Arizona republican., 1898-11-27
A GittIe Comedy
 of Errors
CContinued From Yesterday)

ment, while faintly perceptlbie shade of amusement blended with the grave. annoyed expression on his face; then he said. with furtive satire: . Your disccrument astonisheS me, Mrs. Maynard! But indeed, 1 had no intention of excluding Miss Hilary from this interview. l have every reason to belltve that she will find the story of Annie Dupont interesting, and that she will rejoice as earnestly at the good fortune of that young lady as do my self, or as you will, Mrs. Maynard. af- ter q time"
 You are quite convinced then, Mir. North" said Mrs. Maynard. as she triIled nervoUsly with her dainty lace handkerchief without looking at North. that there is such q person as Annie Dupont. and that she Is truly Mrs. Dun- kir,l's niecc?'
 Il am quite convinced of it, Mrs. Maynard. Just as sure as l am that you are in this room: just as sure as l nm of my own presence here; just as sure as l am of any other esta ablished verity. Annie Dupont is no mere crea- ton of fancy or runor: she is q fact an unqualified fact, and an established fact. And facts, you know, are stub born things!"
 Of course,'' Mrs. Maynard resumed, in the same cold, constrained tone. you have taken the prccaution of sat isfying yourself with indisputablo proofs of her identity, before accepting her as the heiress?''
 ''Oh, most assurcdly, I have taken every precaution of that nature. With in the last thirty-six hours the papers that establish her identity have all been in my possession.
 Do you know where she is at tho present tirne?''
 T think I may confidently assert that I do.'' He smiled as he spoke. looking l1eenly at Mrs. Maynard. who, however, was unconscious of the glance.
 Have you brought those papers witE you, Mr. NOrth-the documentary evi- dcnce of which you spol1e?'
 Il have not brought them with me. They are not now in my possession"
 Indeed. May inquire where they arc?"
 They arc probably now in the hands of Mrs. Dunl1irl' s attorneys and eXccu- tors, Mcssrs. Hunter and Ketchuin, of New York"
 Hunter and Ketchum?' She repeated the words involuntarily. She was fn1 tic moment startled out of her cold composurc: she looked up at him with pcrplexcd speculation.
 Its q perfectly regular proceeding. Mrs. Maynard. as you will presently understand added North, answering the mute inquiry in her glance. Hut we arc losing valuable time. Allow me t0 proceed without further delay to the brief narrative of fact.
 He drew out his watch as he spoke and laid it open on the small table at hls elbow. He had the air of d man de- tcrmincd to accomplish a set task with in given time. The ladies waited, each composed in outward micr, for his recital.
 1t was in Baltimore, you recollcct. Mrs. Maynard" he began, addressing himself directly to that lady, that Hamilton D upoHts death occurred. He was a perfect stranger in that city, having gone thither in search of cIn- ployment. leaving his wife and child i'll Charleston. This latter fact, by the way. corrccts d mistaken impression of mine. l had always supposed that Mrs. Dupont also dIcd i'll Baltimore, and that in urtlrr to discover any trace of Annie i he.scarch must commence in that city. This same idea was doubtless what baliled Mrs DunliirliS detectives They pcrSiSteutly sought i'll Baltimore for the child. following up one false cicw after | another, on the theory that if she were living at all that was the place to find {, her. As q matter of fact. uelthcr Mrs. :, nor the child was in Baltimore lt the tuuc of Hamilton Dupont $ death, although the published accounts of the affair gave the impression that they | were there.
 As you yourself told me, Mrs May nard, the poor young wife died soon . liter of a broken heart; and little An nic, thus cast upon the cold charities of Inc world. found refuge and loving care n an orphan asylum in that city. She was received and registered there in lcr own name, as l discovered q few lays since on searching the records of he institution. The date of this regis ry-I do not recall it at the moment, put l have a memorandum of it some hcre-correSponds exactly with the late furnished me through another ource; and thus it affords a most satis- actOry corroboration of my chief docu- evidence.
 Now. before the child had been in he asylum three weeks, q lady who vas then a transient visitor in Charles on prcSep ted herself at the institution. nqrlirin% for Annie Dupont She soon be amc convinced that the child who was ntcrcd by that name upon the books vas the Annie Dupont whom she was reking; and, that question settled, she proceeded to declare ilcr reasons for mak- ng tllis inquiry. She had known llamil- 1n Dupont and his wife intimately, and ras greatly attached to them both: and or their salsCs she felt an unusual in crest in their infant daughter, whc sas. I am told, at that time a rcmarlla. 'Iy beautiful child-w1ich l can very asily believe, having seen for myself that q charming woman she has be nme