The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29

oh, here is Harold! 1 glad-he will
tell us what ought to dol''
But I was far from being pleased at this
promised solution of our difficulties, and
Harold's appearance the scene only ad
ded to my disgust at what seemed to me a
most unjust and disgraceful proceeding.
so I've found you at last" exclaimed
Harold as he came up
But Aunt Lucy mad already seized him by
the arm, and began to drag him towards the
unfortunate picture.
I'm so glad you have comet" she said, ex-
citedly. Now 1 shall leave it entirely ire
your hands"
Leave what? What in the world is the
natter" asked Harold, trying to free him
self
But my aunt still chung to him as if he
himself had been the culprit and was bent
on making his ecape
Il have found him at lasti'' she announced,
breathlessly; "the nan that robbed mel!
BY Jove! YOU don't mean it! Where?"
asked Harold bewildered.
mo, no. mean his portrait, of course
look here it isl" explained Aunt Lucy, as
they arrived in front of the picture, and she
pointed it out to him with a hand that
trembled with agitation
! What can you mean?" asked my cousin,
amazement. why, this is the picture
there is such talk about, because they say
it is the artists own portrait, and no one
seems to know what it means"
That's just it, answered Aunt Lucy ex-
citedly Don't you remember my telling
you that he had the audacity to get Mollie
to dress his hands because he made out that
they were frostbitten, or some such nonsense,
and don't you see he has even dared to paint
it all just as it happened?"
1 turned round with anger blazing in my
eyes and indignant protests my lips, but
the words died away as I encountered an
amused smile, that was almost sneer, on
Harold's face, and just then 1 felt that I
hated him.
L resolved to hear no more Of their re-
marks, walked away, and began to ex-
anime some of the other pictures; but tears
dinmed my eyes, and my pleasure in them
was completely spollt.
Presently 1 was summoned by Harold's
unwelcome voice at my elbow.
"Oh, here you are; 1 have been looking
for you. We going home now to discuss
this little matter quietly. Come, the old folks
are waiting for US at the door"
He slipped his arm through mine as he
spoke, but 1 drew myself away and followed
him silently out.
At home the discussion was renewed with
great gravity, Harold taking notes of all that
Aunt Lucy told him of the wretched affair, in
a cool business-like way that almost mad
dened
will you tell me what you intend to do?"
demanded Indignantly
Certainly he said, with a smile. "I am
going to get that mans address from the
hanging committee Of the Academy, then
take this information to headquarters, and
get a warrant for his arrest
Two three days later, he came to US
with an expression of triumph, and little
excitement, that told at once that pro-
ceedings had begun.
"The man was arrested this morning" he
said. "Of course, he chose the role of amazed
innocence, and did it very we'll, 1 hear-not
that that will help him much-and then he
suddenly pretended to remember that he was
here in London on the night of the robbery.
and would easily be able to prove (which
remains to be seen. There was bother too,
about his name which will tell against him.
I expect for al the Academy he is known as
Bruce Fielding Armitage, while at his lodg
ings he goes only by the name of Fielding"
"Arrnitage," L repeated! lis it possible
that he is related to Alison?"
Il should say, decidedly not" answered
Harold, contemptuously. 1.-THE is not
such a, very unusual one and, besides, is
most probably assumed. OF course you
won't believe that" he added, turning to- me;
but I have something else to tell you that.
think, may shake even your touching be-
lief in the gentlemans innocence"
Harold fixed his keen eyes on me- and went
on speaking as if what followed concerned
me especially.
Perhaps you are aware" he said. that
on occasions like this the accused is subject
cd to q rigorous search. -
did not answer. and he continued
This done as usual, and resulted in
the finding in his pocketbook of a queer old
COMA George II. form, bored with three
holes in triangle, and with certain scratches
on it that remember to have made with my
penknife on an occasion which you have
perhaps forgotten
Well" I said coldly, what them"
What them" he repeated. We'll. it
seems to me pretty clear that Mr. Armitage
alias Fielding. possessed himself of that coin
along with the jewels and silver, and, finding
it not easy to dispose of, kept (which shows
that one really cannot be too careful"
(Which shows" I contradicted with fam