The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-08-03
THE CRIME Of THE CENTURY,
By R0DRIaUEs OTT0LENaUL
A&tAor of An Arttst In Crt,n. ~ - c,,sx.. -
Evtdewoe," ~ Modern Wfsard~
"FSndl PROOF Etn.
tosIyisht, 1spe. By q. p. Putnam's Soma An
rights reserysdl

cn, I suppose I must humor your
said the colonel unwIllIngly consent
Ing. "But It's Irregular, and IL any,
thing should go wrong you must bear
the consequences"
IL assume all responsibility" said
Mr.. Mitchell.
Then I'll give the necessary orders
10 the matron." said the colonel, walk
ing OF.
Mr.. Mitchell went to Lillian and spoke
70 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 sec her again soon, and he
went away, satisfied that he had made
the peculiar circumstances.
Leaving the building. he crossed over
10 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-
.picions against young Mora. The de-
tective would have argued that the
fsss~e who had quarrcicti with his .fa-
ther and had abandoned his own
child would scarcely have hesitated to
Kill his father under the fear Of being
disinherited. But for the present Mr..
Mitchell dismissed that side Of the sub
5ect from his thoughts. The supposi-
tiou 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 Morn's 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 rs he re-
nembered her. Yet 1t was possible
that memory was here playing him n
trick. He had not seen Perdita for
nearly year and so could not now
be sure that he was not deceived In
faneying Me likeness to be 80 great.
Then IL Occdrred to him that there
was nothing to prevent his calling at
her house. He was sufficiently we'll
acquainted with her family to do this
without exciting comment. With Lii
ian's features freshly imprinted upon
his memory no could thus make q
comparison which would be decisive.
Half an hour Inter, therefore, he
stood At the door Of the Van Cortlandt
residence snd sent in his name. The
servant. not recognizing him as n IA
miiiar visitor, ushered him into small
Ger parlors beyond by heavy oriental
6raperies.
While awaiting the return OF the
man Mr.. Mitchell was attracted by n
nne Corot which hung on the wall near
the portieres and went to that end Of
the room to examine 1t. Standing
sthere, ne was surprised 10 hear voice.
I which he instantly recognized. speak
ing In most earnest tones. In the apart
ment beyond.
But. Perdita. my darling. you have
admitted that you love me! Then why
DO you hesitate7 Can you not trust
me. or do you, too. still doubtl"
10 was Matthew Mora who was thus
pleading Thus another and most un-
hooked for chapter was added to this
case. Nr. Mitchell firmly believed-in
fact, could not doubt-that Mora was
the father OF Lilian's child. He fam
eied that there was an unusual re-
sembiance between Lillian herself and
Perdita, and here he overheard Mora
making ardent professions OF 1--we to
the latter.
Had Mora also noticed tho similarity
between his little beauty OF the slums
and this society belle? Was II this
which had attracted him to this girl,
who Was his social equal and whom