The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-07-12

Westralia as a most daring piece OF
fraud. | had been over the place most
carefully. and was satisfied that there
were not 10 grains OF gold 10 the ton
In Withstand West.
Impossible, sir" cried my host an.
grily. do you know that l am TO be
a director on the company
IL should resign" And | gave my
advice in the most matter-offact and
convinced way.
But my shares? l have paid 10
per cent on them. and the rest was To
be paid tonight or tomorrow"
ITO my namesake?" | asked, as the
conr Getting link flashed across my
mind-Jeffries, OF course; here was n
nice piece of business. The last time
l saw that gentleman was in Coolgar-
die, where he had been horsewhipped
In semi-public for sailing" big
claim. and swindling n young green
horn out Of $4,000 over it. Since then
he had disappeared.
Mr.. Ferrers looked at me curiously,
and we went into the smoking-room
and talked IL over. He would like me
to meet the Mr.. Jefferies he had been
introduced to some months before in
London and with whom he had al
ready done business. Would | mind
coming over when he was at the
lodge? Oh. no. had no objection 10
do 50, but II would be better If my
name were not mentioned. until / was
announced. He would be down in the
morning. probably. Would | wait I'M
til then?
1t fell in with my ideas very well, so
/ stayed until lunch the next day. No
Mr.. Jefferies appeared. but | was in
formed that letter had been received
from him, saying that stress of bust
ness had made him an unwilling alb
sentee. He hoped TO be down on Fri
day
May l ask you question Miss
Ferrers?" said |. as stood in the hall
and drew on my gloves, preparatory to
setting out TO my proper destination.
Certainly, Mr.. Jefferys.'
Did you ever live at Silchester
Grange Y'-recalling the name of the
place where my mothor had said her
brother lived
Miss Ferrers heStated n moment,
and turned to look me straight in the
face
Il will answer that if you answer
the question | put you"
l smiled. That is only fair"
I'VE lived at Silchester until two
years ago. Now, tell me. was your
mothers maiden name Emmeiine Fer
rers? %
My identity was established. and by
the person | least expected.
Must | be robbed of the pleasure Of
coming TO Chilverton lodge on that ac-
countr l asked. seeing that she I'M
derstood the situation.
l thought at first that she would not
reply, but as | shook hands with her
and climbed into the dogcart that was
to take me to the hall. I heard her say,
81 think not"
And before | had reached the Bart
leets' and explained my enforced alb
sence l decided the position was worth
the great caution il required.
On Friday | went over and inter-
viewed my namesake, who had just ar
rived. and a pretty warm half hour we
had together. 1t might have been my
unsupported arrival. or that he knew
l had an intimate knowledge of the lit
tie game he was playing. or the COM
bination. that staggered him. At all
events, he understood my pointed re-
marks, and when Mr.. Feyrers eX-
pressed his wish of withdrawing from
Whitesand Vests. he made no remon-
STRANGE.
After this episode we saw no more
OF him. and the field was clear TO me
to make my standing with the colonel
a good one 1t was difficult TO define
a line Of action: but the eventual OBJ
Jet was worth attaining. and the mu-
tual understanding about my identity
with the owner Of those blue eyes, and
her sympathy, told me that there was
hope.
"Do YOU know" | said TO her one
day about three months later. when
happened 10 call on them in London,
and had the fortune to find her alone
do YOU know that | feel that l am
sailing under false cOlors as it were?'
You are not deceiving me. Mr.. JEFF
ferys2"
mo: | have that consolation. But
as regards Mr. Ferrers. | am some
thing of a hypocrite. Am / not|
Miss Ferrers continued TO look
thoughtful
''Now If he knew at this moment
who / am. ! should be shown the door,
shouldn't To-
"Perhaps-in spite of your financial
advice"
Her smile treasured me a little.
"And | shouldn't be allowed to see
you AGAIN.
mo. suppose not"
"But shall have TO inform him
sooner or later Which shall it be?"
(Which shall IL beY l repeated, as
I crossed over and sat down beside
her. Then. as she would not help me,
l added suddenly: II shall tell him