The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-17
lusband?" incurred Mr.. Mitchell.

should say. 1t was long before supper,
and thai was H."
And what time was it when your
husband returned to take you home?"
1T was about half past g. 3.
what did l tell your interrupted
Colonel Payton. do you hear She is
trying to show now that the man had
possession OF the child and took it
away from her house about the time
when it was placed in the graveyard.
That is the way she hopes to shield
herself. Oh, tell you. women are
tricky
what do You mean? Who are you?"
asked Lillian. rising and facing him.
When you say that / am trying to
prove that my husband took our baby
to that graveyard, you tell a lie. l say
he did not do it. He would not, he
could not. DO such a thing
No; it was YOU who did i'll" cried the
colonel. losing his temper.
That is another lie!' exclaimed
Lillian. but more calmly.
Look here, my good woman" said
the colonel Keep civil tongue in
your head, or it will be all the worse
for YOU Then. turning to Mr.. Mitchell.
he added: Il say, Mitchell. this farce
has gene on long enough. will send
FOR an officer and have this woman tax
en- to the station house."
NO no! Stop. coloneln' cried Mr.
Mitchell. grasping his arm. 81 will take
her to my own home, and I will be re-
sponsible for her appearance when you
have found proof of your charges
Will that be satisfactory
"Oh, suppose SOL" growled the colo
mel. Here, matron, take the baby from
her.
"Take my baby from mel" exclaimed
Lillian. NO. no. You shall not do that.
I have found her again, and we shall
not be separated"'
You don't suppose l am going to let
you take the child away, do you?"
sneered the colonel
Then I'll stay here, too" said Lillian
firmly. hugg;ng the baby closer to her
breast.
Mr.. Mitchell took the colonel aside.
Nov, Colonel Payton," said he,
you must be reasonable in this matter.
l have good reasons for believing that
this girl is the victim of treaclerous
man who has deceived her. The best
course. it seems to Inc, will be to de-
tain her in the care of your society UNI
til our evidence is complete. Ii you
will do this and for couple of DAYS
will hold in allegiance your formal COM
munication to the authorities, | will
promise you decisive news at the end
of that time. Will you do this:"
"Oh. | suppose | must humor you!"
said the colonel. unwillingly consent
ing. But it's irregular, and if any,
thing should go wrong you must bear
the consequences"
Il assume all responsibility said
Mr.. Mitchell
"Then III give the necessary orders
to the matron." said the colonel. walk
ing off.
Mr.. Mitchell went to Lillian and spoke
to her gently, advising her to remain
in the building with her baby, to make
no effort to get away and to trust to
him to do his utmost in her behalf. He
promised to see her again soon, and he
went away, satisfied that he had made
the best arrangement possible under
the peculiar circumstances.
Leaving the building, he crossed over
to Fifth avenue and walked rapidly
up that thoroughfare. He walked be-
cause he wished to reflect. He found
the problem which engaged his mind
assuming more complicated form
than ever. He could readily see how
the knowledge which now was his
would have more than convinced Mr..
Barnes OF the correctness of his sus-
plcions against young Mora. The de-
tective would have argued that the
man who had quarreled with his ia
Their and had abandoned his own
child would scarcely have hesitated to
XIII his father under the fear of being
disinherited. But for the present Mr..
Mitchell dismissed that side of the sub
ject from his thoughts. The supposi-
ton that Mora was the murderer left
much to be explained in connection
with the mysterious killing of Slip
perry Sam and the finding of the will
IN the young crooks pocket. Besides,
he could not reconcile Morals guilt
with certain theories of his own which
he was not yet ready to abandon.
Therefore, despite the evidence which
seemed to accumulate against the dead
mans son. Mr. Mitchell considered the
case still improved.
But there was another matter which
interested him in no ordinary degree.
The great resemblance between the
photographs of Lillian Vale and his
daughters school friend. Perdita Van
Cortlandt, seemed to invite study. But,
having seen Lillian and having closely
observed her face, he was more than
ever struck by the likeness between
herself and the other girl as lie re-
membeEed her. Yet it was possible
that memory was here playing him
trick. Hs had not seen Perdita for
nearly a year and so could not now
be sure that he was not deceived in
fancying the likeness to be so great.
Then it occurred to him that there
was nothing to prevent his calling at
her house. He was sufficiently well