The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-03
A FAIR FoRGEEi.g.

Hamilton" said superintendent Beav- CT, calling me into his room, ''as you S.as S,s'eR ,Sss Ssssss' sss what s'. ysa H matter. Let's see Here's the cashiers sketch of the woman: Dressed in dark hair, red nose, diamond and sapphire cluster finger ring. He guessed her age at S5 and she led him to understand that the check, indorsed Mary Wooler, had engaged Mir Hewitt to ssil."
 I tracked a woman answering to the description to Liverpool. where I lost her. The next day sailed for New careful scrutiny of every passenger on board the liner convinced me that she was not among them. As did not in- tend to let the disappointment interfere with my enjoyment of the voyage, I lost no time in making friends among my fellow passengers. atf The next cabin to mine was that of Mrs. Beslake and her daughter. Anne. lady, while the daughter, slim. and graceful, possessed as pretty face as 1t has ever been my lot to look upon.
 Tc while away the tedium % of the ,n long not remain on deck with comfort. i'm promptu concerts would be started in the music room and on these occasions Miss Beslake sometimes sang. She pos
 
 one entranced, the notes sweet, sympa- thetic and mellow as a blackbirds. Nat urally when the great concert was or ganized in the saloon. two days before we passed Sandy Hook Miss Beslake was asked to take part in 1t. She readily con scented.
 As I made my way along the main deck toward the saloon I saw Mrs. Bes- lake and her daughter just ahead of me: Mrs. Beslake was reading a sheet of paper she held in her hand, Presently she tore it up and tossed the shreds over board. .,..5- ...,. A scrap of paper borne upward by the wind fell on the deck at my feet. On 1t was Mir. Hewitt's name cleverly forged in the same hand as the check. could scarcely control the cry that rose to my lips. Stopping, picked up the fragment and placed it securely In my pocket.
 ard ccnided my suspicious to him.
 Its little more than conjecture yet. concluded, "and I must ask you to help me in confirming it."
 '.Willinsly," said the captain. 'How the various cabins!" replied. Mrs. P, slake and her daughter are now in the In the meantime you and I will see what we can find. dJto'}
 In the cabin of tie two ladies my ap- prehensions received abundant confirm
 
 ceeded in forcing back the catch of d large portmanteau that stood in tho cor ner of the compartment. The nrst ob- ject that met my eyes was wig of white hair. Beneath 1t lay box of grease paints similar to those used by actors in making Up. '-I
 At the bottom of the portmanteau we foInd a pocketbock containing several bank notes the numbers of which agreed with the list given me on the spurious check.
 We had reached this stage of our search when the cabin door suddenly swung open and Miss Beslake appeared in tho: entrance. 5L..'. .tt
 What is the meaning of this-this tIn- gentlemanly proceedrg?" she cried, not without a tremor of fear in her voica
 It is needless to describe the scene that ensued. Even now ] cannot recall 1t without a pang of sorrow. Suffice 1t to say that on my return to England had three prisoners under my care-Mrs. .and Miss Beslake as well as the man, Tom Purdoe, whose safe custody back to London had been the prime object of my mission. Of him it is not necessary to speak here.
 Miss BesIake was identified by Mr. Hewitt as 8 former governess of his chill dr n, she having left his employment a month prior to the presentation of the check on the bank In her confidential capacity she had had no difficulty in obtaining access to the library and so She had stepped into the carriage at Huston a decrepit old woman and issued from it bright and agile girl. At Liverpool her mother had met her. Mrs. Bcslake having reasons of her own for not wishing to be seen In London. .'
 There can be no doubt that in reality Mrs Beslake was the prime mover in the whole disreputable affair. for at the trial before sentence was passed upon them she had more than once served terms of imprlsonment for similar Offenses