Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-02-16

steadily at Falkland. You may never
have seen me before i do not suppose
so, or you would hardly have behaved
as you have but I once had The pleas
ure OF seeing you. Possibly he con-
tinued, "you may recollect the time Of
which am thinking. 1t was at Monte
Carlo, just before the notorious forg"
cry affair was made public. But per-
haps my name is not altogether I'M
familiar to you. Most likely"-and he
pulled out case of cards and handed
one across to him--"you will recog'
nize it."
A deathly paleness came over Falk-
lands face.
"Sir Adrian Beauchamp indeed" he
muttered, flinging the piece of paste
board to the ground in sudden tu-
mutt of wrath. who do you suppose
would be fool enough to be taken in
by such piece Of trickery as that?"
"Yet the mere question of identif-
cation becomes the simplest matter In
the world" was the majors reply, as
he gave one swift, furtive glance In
Evelyn's direction, smile involun-
tarily crossing his face. "The difficulty
has been to remain incognito all this
time AS for you, suppose you would
prefer to sail along under false colors
as long as possible. AS Gilbert Falk-
land you have more scope altogether-a
better chance, in fact, of claiming an
acquaintance with the absent rela-
tives of any of your fellow travellers
than as plain, unvarnished Samuel
Grips, the forger."
"You blackguard-you-"
pray do not forget that Miss Lut-
trell is present." interrupted the major
in low, concentrated tones. But it Is
useless to attempt to argue the point.
Your guilt is now thoroughly estab-
lished. That check, which fortunate
ly fell into my hands last night, also
few lines of your writing and the i'm
preston of the forged signature upon
a piece of plotting paper, are all the
proofs that were needed to Join the
links in one long chain Of evidence;
and, since the whole affair rests with
the authorities at Scotland Yard, you
will very speedily have an opportunity
Of explaining anything that you wish
to be made known to one Of their rep
resentatives."
Here a warning shrek from the en-
CINE made him suddenly stop short
and, with an anxious glance at the adj
vancing porter, turned hurriedly to
Evelyn.
Miss Luttrell, what can I say for
myself? You have heard both Falk-
lands statement and my own. Which
do you believe? I am afraid that my
story sounds almost as suspicious as
his. In fact, you know less OF me.
But, on my honor, I assure you that
Lady Howard is now at the hotel! If
you can trust me'-with supplicat-
ing look that was far more potent than
words-"come! will take you
straight back to her at once"
Already the train was beginning to
move. The porter had actually reached
the carriage; his hand was on the
door. For one instant Evelyn hest
tated, whilst her gaze wandered from
the cold, cynical countenance Of Gill
bert Falkland to the dark, handsome
one of Major Brown, and then, with a
little shiver, she thrust out her hand
to the one held out to her, and an
swered in low, hurried tone
IT will comet"
And the next moment she was stand
ing on the platform watching the GRIM
son lamp of the departing train rapid
ly disappearing in the gathering mists
Of the summer evening. alone with the
man whom for the past four-and-twen.
ty hours she and her aunt, and ever
Falkland himself, had been regarding
in the light of the most notorious
criminal.
A few minutes conversation with
one of the porters elected the fact
that there was no train back to Salt
cliffe that night. There was, however
a gig available which would conve,
them the eight miles to their destina
ton.
Ito be continued.)