Arizona republican., 1898-10-24
nfittIe 
 of Errors
Continued From Yesterday.)
BY s. s. MORTON.

Dashing the telegram down on the desk, he rose to his feet with his face grown suddenly white. and commenced to pace rapidly to and fro.
 Mrs Maynard. the claimant. O1lin North. her confidential legal adviser. What had been his own previous susp;- cion concerning these two? Only too well did he remember it now: and he saw it plainly reflected in that lnessagc of Hopkins tS Shepherd In swift rusi of thought Allan North reviewed all the incidents of the case that had first led to his suspicion; he too. up one by one the various links which. though slight and Insignificant in themselves yet when slsillfully united formed complete chain of damaging evidence; and by the time this swift review was finished he had surrendered most re- luctantly to the belief that seemed to be irresistibly forced upon him.
 ''Can it be possible" he asked hirn- self, still in a maze of bcwildered thought, of unwilling conviction. that Noll has 50 far forgotten his personal and professional honor as to descend to such deed as this? There is only one hypothesis upon which I can e:zplains it at all. He must have been rnad-iI,- fatuated! A beautiful face has lurcd many man to his ruin, and Nol has doubtless been the victim of the artful wiles that were practieed rpcn me to day. So be it! Fate has most strange ly put it within my power to visit . just retribution upon her. and I will exercise that power without mercy. I will deliberately keep up the deception in which have thus far acIuiesccd for my own idle amusement, and in the as sumed character of my brother ascer- tain how far Mrs Maynard has know ledge and complicity in this forgery. And if find that she is responsible for the wretched conspiracy, let, her be- wareI"
 There was. pitiless anger in North's heart as he spoke these words in audible soliloquy, and a pitiless cx- precision on his stern, set face. He did not for one moment question the cor- rectness of his suspicious, the justice of his conclusions: he felt an inward con viction of their truth which was to his mind '.confrmation strong Gs proofs of holy writ" The thought of tho crime to which he believed that his brother had been lured, the exposure and disgrace that threatened him, the stigma that would thenceforth rest upon the fami- ly name, was maddening to hiE.- And thus his resolution vas formed; he would take advantage of the peculiar circumstances:in which an exceptional turn of fortune had placed him. to learn the whole truth concerning the forgery. and if possible divert public suspicion and discovery, from his brother, for the sake of the innocent oncs who would suffer if his crime became known.
 This resolution probably was not taken on the lofticst of moral grounds: but. Allan North was not in position l just then to: view the ease from any elevated rmorafsor ethical standpoint. ! If he had blamed lis brother more severcly.he might possibly have been less inclined to shield him.. but for some reason he had a distinct feeling that sOllin was more to be pitied than blamed. All his righteous indignation was visited upon the beautiful woman
 
 cause of his brothers temptation and stumbling.
 And now," he reflected, having definitely determined upon his course, .'can so perfectly assume the charac- | ter of my brother that not even hls in innate friends and daily associates shall suspect the deception? Ny success thus far has been very encouraging; the only thing that staggcrs me is my utter ignorance of his private affairs here in N, his social, political and l professional connections. Then there is the uncertainty about how long Noll will remain away. If he should return before I have. succeeded insgaining any evidence from Mrs. Maynard, my labor will be wasted But, by Jove.-No. no, that is wild supposition. 7Noll would never do anything 50 eovGrdly as tc run away when he discovered that he was suspected And yet, his leaving S suddenly as he did. after receiving that message from Hopkins and Shepherd has rather significant look. I must bear that in mind. Well, shall have t l trust largely to fortune, and make tx ! most of the time that ]. have for devel oping and accomplishing my purpose J In ;he Tneantirne,- of course, must not i forget my mission for Hunter ant I1etchum. I will write them a Eae TOW to report progross-o- lack of it and then give myself up to Q carefu consideration of this other, still 11ort important matter"
 The letter. to Hunter and Ketcllun was hastily written and sealed; then as. he laid his, pen aside, North's cyl fell upon the envelope that Mrs. May nard had given him.
 i "'Ah,' he thought, taking it in hi: hand, this is the letter that Noil nai urged her to find, as he fan-ie1 that i might be of value as evidence. :. It mus have some more or less direct bearing then, upon this will case. thin,- ca1 soon jldge of its value"
 | He drew from the envelope sheet oi thin blue paper. When he had unfold cd, it. the Cld-fashioncd cl3irography O Mrs. Dunkirk met his eye.
 The ink was pale. and the writi:,c 2 lrSIaalous and ilie.-;Tslo Nor. ;l -y,;..