this
way: If there's been any exchange Of
these daggers, he can brighten you to
go running off to your solicitor in the
fear that you may be involved AS some
sort of accessory
10
hurriedly, taking alarm for Beryl's
sake at the others words and bursting
in with his interruption.
wait moment, sir, please, and
try to hear what l have to say. He
wants to brighten you to go rushing off
to tell some very respectable, steady
going solicitor all the facts, knowing
full well that such mans first advice
will be to you to take Borderham's hint
and make the change again while the
chance seems OPEN
IF there is any possibility" inter.
rupted Sir yaffray again, when his COM
panion cut him short once more:
PLEASE, please, please allow me and
do try to hear me patiently. If you do
that, Borderham will not hesitate one
minute He'll be off to the nearest ].
p. and get warrant for Lady Walcote's
arrest. At present he has absolutely
nothing to go on, bar the fact of her
ladyship's absence and the circumstance
that there was quarrel Oh the morn
ing Of the day about her as the result of
which you turned the Frenchman out
Of the house. That's all the evidence
he's got, because we've got all the rest,
and at best it's only mere fiimsy sus.
picion. But add the fact of the dagger
found in the mans heart being the
property of her ladyship, and you have
just that substantial evidence on which
man can work and act. You see that?"
'Yes, yes. OF course" assented the
baronet hurriedly.
Exactly. Well, then, if it's bounce,
it's clear that you had better not give
the thing away yet. But I'm not dis
posed to think it's bounce. l believe he
did receive letter.
well, but who could send such o
thing?''
Precisely. Well see about that
presently. First let us see what we
ought to do in this matter, supposing
the letters genuine. What can he do?
He won't threaten you. He knows bet
ter than to do that for personal reasons.
If you were a poor and obscure indi-
vidual, and if Miss LEICESTER were a
wretched, friendless girl, nothing would
be easier than to take you both by the
throat, so to speak, and just shake the
knowledge out of you. There's no
difference between rich and poor in the
eye OF the law, you know, but ehere's a
deal Of difference between 'em in the
hands of the police, can tell you,"
said Mr.. Clifford dryly.
''As it is" he continued after a
pause, "the inspector comes to you all
soft tongued and pleasant, hints that if
you've been hoaxed you may wish to
see that the thing is put right, and so
ON. l know all that sort of talk, and,
putting it bluntly, it means that so
long as you don't speak he daren't try
to make you unless-unless, mind you,
he can get some definite, positive evil
dence. You needn't bother yourself one
little bit about the thing yet. therefore,
but when he comes, as he will, of
course, you can just say that you
wouldn't think of doing anything, be-
cause some skulking coward has written
as an anonymous letter what newspa-
per penny liner might hint for the :,
purpose OF getting up a sensation, and
n-excuse my giving you hint-if
you'll put on little grandee manner
and tell him you are surprised he should
let himself be fooled by an ANONYMOUS
correspondent you may do good deal
to check him."
lTo BE CONTINUED I