The Iola register., 1901-03-08

in, her feurs completely dominating
her speech.
81 know you are angry, but / could
not Aelp it?" began Mrs. Nolan in
harsh undertone.
"What was ?" demanded Mrs. God
dard; don't keep me waiting"
"It was a lot of things. did my best,
but the custom officers would not let
me have your trunks"
"Is that all?"
"No. they held me there for several
hours asking all manner of questions
about you and making me swear to
statements. | swore enough lies 10
draw a pension from the Kingdom OF
He'll for the rest of my life. 1t was all
about the ownership Of the contents
of the trunks and which were your
things and which mine"
Then they did not suspect us OFF"
mo, IL was only about the things.
Then after had managed to get pos
session of my trunks, by showing my
name on them, ! slipped away and got
a cab that took me to the Portland
house. 1 thought l would be free,
but the police officers kept calling TO
make other inquiries and get me to
make other afiidavits about the color
of your hair, your age your residence,
the name of your husband, and what
not. Then they had no sooner given
me breathing spell than the report
ers and foreign correspondents began
to troop in"
"Reporters?" Mrs. Goddard pro-
nounced the word as If she were
learning to speak English.
"Yes, you don't mean to say you
haven't seen the afternoon papers!"
Mrs. Nolan drew three damp ones
from her cloak pocket. 81 can't inn
agine what you have been doing all
day. They have been yelling your
name all over Liverpool"
81 thought IL would get into print,
of course" said Mrs. Goddard. She
had Gained down con-, ierably and
now set herself to the task before her.
"Of course, | can't go without
Clothes" she murmured, refectively,
land let those stupid limbs of the law
ship every rag I have back to the
major. 1t would upset him awfullyl
Now, let me think"
The product of her meditation was
worthy Of her ingenuity. She laid
aside the newspapers, of which she
had only read a few big headlines,
and sat down at a table where there
was a pen, paper and ink, and began
to write as follows:
whereas, /, Jeanne Goddard. wife
of Major Rowland Goddard, OF Lynd-
st-on-the-Hudson, New York, do
hereby acknowledge that l owe my
companion, Lucy Nolan, for past serv-
ices, the sum of one thousand dollars,
which debt do secure by mortgage
on all my personal effects, such as my
jewelry, trunks and all their various
contents, such as wearing apparel,
etc. In case OF my death while we
are abroad 1 hereby authorize her,
the said Lucy Nolan, to retain the
aforementioned property till my bus-
band, the said Major Goddard, has
satisfied her claim in fun. To this /
herewith set my hand and seal.
Jeanne Goddard"
"What does all this mean?" ques-
toned Mrs. Nolan, when she had read
II twice, each time with contracted
brows and a doubtful shake of the
head.
You must 90 and inquire the adj
dress OF the most reliable lawyer in
Liverpool. Pay him mis- fee in adj
vance, give him this paper and tell
him that you want him to get my lug
gage turned over to you. You must
explain that hSve always been-that
I always was hard individual 10
get money out of, and that as l al
ready owed you a thousand dollars
you refused to go abroad with me
without some sort of security. Tell
him that you intend to take the
things right back to America, BELIEF
ing that Major Goddard will settle
your claims as soon as you do. Are
you willing to do this?"
"Oh. | uon't mind at ALL" said Mrs.
Nolan, smiling. 81 have just begun
TO get my hand in and rather like
the excitement The English are so
polite. | think | can tell a talo
straight enough"
The two plotters did not meet till
o'clock Mrs. Nolan entered, her face
radiant with good news.
81 had very little trouble" she an-
nounced, 81 secured the services of
the best barrister in Liverpool. lie
charged $50; but he said he would
stand as my security in case of any
legal complication. l tell you I felt
good when | saw the trunks unloaded
at my hotel
Then we shall go on to London
tonight exclaimed Mrs. Goddard.
"The train leaves at eight o'clock.
Meet me at the station. When we get
to London we shall rent furnished
villa in the suburbs somewhere and
be dead to the world for awhile at
least. Wen have lot Of fun, Lucy"
CHAPTER XII.
1t was about ~ o'clock on the tenth
day after the sailing of the Cleopatra.
Maj. Goddard. Mr.. Talley and Blanche
were in the dining-room about to sit