The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-02-04

exclaimed, brightly, "and if any one
 can clear up this wretched business for
 me, it is you"
 l bowed again and told him that my
 best efforts were at his service. Mean
 time l perceived that Lady Meredith
 was, from her point of vantage behind
 the periodical, scanning my features
 with sharp, hurried glances. Evidently
 she had never set eyes on member of | my profession before, and had resolved
 to make up for lost time now that the
 opportunity was at hand. She was an
 exceedingly beautiful woman, and it
 did not need the practiced eye of a
 reader of character, such as l flatter
 myself I am, to recognize that the
 predominant characteristic of this lady
 was overwhelming vanity. Noting this
 obvious fact, a sudden and Illuminating t theory sprang up in my brain, which
 l resolved to act upon when the time
 came.
 NO, MT. Harvey" began Sir George, ! fcaning back in his chair and speaking very slowly. "I fear that much of the
 blame in this unfortunate affair is due | to me, by reason of my carelessness in { leaving my checkbook exposed in all
 places and at all seasons. I need hard ly point out that the majority of the servants are well acquainted with my signature cnd 1t is more than possible that the exposure of the check book led one of them to seize the opportunity of forging my name
 l smiled coidly.
 From the rough ieda I have formed of the case,' I said slowly, T do not believe that this forgery is the work of a servant
 Was 1t fancy or was 1t reality?-but it seemed to me that Lady Meredith paled somewhat when I spoke these words. Protesting, however, to take no notice whatever of the silent wo- man who still sat with her journal in her closely clenched hands, listened attentively to the further statement made by the baronet, which, confess did not help to elucidate matters in the smallest degree.
 When we had completed all that he desired to tell me I thought for q few minutes and then exclaimed:
 Having heard your statement, Sir George. it IS TOW my duty to tell you what I have discovered from a jour ney to the bank this morning, pre- vious to my coming down here"
 Once again it seemed to me that her ladyship's lovely face blanched as I spoke, and now there was strained, hunted look in her eyes which had not been there when I first entered the room. My suspicious were being fast confirmed; but so far of course noth- ing was proved for certain.
 They told me at the bank" I said, speaking in a measured tone, so that every word reached my hearers; they told me at the bank that the check was presented by a slight, boyish in- dividual. Very slight, and very nicely dressed, so the clerk stated, if I re- member rightly"
 Lady Merediths countenance grew brighter at this point-it seemed to me- indeed, that the ghost of smile played about her red lips.
 The clerk further pointed out" I | continued that the youth in question was possessed of small well shaped l ladylike in their appear ance"
 l thought that I saw Lady Meredith | glance involuntariy at her own hands [ as I spoke, but perchance my supposi- | tion was merely fancy. paused, and Sir George put in his word,
 All that you have said, MT. Harvey" he remarked, somewhat irritably, "ls exceedingly interesting, no doubt, but for the life of me I cannot see that it will aid you in finding a reasonable clew."
 Indeed" I said. with a smile you think not?"
 T am sure of it."
 Wait moment I exclaimed pre-. pairing for my big "coup"-a coup, in- deed, on which l was founding all my hopes. There was one peculiarity about the person who presented the check which linguered in the clerks most distinctly That pecu- liarity-or infirmity, I should say-was an atroclous and undeniable squint."
 "A lfe,' came a passionate voice in our ears; "a wicked and deliberate lie!"
 Lady Meredith was on her feet now, facing me with flashing eyes, with blazing cheeks. She seemed wonder 'ully beautiful as she stood there, her { hands clenched with rage, her bosom neaving with resentment Sir George almost dumb with amaze nent, swayed up from his chair and confronted her with a dazed expression. J 'Helen!' he grasped. What do you mean? What do you know?" ' The willy woman saw that she had herself, and sought to extri- ate herself from the morass into which ', fer vanity had led her. "Nothing-T know nothing" she :, noaned helplessly, looking at me with e glance that spelled hate in every line z ment. T spoke at random--in jest" T cannot and will not believe it, ! hundered Sir George, almost beside n imself with passion. You must pos z, ess some intimate acquaintance with q he perpetrator of this forgery, or you 'ould not be able to deny so emphati- ally the statement made by MT. Har- ey. Come! Tell me everything-and, |, rhatever it is, I will forgive you so f ,ng as you speak the truth.'
 Utterly ignoring my presence, the f ,retched creature fell on her knees and =, 1bbed out o Forgive me, George, forgive me, and d was I, and l alone, who forged and n ashed that check ten days ago. o "You?" cried Sir George a 'Yes, l. I was up to the eyes in debt. <, had aDneale1 tO yo,1 so often hefore tO .,