New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-08
A CASE OF BLACK MAIL.
From Tic 81. James's Gazette.

shes a ripper uncle" said his nephew ana
articled clerk. who had brought II TO hlin' OUT
shc will only see you"
Then | suppose | must said MI Hiest;
show her up" He took piece OF paper that
To- ked like a theatrical programme ana seemed
20 give an air OF frivoty to the papers on MS
table and dropped it into the waste,,paper bas-
kct: his nephew saw him do 1t. ana sad III
tone Of remonStrance:
Uncle. can't you come?
Cant you see I'm busy?" said Mr.. Blest
"Snow the up. and tell her to be quick
II she can"
minute later young lady came in smiling
with a very small hand held out ncased APP
parently in 4 still smaller glove.
You have forgotten me-, she laughed as ne
bowed st1iy. Mrs. Smythe- Maude lttersen'
Dear me-" said Mr. Blcst. so ii Is.
The small hand rose and lowered somewhere
above his shoulder as he caught It's iinger-hps
In his hony old claw.
We'll" she exclaimed. its three years since
you've seen me. and then I had just come OF
age. and you only saw me when you gave ,,i1 me
day like she does afterward."
You are looking very we'll"
Thank you: afraid was growing
thin" She said. pinching her arm critically. 1
am very unhappy; tina; is why ! came to see
you"
indeed" said Mr. Best You pain me ex-
trrmely-your husband"-
IT'S not quite to that: but it will soon:
II you can't help me Look here. Mr. BEST l
feel | have known you since little girl. /
because you used 10 send me postofice orders
for pocket money. with typewriter letters to
ask If they were kind to me at school. just as II
All. | never thought Of that. said Mr.. B'st
And then you tied UP my wrctched little .
f5G0O in marriage settlement. so that get
nothing year and have to buy all my clothes
out Of it-and now if you will only not interrupt
me- think can tell you everything.
He bowed silently as she settled herself IN the
battered easy chair. extending a pair of pointed
little patent leather boots TO the gas fire in the .
crate.
she said. following the direction of his eyes. IT'S
my hats though that they t. about M
down there: you can't show your boots very well
i'll pew"
As he had been asked not to interrupt he said
nothing. while she arranged her left slcev" ana
pulled down the right hand corner Of her veil.
1t is hard on me-" she went on. with sigh
"because | truly don't deserve it: but 1t is like .
this Years ago before married knew
captain his name does not matter. call him
Doe" suggested Mr.. Best
Sounds rather like baker: well. never mind
Captain Dough and great pals friends D.
you know. nothing more and he went away 20
India and wrote him letters naturally"
Mr. BEST bowed
Il thought myself rather more than just a
pal. then. you know only eighteen. and .
my letters said good deal fancy. | should .
not write like that now to any one However, .
suppose he liked them, and kept them Never .
keep u letter from woman. Mr.. Hest. perhaps
you never did lawyers so careful Well H. .
is dead now. poor fellow He died in India. and /
his servant or somebody must have stolen all .
my poor little scrawls. and just listen TO the /
letter received a fortnight ago: I'll read it to
instructed a client
oner you FOR sale certain letters written BY you
to Captain dough, late Of then" mind |
the regiment Kindly let know IL you
would care to purchase them for "A thousand .
pounds cash. or whether your husband would |
possibly be likely to desire them. 1t seems a
pity that documents so interesting t. your
family should fall into other hands. Faithfully |
yours. JAMES HEDGFTER'
lie calls himself an autograph dealer. There
a thousand pounds -
Dear me- said MIR Bcst. How many let
tiers there"
only four that matter. | wrote after
ward to say that was engaged. and another
after | was married. quite formal. there
nothing in either OF them"
Then. said Mr.. BEST III what you tell me
Ia correct" (he coughcd alphabetically as the
phrase slipped from his lips. Il cannot how
your husband can reasonably be made jealous"
Of course: just what ! thought" said Mrs
Smythc. tapping her foot on the fender impa-
tiently. And l wrote and said 50; and they
wrote back to say that il wanted particulars
OF the letters. they were undated-just az il one
letters and that II | wanted extracts they
would inclosc some. They did, and | burned
them. and haven't slept since.
But they are undated" said Mr. BEST still
cheerful and cOnsolatOry.
She shook her head They also said that two
were in envelopes with postmarks. They told
me the dates one just before one just after.
was married"
Dear me-" said the old solicitor looking
grave Then they have put'tWo early letters
into envelopes that contained harmless ones.
merely saying gOodby."
II thought you would begin to understand |
soon. said his client.
you must tell your husband everything. Of
course" began Mr.. Blest.
She stood up looking sorrOwful but firm. Mr.. |
Bcst. cannot. positively. Dear William is
good husband and | love him very much;
hut he is clergyman. and he does not
understand lin afraid he has been
a Ia.T xktt ttx,. t,ASl