The Ravalli Republican., 1898-02-02

Ndut " speak Will you, IIt1u
man, - said Sharp "We will go into
the study" y..
He took my arm and we strol]ed
into his snuggery.
"You think | have been very good
to you, tllenI" He was leaning
back in an armchair and smoking
the stump Of a half finished cigar.
"Well, Why have | been good to
you?'
He paused, and I said that I could
not tell .@@.
! Il have been good to you for
Gracie's sake | have been looking
cut for Il husband for her for some
time, but il our position it was not
an easy task. required q man
could trust, a gentleman by birth
and nature, one who would love her
and be good to her, one who had no
meddlesome relatives to interfere OF
advise. | think ! have been SUCCESS
full -"
assured him that I should do all
! could to justify his selection He.
nodded and went on speaking:
II had no friends. Although ]
had some money, it was not easy to.
find the man l wanted, who would
| marry her, having only my word
for her past and knowing nothing
Of my career, who would marry her
without asking questions, as you
have done | heard about you as a
struggling practitioner, newly start
ed. | took stock of you, as have
taken stock of others who were
found wanting in some ct the quail
ties | required. | made inquiries
about your past and then took you
on trial. You have satisfied me, and,
I don't think you will regret the
step you have taken. =
| told him that was more than
satisfied. #.. =M...-. m..E
Il am glad to hear it, - he said
And now you must promise me
that Oracle shall never know what /
am going to tell you. . 49,.
gave him the promise.
Swear that you will never tell
her and that you will be the same
to her always as you are today. She
is q dear, good girl, the one person
III the world who believes i'll NE and
cares for NE. You are both provid-
ed for, and after this day you will
never see me again
l stared at him, and he held out
his hand to me.
"Swear what | have asked you;
by all that you hold sacred swear. "
| took his hand and complied with
his wish. .~u.
"Why shall we not see you
againf' | asked when he had re-
sumed his seat.
He laughed. Then, selecting pen
from a small collection on a writing
| table, he wrote OH the back of an
envelope and tossed the paper over
to me. ..
"N7hat is thatE" he asked, and I
|
1T is my signature, l faltered.
"An imitation OF my signature. y
ut is a forgery, is it notI''
Eyes, but l don't quite see the
drift of the business -
'I'he business speaks for itself,
my dear fellow And he tossed his
cigar end into the CRATE 1T is my
business-l am a forger!'' There
was Il pause. Sharp was smiling,
while felt as if some one were pour
ing ice water down the small of my
back could only murmur, You
are 4 forger!'
Listen! You know, Of course,
that Gracie's mother was my sister
The Sharps were poor as church
mice and my father, strict old
parson, got NE into a London office
when | was mere boy. shall not
lriyel about temptation and so on.
BE it enough to say that my talent
for drawing and penmanship made
me friendless for life before I was
II years of age. To be quite plain
with you, spent the haley or, days
of dawning manhood in Portland
prison Oracle knows nothing of
this, and no member Of my family
had heard of me for years until ]
came to the rescue of my sister when
old Fairleigh died, for was well off
!: then. Fairleigh was not insured,
and left my sister badly off, and sc
l helped her out and paid fo1
Gracie's education
''Ihe story goes that ! made my
money in America, but l am able tc
correct that statement for your ben
eft. On my release from prison,
threw i'll my lot with two of the
most daring criminals Of the 'higl
grade, and, although we have hat
+ some narrow shaves III. OUT time, W.
were never captured.
/ ''Slnce Oracle came to live will
} mo (her mother. as you know, dice
a year ago) l have often feared tina
\ by some odd chance I might be ru1
to earth, and l set to work to get he
settled in time in position that sh
-, has a1WaVS aniOvnl T would ,,et1,a