Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-12-02

THIS prOOiem nau occupied the ot
tention OF Mr.. Jeckyll even during
banFing hours. 1t was the x after
which he struggled.
At seventeen, Ida Vancouver had
become intimate with William Ham
ilton, a Young specimen Of legal ana
tony. The stern guardian had for.
bids!en Hamilton to enter the house,
and from that date the young lady
had been gradual going mad. So
ran the lumor, and the mos. people
belieyed--for Banker Jeckyfi was
influential, as incarDate as hard cash
is apt to be-. There is certain di-
vinity in cash, especially in Fifth
Avenue circles. and Mr.. Jckyll was
the dividity incarnate.
No true believer ia cash ever
doubts it's essential divinity; and
thus Mr.. JeckylI, not as Mr.. Jeckyll
per Sc, but as cash incarnate, was
influential, and as everybody said,
how kind Mr.. Jeckyll is, not to send
her to an assluml"
Mr.. Hamilton is concieted-not
more SO than men usually are--but
conceited enough, nevertheless, to
believe that Miss Vancouver had
gone mad on his account. 1t was 80
romatic 10 think so; and. for the
sake Of the romance, Mr.. Hamilton
was enable to bear his loss With pa
thetic esignatiou. 1t was one
o'clock at night when Ferret pulled
the bell at the Fifth Avenue palace.
Three hundred iron tongues, in as
msny quarters of the city, had al
most simultaneously changed one,
and the million mouthed metropo-
lis was sound asleep. Its.two mil
lion ey>s, with here and there n
exceptions, were shut in. slumber;
and Mr. Ferret had not the slightest
| suspicion that Miss Vancouyer's two
blue eyes were among the excep-
tons.
Ferret was admitted, with shawl
under his arm that Jeckyll identified
He had traced Miss Vancouver to
the pier, but hal not been in time
to prevent the accident. Here he
sent an optical telegram to Mr..
Jsckyll, which questioned, "Haye l
done right" Mr.. Jeckyll, by optical
telegram, answered, "Yes," and
the conversation went on, the bank
er dispensing the thousand.
The detective had seen Miss Van
couver drop from the pier, had
heard the splash; had picked up the
evidence OF her identity. There was
DO doubt to the fact-Miss Van
couyer was dead, and might be car
ried to the morgue any day, having
been cast up by the sea for identi-
| fication. So reasoned Mr.. Jeckyll,
secretly resolving to keep an eye
on the morgue and in instance OF
Miss Vascoaver's body being pick
ed up, to identify 1t, and impress
the public with magnificent obse-
quies.
"The effect" argued the banker,
internally-"the effect on the circle
in which I move will be worth the
trouble
The bunker carried out his reso.
luton, but in vain. The opportuni-
ty for the magnificent funeral was
never presented.
At about the same hour Ct the
night that Mr.. Ferret as commit 4e
of investigation, had reported pro-
gress, a young woman had appeared
at the station house and solicited
lodging.
| "What name?' demanded the
sleepy sergeant. turning, pen in
hand, to the register.
"For the night, nameless," re.
| Joined voice 10 which sweetness
and culture we're tremendously
blended.
The sergeant peered cautiously
into the face OF his visitor. 1t was
as paid as alabaster, encircltd with
turbau OF golden hair. There was
no vestiges of dissipation in it; but
there was an imploring expression
10 tue blue eyes that was. almost in
audible.
"Excuse me, madame, it's the
rule, rejoined the functionary, hav-
ing taken bis notes. ell call the
captain
His sleep broken in upon, the cap
tain was not 10 the most smiable OF
humors, and appeared, alternately
rubbing his eyes aod cursing the
stupidity of the sergeant.
"I'm sure when you See her," re-
Joined the latter in answer 10 ours
90 enough to have filed volume
-"I'm sure when you see her you II
agree that she oughtn't to be herd
ed with the rest of them
The sergeant stated the fact that
madame did not wish to register.
"Who are your" demanded The
captain, grufiy, though a trife
modified by the elegeuce and breed.
ing of his subject.
Though not in street costume, she
was dressed with nameless elegance
of something more than taste. A
single gem shot spears of fire from 8