The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-19

FOR SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS.
err than the spruce gentleman who had
SO confidently received his friends a few
days before
Yours to command" said Abe Cron-
Kite, preparing 10 GO.
just a. this instant, however, there
came rap on the door and the Office
boy entered with a note.
My God" cried Judge Marcellus, turn
ing dingy gray, Miss Speer, the wo-
man herself. What can she want? Be
hind the screen, Cronkite, you must see,
but not be seenr'
Hardly had the detective darted behind
the screen in the further corner which
concealed a modest washstand, when a
woman entered, elderly in gait and fig
ure, and all bundled in black Her quaint
padded hood Swallowed her face, which
was sallow and sickly with strongly
marked features. Without hesitation or
delay she said in a husky voice
Il have come 10 right a great wrong"
What do you mean?" asked the law
yer, drawing up a chair in a state of ex-
citement strangely foreign to him. "are
you the affiant Margaret Speer, and do
you wish to correct mistake, an error,
unintentional, 1 am sure, in your deposit
ton? My dear madam, I am delighted
10 see you
What ] swore to was the truth, but
not all the truth" began the woman
steadily. 81 did receive just those let
tiers from my sister, but I had received
Others, written before she sank In the
melancholc condition in which she i'm
agine1 she was childless, persisting in
this fixed idea because lit seemed to ex-
plain the positive cruelty of her husband
I haH of
and il shows, what 1 very well know, that
there was a daughter born as you as
sert. who is doubtless your client, Mrs.
Julia Straner You ask why l did so
great a wrong? Well, I was poor, des-
pondent, arriving in this country to learn
that my niece to whom I had applied for
help was a grand lady. She had never
answered me; l thought she despised me g;
/ was tempted. Since then I have learn
ed that my letters miscarried 1 have
heard how amiable is her character:
blood is thicker than water; I cannot
sleep or eat for thinking of my sin; and
SO I bring 10 you this proof of my falsi-
ty." And she brought out from her reti-
cule a folded paper, on which were three
round black blots.
you have nobly atoned. at any rate,
my good woman" cried the lawyer land
I'm sure that Mrs Straner will forgive.
will take you on her true and low
ing heart. Just one moment, please,
while l embody your statement in an
affidavit and identify this letter. You do
not care, I presume, to go into particu-
lars as to just how you were tempted?
No? Well. perhaps the least said. the
soonest mended; this is prominently a
case for settlement; we want no scandal,
10 publicity. Now. If you will sign your
name just here, this young man will
swear you. Ah, that is right, and you
may depend on me to make your peace
with your charming niece; she is all COM
passion l will see her tonight, though
she is i'll. and explain; and if you can
come tomorrow, say at noon; yes, that
will do nicely and So until then, good
bye"
THAT settles It," unused the lawyer, af-
ter he had bowed out his visitor. snap
ping his fingers exultantly "how delight
ed dear Julia will be. Whatever may be
this woman's motive, her affidavit abso-
lutely nullifes the one on which they
move. But yet, but yet; have l not been
lax in letting her go without ascertain
ing her plans? Has not my absorbing pas
sion instead of stimulating me to the mar
rowest vigilance, the utmost astuteness,
caused me TO act like a Eighty boy, the
freak of every wind of chance?" Mortified
sprang toward the screen, crying; Here
Abe. here CroulSite, at once" But there
was no response The space partitioned
off was unoccupied while the open win
dow and the fire escape conveniently near
showed how the detective must have de-
scended to the street.
Abe Cronkite had not viewed the visitor
with the enthusiastic trust Of his patron.
The procedure struck him as unnatural
Putting himself in Miss Speer'e place he
was unable TO see just why she should be
so quick TO change. so frank to admit her
guilt. Il seemed to him that the motive
should have led her to make conditions OF
safety by letter before venturng thus
boldly into the camp of those she mad in
iured. Besides. there was something the
atric and at the same time countrifed
about the padded hood and the black
shawl which made him doubt whether
either had ever seen Australia So he
weighed every tone of the husky voice, so
he watched every turn OF the muffied hg-
ure. and when. in response 70 the request
that she should sign her name, the woman
began 20 strip off her glove. naturally ana
unconsciously as a lady would, and only
replaced it hastily after she had disclosed
a glimpse of a wrist, singularly white
and round for spinster of Co. he looked
first at the window and then at the fire
escape with considerable satisfaction.
Down the street passed Miss Speer'
rather trippingly for her years, and after
her slouched Abe Cronkite as IL out Tor
stroll. Al the corner side took car ana
he 100 got aboard and straddled the DASH
hoard as he talked rapid transit with the
conductor. When they reached fash
ionable quarter of the town the woman
signalled and the car stopped AS she
aliehted the untidy condition of the street
caused her to raise slightly her long
black skirt and Abe Cronkite observed
dainty kid boot.
Miss Speer entered business building,
the 1aring. second-story window of which
bore the Inscription in great gold letters
,,n.Ln - ana 40 tho right underneath