Arizona republican., 1899-01-04

| captivated. It IS rather . good picture of her. taken at her best, when in my opinion she was the prettiest woman in Europe
 ''Where is she living now?" Harry asked, trying to conceal his emotion.
 At Wilmington hall in Derbyshire. For some years she has been a con firmed invalid and sees none but a con- fdential friend who shares her retire ment'' z
 'Why, no. gentleman: but Lady Arlington's life is above the breath of suspicion. Paul Hayter has been a lifelong friend and is about the last man in the world you would associate with q scandal
 ''Oh, l was not even limiting at such a thing, but how on earth can this throw any light on the antecedents of my young friend, for you see it was a boy, not girl, which Lord Arlington ab- ducted." ..-aesss,
 Wait moment Dr. Forester con- tinued, ''you are more than half in the dark yet; for see, when the earl disap- peared with the poor woman's lit tie boy, meaning, I don't doubt, to break her heart, she lgave birth in less than three months after his departure to little girl-the Wanda mentioned here. Now. when this little thing was two years old she was stolen as every body believed by one of the earl's enissaries, and has never been heard of since, till you bring me news of her to-day
 You speak very confidently"
 T am confident. And, to show you how assured I am, let me inform you that I mean to start for Wilmington hall tomorrow morning. g
 You do!'' Harry could not help saying. Why, what business can it possibly be of yours? I mean-'' he stammered, ''it seems | good deal of trouble for you to undertake, does it not, Dr. Forrester?''
 ''Trouble!' cried the doctor, excited ly. Do you think I consider anything a trouble which helps me to unlock the skeleton cupboard of a great family? Besides" !" he continued, while his eyes gleamed cunningly, ''there is always a profitable aspect in literary explora- tions of this characte- 5
 'sSir!''
 ''Why," cried tn. doctor, rubbing his hands, the ste'1ard of the richman's estate is q fortunate fellow; but the steward of his. caerats is plutocrat.'
 You mean that you would-'' ~
 ''Interview Lady Arlington it might be worth"
 ''Sir!'' Harry broke forth, spiritedly, Sin my country the man who trades on wornen's secrets is accounted but very sorry fellow. Why, I'm not going to blackmail Lady Arlington!'
 Nor I, either. Don't put on any of these confounded republican airs with me, sir, for I'm not the man to stand it. "
 For a time he sat glowering on his guest in virtuous silence. Suddenly his brow cleared.
 Bah. how foolish we are to quarrel" :" he said, with forced smile, flor our interests are the same. Each can do nothing without the other"
 T do not quite see how you are nec- essary to the furtherance of my projects, ; Harry declared.
 Do you not, indeed?' the doctor sneered. ''NVen, my fine fellow. will quickly show you. suppose you are going to Wilmington hall to interview the lady"
 
 ''Then, let me assure you that with out my aid you might as well hope to force your way into Windsor castle as to imagine you will get beyond the lodge gates of her residence. You doubt me! Try it! No, sir, you cannot sail on that lone tack-you and must cruise in consort. :"
 Harry reflected. So this distinguished literary gentleman, with the initials ot a dozen learned societies tackled on tC his name, was little better than ghoul, preying on the secrets of the unfortu- nate. But, he argued to himself, we do not regulate the killing of vermin by the rules of venerie, so little want of candor may be permissible in dealing with Dr. Forester,
 So he said:
 ''Well, perhaps you are right. Gould you make it convenient to go down into Derbyshire next week, sir?"
 Aye, my dear young friend, that would suit me splendidly. Call for me here on Tuesday morning early"
 Then forthwith Harry took his de- parture and sped in swift hanson tC his lodgings. In ten minutes after his arrival he had packed a valise and was on his way to the Midland railway station, chuckling to think how his learned friend would fume at his precip- itancy. y CHAPTER XIX.