The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-19

W
row skirt. The dressmaker demurred at
nrst, protesting that the suit was only for
rent, but yielding TO the adroit yet unas-
Stunning persuasion of the man, and being
anxious TO oblige so distinguished Gus
toner, she confided to him a letter setting
forth her terms with all the particularly
he requested
When the detective reached the Office he
at once tranquilized the judges profess
sional conscience by assuring him that
Miss Speer was in all respects sincere and
what she appeared TO be. Indeed" he
concluded, thinking you would be better
satisfied not to wait until tomorrow, l
arranged that she should be at the hotel
this evening when you called on Mrs.
Straner."
DO you think she will surely be
thereY inquired the Judge snxiously.
Just as surely as Mrs. Straner will"
protested the detective stoutly as he sat
down at further table and began to Elk
anime the papers in the case.
Abe Cronkite cautiously took a paper
from his pocket on which he made three
round black blots In a row. which, ne
then substituted for the letter, similarly
marked, which was folded with Miss
Speers affidavit The Judge might have
lost confidence in his retainer had he OBJ
served this procedure, but he was too pre-
occupied with thoughts far removed from
his practical surroundings to do so. In
deed, he started as if from vision when
the other ventured to say:
Don't you think 1t would be well to
have the copy of this affidavit served to-
day. since it is all ready?"
why SOP" asked Judge Marcellus,
rather r5santing any interference with his
practice.
Well explained Abe Cronkite, rather
hesitatingly. II met Mr.. Eccles outside
and he made some sighting reference to
your client You know how loose-mouth-
ed he is. so l ventured to think that since
the affidavit was all right, he should be
appraised of it at cnce, and thus taught
proper caution"
The Judges hearty concurrence was
shown by the energetic way in which he
rang his call and despatched a young man
with copies of the affidavit and letter to
serve on Messrs. Macron & Eccles, the at
torneys for the defense
Abe Cronkite breathed freer, but he
still had one more detail to provide for
in the plan he had made for the Judges
protection; and So as he saw his patron
preparing to leave for the day. he remark
ed:
II suppose you will want to show those
paper. to YOUR client, SIR, so l nave wrap
ned ,hc... I'D the letter insic.e of The AZ
fidavit"
"Tnsik you, Abe" replied the ~ law
ve- MS ne thrust the package inio the
;nn.hcl II his coat; you are always
thoughtful" And then he went out ana
the detective rejoiced to believe mat the
next time he returned it would be as the
cool. experienced counsellor he so greatiy
admired having discarded forever the
weak and sickly sentimentality which so
i'll became him.
Mrs. Straner received her devoted coun-
sci that evening with unwonted cordiahty
and with even a touch of tenderness Whch
sent the blood rushing rather dangerous
w through his veins. Never had she seem
ed so lovely; all signs of ner mental ana
nhvsical distress had vanished; one would
almost say that her magnetic nature hHu
anticipated the intelligence of the ri
umph of her cause. Thus she sat, as com
nosed as radiant as queen While Judge
Marcellus explained the strange ana reno
itous change in her case which had that
day occurred and then, bowling low, ten
dered the package that Abe CronKlte Eao
repaired. r,. -,
Slowly and insistently JULIA Straner un-
aid the red tape and glanced through
tbe verhiage of the affidavit. Then, with
a knowing smile, as if the three round
black snots in a row were in some WISE
familiar to her, she unfolded the other
naper Then the smile vanished; IooN
If confusion. of absolute terror, contorIed
those radiant features.
you know what this is? you oroush'
II 10 me?" she whispered.
certainly" replied the Judge with con-
1dence: "the whole case rests upon H.
,,ber tbe defense see that they can have
no doubt"
ION cowardly. cruelr' cried the lady;
have YOU no heart no manlinessF For
the sake of what we have been 70 eecn
otber why didn't you stop me? Was not
discovery bad enough, but you must dou
his riJicule, this contempt!
"Julia. dear Julia, are you mad? I'M
r,ored the Judge; and then with sudden
rlsol,,tion he snatched the paper from
txr and standing under the spreading
central light adjusted his glasses with
trembling hands. and read as follows:
..rhe price of the padded hood the black
shawl and the long narrow skirt you wore
This afternoon, my dear MRS. o'raheF'
with such perfect grace, ana IN such aD-
solute disguise, will be szo 10 you l oliE
seu them to oblige valued customer
Cor as YOU know by experience, they
stmnjv make the part and we can rent
them readily"
Twice over did the Judge read this mis-
Give dully at first, and then summohlhs
lis trained forces TO his aid. SLOWLY eau
tiously he reviewed the incidents OF the
dav. the visit of MISS SpeeT--yes' suSii "''s'
+be clothing she wore; the letter ne had
raceived from her; yes, it had looked ike
.bis the marks on the back were 1den-
,ioaI. Abe Cronkite's voluntary following
~ the woman and then all he had done
a,d e,eeested on his return; and as he
rad often patiently. step by STEP elucida-
ted a legal problem, so did he now solve
this mystery. ,.,
"You Door foolish woman he observed
quietly. sadly you were certain to be
detected" e,..
"Do YOU think so?" asked Mrs. Straner
sroiIing roguishly. II had seen the real
Mis- sheer and made it worth her while
70 leave town for parts unknown; at all
events there would have been long de-
Law and in the meantime in the meantime
don,t Won know. dear" and her roguish
smile grew tender and in her lustrous
ewes old Josiah Marcellus saw that inn
possible ecstatic happiness which RAD
been the dream of his days.
~ might even now he began, and
chen he hesitated. What was 1t Abe Cron-
kite had said when urging that the aff1-
dsvit be served? Eccles was so loose
mouthed? Aye, that he was! How he
u,o,,Id roll such a sweet morsel of scandal
Under his tongue; how he would dilate Ip-
on II wherever he went and he went ev-
ervwbere! REIMBURSEMENT of the suit and
tho estate would he nothing but TO have
one,s wife known as an impostor, for
,or a maker of false affidavits-no. that
as innpoSsible: and so had the detective