The Iola register., 1901-03-29

hidden from her view by tall screen
of painted silk I'm a frame of mahog-
any. Blanche advanced and looked
over 1t. To her horror she saw man
trying to fit a key into the lock of the
desk Happening to glance upward
at that instant his startled eyes met
hers.
Blanche uttered a scream Of fright
and shrank back.
For Gods sake, don'tl ! am not
thief, miss" exclaimed the man. ris.
ing head and shoulders above the
screen, the key falling from his
hands.
Blanche paused. The thought that
she was alone with MIN in the great
house showed her the futility o. fight,
but it was the earnestness of his dec
laration of innocence which detained
her Besides, now that she had the
man fully in view, there was some
thing in the regretful expression of
his rather sad face which inspired con-
fidence. He was we'll dressed. his hair
and short beard were white as snow
though his face did not bear testi-
mony to more than 30 years of age.
IL" began Blanche, but she was
unable to steady her voice.
81 know appearances are dead
against me-" said the intruder, "but
| hope you won't judge me too harsh.
ly. am sort of detective engaged
in ferreting out case touching me
personally"
Blanche stood, her hand on the door,
still agitated.
"Were you admitted by-by the
servant?' she asked.
al must confess that l avoided him"
answered the intruder. "If you win
let me pass you l will go downstairs;
but l want to explain. l cannot have
you think"
81 don't think l am afraid of you"
said Blanche, strangely calmed by his
manner and tone of voice. "I know
that detectives sometimes resort to
bold methods"
"But | am not professional detec-
tive" said the man, as he picked up
his hat, which had fallen TO the floor.
"As l said, | am seeking information
that concerns me alone. If you wish
you may call your manservant. and he
may be near while I try to explain my
! presence here. You have a perfect
right to hand me over to the police,
and If you are generous enough to let
me go, should want to repay you by
perfect frankness on my part. Be-
sides, If am right in my suspicious, /
have a most important revelation to
make to the owner of this house"
"You interest me in spite of my
self" said Blanche. "But perhaps we
ought to go down to the drawing
room"
"You are quite right" acquiesced
the stranger, and, with a deterential
bow, he passed Blanche on the thresh-
old of the chamber and descended the
stairs. OF his own accord he turned
into the drawing-room. Our heroine
followed and paused near the door
way. She felt perfectly secure, with
out knowing why.
"Will you pardon me II I ask who
you are?" he said, with an apologetic
infection of voice. "Are you related
to Maj. Goddard?"
81 am his wife" " said Blanche, sim
ply.
"Whatp Oh, mol Surely not!"
"I have not misinformed you" said
Blanche.
His face had fallen.
"Then I have made an awful mis-
take" he said, "and I owe you and
the major thousand apologies. l
hope you will pardon me. have been
following false clew, and yet" He
seemed to have his first opinion forti-
fed by memory, land yet 1 can't see
how ! can be off the track so badly
1t would undo me entirely. Surely
you did not have a millinery estab-
lishment on Fifth avenue up to the
time of your marriage.
mo" said Blanche, with a start;
perhaps you are thinking of Maj
Goddard's first wife.
HAS he been married twice." cried
the stranger. why, only two months
ago"
"Mrs Goddard oied-or was drowned
about two months ago"
"My God!" he shrank back as If she
had struck him in the face. "Dead
Is she deau r
eyes, she is dead"
"When-how-oh my Godl Was
her-was she called Jeanne?"
"Hes; that was her name"
For a moment he stared. His color
had gone and he looked as if he were
about TO fall
"Please-please explain"
Blanche complied with his request
in few words
"Then have been hunting down a
dead woman. May God have mercy
on me-"
"Was she "a relative Of" began
Blanche.
"She was my wife"
"Your wife!"
"Yes; the most misguided woman or
earth. My name is Dugdale-Henry
Dugdale. She was all l ever had, and
she deserted me-"
He sat down and covered his face