Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-17

tJucututtU mOIu.
answered your question. I came to
Boston to be present at your wedding.
DO you object to my being wtnessY
you seem to know good deal about
my AFFAIRS snarled Mora. "If | am
to be married. AS you say, perhaps you
could enlighten me as to the identity
/ of the bride?S
You will be fully enlightened in due
time, but first there are some matters
to he set straight. Let me see. You
expect Perdita Van Cortlandt to ar
rive by the noon train from New York,
do you not?"
Although Mora should have been pre-
pared by what he had already heard,
he was staggered by these words.
which proved that all of his plans
were known to this man.
How did you guess that" he STAN
mered.
"Oh, never guess. It's bad habit,
common with detectives. am not one.
though you have perhaps COMPOUNDED
me with the class because you met me
with one. No; | never act by guess
work. 1t is knowledge with me al
ways accurate knowledge"
at was impossible for you to ac-
qure this knowledge. No one knew
my pans except myself and-and the
lady"
And she did not betray you. Yet
the seemingly impossible often hap
pens. BY accident l was at Mrs. Van
Cortlandts house yesterday. only II
pair of portieres separated US when
you made the appointment with Per
dita. So, you see, it was very simple"
You contemplate eavesdropper!"
81 regretted my position very much
l would have preferred to walk into
the room and disclose the fact of my
presence to you. Once | was tempted
to do so, but l RETAINED because | did
not wish to do you bodily harm, as |
certainly should have done had con
fronted you at that moment"
You are insolent But | have no
more time. Since you know that the
lady is coming you will pardon my go-
ing to meet her. She is a stranger in
Boston and the streets here are tortu-
GUS, rs you are aware"
Yes, quite so, but you need not go"
'What do you meanY
"Perdita is not coming to Boston"
You are mistaken. | know that she
Is. In fact, | am positive of it,"
well, one never should he too sure
of anything in this world. Now, I hap
pened TO make call at her house last
night, and when l was leaving Perdta
intrusted me with a telegram which
She wished me TO send"
"A telegram"
Yes. 1t was very SHORTEN fact, on
ly two words, Bon voyage,'-and it
was addressed to you"
Curse you, why did you not send it
to me? 1t would have
ut would have prevented you from
coming to Boston, just so, That is
why | did not send il to you
Mora glared fercely at Mr.. Mitchell
for a moment and then suddenly be-
came calm again.
bah, YOU can't bluff me. You
overheard that part of our conVersa-
tor also. That is how you know the
signal agreed upon in the event Of her
deciding not to follow me"
Il did not send the dispatch last
night for the reason which have Civ
en-, but now that you are in Boston |
do not object TO delivering the original.
Perhaps you may recognize the lady's
chrography. Here it is
He handed the paper to him, and
Mora took it nervously He saw at "A
glance that it was genuine and was
for an instant overcome hy his disap-
pointment. Then he controlled him
self again, and, speaking as coolly as
did Mr.. Mitchell himself, he said
VERY well. Perhaps now you will
allow me once more to ask you why
you have come here?'
once more | reply TO be present at
your wedding"
Mora was puzzled by this reteration
and contracted his brow in thought.
Then new idea occurred TO him:
"Do you mean that-that Perdita has
come, after all?'
mo; | do not mean that. ! am not
abiding to Perdita when | speak of
your marriage"
Then, in the name of all that is won
derful, who is this mysterious woman
who is to be my wlfe?"
Lillian Valew
Lillian Nale,' cried Mora, recoiling.
Lillian Vale. You are madr'
"No, Mr.. Mora. | am perfectly sane.
| came to Boston to be present when
you marry Lillian Vale
Not if know MYSELF"
"Ah, but perhaps you do not know
yourself, Few men do. Listen to me,
Mora. 1t is absolutely necessary that
you marry this girl"
But why? Why should | marry
her? She is nothing but little variety
actress. Why, she is
'She is the mother Of your child"
said Mr. Mitchell inpresslyely.
At this Mora dropped into Il chair,
fairly overwhelmed.
"You don't mind making assertions,
do YOU" he said at last still attempt
ing to brave it out. Il suppose you
got that cock and bull story from
her."
"Not entirely. For example, she did
not tell me your name. She calls you
Morton. Yes, and for short time
she alluded to you as Matthew Crane.
You will admit that it is suspicious
for gentleman to have aliasesY
what proof have you that ! ever
used those namesT'