The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-07

I may use the expression, and was nicely
dressed"
4 have heard all that want to know
at this end, Mr.. Fosdick," I said, ad-
/ dressing the manager and I am now
off to sir George Meredith's place"
Yes, both Sir George and Lady Mere
dith were at home, the footman said. in
answer to my inquiry. and he would take
up my card.
The lady was reading a coupy Of the
/ King when I entered, and in response
to my bow gave me the merest incIina-
ton Of her head. but Sir Georbe with
much geniality, babe me Good morn
/ ing, and expressed much pleasure at
the sight of me.
1 bowed again, and told him that my
( best efforts were at his service. Mean
/ time, I perceived that Lady Meredith
was. from her point ofvantage behind
/ the periodical, scanning my features with
sharp, hurried glances.
Now, Mr.. Harvey began Sir George,
leaning back in his chair and speaking
very slowly, II fear that much of the
blams 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 smiled coldly.
| From the rough idea have formed
Of the case" I said, slowly, u do not
believe that this forgery is the work Of
/ a servant"
/ Was it fancy, or was it reanty?-but
it seemed to me that Lady Meredith
paled somewhat when I spoke these
words.
When he completed all that he desired
to tell me, I thought for a few minutes
and then exclaimed;
- IN
| George, it IS now my duty to tell you
what 1 have discovered from a journey
to the bank this morning previous to my
! coming down here"
One again 1t seemed to me that her
| ladyship's lovely face blanched as I
spoke.
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 individual.
Very slight and very nicely dressed,
so the clerk stated, If La remember
rightly"
THE clerk further pointed out" con-
tinued, that the youth in question was
possessed Of small. well shaped hands
almost Iadylike in their appearance"
''An that you have said, Mr.. Harvey
he remarked. somewhat irritably, is
exceedingly interesting, no doubt but
for the life OF me I cannot see that it
viii aid you in finding a reasonable
clue"
'sWait a moment" I exclaimed, prepar-
ing for my big "coup"-a coup, indeed,
on which I had founded all my hopes.
There was one popularity about the
person who presented the check which
fingered in the clerks memory most dis
tinctly That peculiarity-or infrmity, l
should say-was an atrocious and unds-
niable sauint"
"A He!" came a passionate voice IN
our ears; "a wicked and deliberate Iier'
Lady Meredith was on her feet now,
facing me with flashing eyes, with blaz-
ing checks.
Sir George, almost dumb with amaze
ment, swayed UP from his chair and
confronted her with dazed expression.
Helen" he gasped. What do you
mean? What do you know
Utterly ignoring my presence, the
wretched creature fell on her knees and
sobbed out:
Forgive me, George. forgive me. and
you shall know all there is to know.
il was 7. and alone, who forged and
cashed that check ten days ago"
YES, T. 7 was Up to the eyes in debt.
I had appealed 10 you so often before
20 help me out of my difficulties that
oil not care to ask you again.
You told me once that I must n0trun
into debt any more. promised T
wouldn't. and I tried to keep my prom
Use. But I was weak-weak and foolish.
Little by little ran up the 6illsat one
shop and another-until they swamped
me-swamped me. do you hear2 And
then. one morning when you were gone
down 10 the paddock I found your check
book on the dressing table, and before
I knew what I was dong I had drawn
up a check for sl,eo9 and put your
name on IT,"
Bise." said the baronat IN low.
paiued voice: ''you must not kneel %
me. Finish your story
"The check ready for presentation. 7
did not know whom 70 trust with T.
Tho servants were our Of the question,
not one ct them would have shielded
me, and then how could I have abasei
myself 70 ask them? There was nothing
10 be done but to-assune male cloth
ing-traveI to London, and disguised be-
yond recognition. cash the check 7 did
so. All went weu You did not gus-
pect mellow should they? Way should
theve And I Believe as surely as I be-
liave in the God who made me that I
should never have been detected hae not
th-s gentleman land saa la-a seatn-
inE emphasis on the word "gentleman1
'come here this morning ard made the
statement he made Just now
There was a frnr and painful rauss.
rose from my seat and we-r towr1 The
door but SIR Geerre called m back
'3Tr Harvey re sa6. 1uskiiTs Z