Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-30
THE CARROLL FORGERY.
BY Mahel G. Erwin.

you ever Know the secret OF one VI
them the minute you met her. without
having any reason for knowing it. and
with no way to prove you were right?
That was my case exactly the first
time. l set my eyes on Genevieve Car
roll. the lovely petted daughter of Ma
jor Carroll. she came in the office
with her father one morning and stood
near the radiator warming her hands
when entered. A beautiful woman
in velvets and furs was rare sight
in a detectives place, so | naturally
took close look at her, and she raised
those big, bewildering brown eyes OF
hers, and returned my gaze with in
terest, | thought. Just then Chief
Denslow and the Major came out of the
inner room and Carroll. grasping me
by the hand, presented me to his daugh-
ter.
Mr.. Hamilton is the new man Dens-
low has Just put on this forgery case
of mine he said.
Miss Carroll showed a row OF white
teeth between her full red lips: Then
we shall meet often l dare say, MIR.
HamilSn,' she said.
her manner was easy and gracious
and what any stranger would expect
on meeting woman Tor the first time.
Yet l told myself We surely should
meet often, for / was confident that
this woman with the alluring dark
eyes and tangled mass of brilliant red
hair. knew more concerning the forged
notes for $4,000 than she cared to
have her father know. The notes had
come due two weeks before and sus-
pieion had centered on Dick" Car
roll, the Majors nephew, reckless
young blood always in debt: and, also,
on seemingly prosperous broker,
Arthur Ninterootham. Nothing could
be proven, and the case seemed DOOM
ea to remain a mystery.
"A mighty fine, smart woman, Miss
Carroll. "Denslow remarked as the
Major and his daughter drove away.
the girl handling the reins like a prac-
uced whip"
Yes" | said, so fine and smart
that I'm going to keep my eye on her.
What do you mean?" The chief
dropped his papers and looked up.
Mean? That I never saw a woman
yet with her eyes and hair who was
not as tricky as the devil.
She's CAROLS own daughter"
tAll the more reason to watch her,
old man." said.
Saying and thinking are not-proy-
ing. Although Il had Miss Carroll
watchedani sarG and day. learned moth
ing to aid me in my case. She was an
eXtravagant woman, yet all the money
she used was accounted for and noted
in her fathers bank book Her father
had spent year in Cuba three months
previous to the notes becoming due,
and in that time Miss Carroll was not
allowed to overdraw her generous al
lowance. And in no instance had she
expended any amount which savored
of the forged $4,000. l sought for an
object to induce the forgery, and my
mind turned to her cousin and Winter
botham The latter was not even on
calling terms at the Carroll home, when
ten years previous when Genevieve was
10, he had foolishly been a sutton for
her hand. Dick was as badly in debt
as ever, with no ready money and no
new luxuries except what Major Car
roll himself provided. ! confess l was
completely baffled,
|. Between Miss Carroll and myself
there was an unspoken understand
ing | was convinced of her guilt,
and she knew it, Yet withal she was
charming to me, inviting me to her
home so often that soon | became
fixture. l laughed to myself as | fig
ured on her motive. She wished to
win me. from pursuing my course
tlIsojl gh fove for her. AS | had never
cared much for any woman, | eonsid-
cred myself proof against them all,
and rushed headlong into her net.
admired her beauty, her wit, her ami
ability and her devotion TO her father,
but thought that was all until
We were alone in the small drawing
room one evening, she and |, talking
those bright nothings that young peo-
pie enjoy. The conversation drifted 70
love and marriage, and almost before
| knew it had her hand in mine and
had told her loved her. As she turned
her large eyes to mine in answer
horror struck my heart, and springing
to my feet l grgasped her by The
shoulders and asked fiercely:
why did you forge those notes?"
She did not speak, but gazed at me
in silen- appeal.
speak! You got the money for
them?' / cried
1t is curious thing about women
that they always ten the truth where
they love with utter disregard for con-
sequences.
Yes, / got the money Geneyieye
said so low scarcely heard.
/ stepped back and looked at her.
She did not look like a guilty woman
sitting there on the couch with the
light on her wonderous hair and the
love that | had provoked still linger-
ing in her eyes. | felt like a brute, a
cur, a something never to be honored
or respected again. At that moment |
would have given my soul to have be-
heved her innocent. Guilty, why had
she not denied it.
"Genevieve, Geneyieye! You a Grim
mall" | cried.
AS the hard word fell from my lips,
she started as though / had struck her,
and covering her face with her hands
she threw herself on the couch, while
heavy sobs shook her from head 70
foot. In vain / tried to comfort her.
| told her her secret was safe / would
give up the case and quit the service.
/ would go away. I should always love
her, but / would never see her again.
At length ghe begged me TN leave har