The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17
Her LadyShip.


that time Arrived at the branch in ques
, ton, ! was promptly shown into the man
ayers room. and the latter, having waved
me into a chair. plunged into the hear
of the business without further ado.
This check. Mr.. Harvey" he eNclaim-
ed. handing me the document he spoke
| was presented at the bank counter ter
| days ago by a youngish-looking man, who
| and then vanished. The check was in due
course returned 10 the supposed drawer
Sir George Meredith, and yesterday morn
| ing we were amazed to receive from thsti
| gentleman a letter inclosing the check
| and stating that il was a deliberate for
| gerry. Sir George is an old and valued
| customer. and. in justice to him. as well
| as to ourselves. we desire to clear up the
| business as SOou possible.
| | thought for a moment and then asked
! TO see the clerk who had cashed the cheek.
He was summoned immediately. and
| requested him to describe the person who
had presented the forged document.
well, sir said the man, reiectively.
| $50 far as ] remember he was very young,
! very slight and very nice looking. He
had small, ladylike hands. if | may use
the expression. and was nicely dressed.
And that is all that you can remember
of him. / asked. quickly There was
no distinguishing point which would mark
him from other people?'
Not a single one, sir, SO far as l can
4 remember
Thank you That will do"
Directly the door had closed on his re-
treating figure, 1 pocketed the check and
| rose.
Il have heard all that ] want to know
at this end, Mr. Fosdick'' ] said. ad-
| dressing the manager. and ! am now
off to Sir George Merediths place. if
you will be good enough TO give me the
address, -
Sir George is stopping at present at
| Meredith Court, near Hertford, he re-
piled: and. having made a note of the in
| formation. | babe the official adieu. and
| five minutes later was whirliDg in a ham
som toward Kings Cross. On arriving
at that station I had the good fortune
| to catch train after n wait of fifteen
minutes. and deposited at Meredith
| Court within two hours of leaving the
1 bank premises.
I Yes. both Sir George and Lady Mere
\ dith Were at home, the footman said. in
1 answer to my enquiry, and he would take
| up my card. The pasteboard proved an
/ open sesame. for he returned In q very
4 short space of time. and with the words.
| Follow me. if you please sir led the
/ way INTO an apartment. half smoking
room. half boudoir, where the baronet and
his wife were seated.
The latter was reading a copy of the
| king when / entered. and in response
| to my bow gave me the merest inclination
| of her head: but Sir George with much
| geniality bade me Good morning" and
! expressed much pleasure at the sight of
! me.
'I have heard your name on several
| previous occasions Mr.. Harvey" he ex-
! claimed. brightly. and If anyone can clear
up this wretched business for me, it is
| you"
| l bowed agsir and told him that my best
efforts were At his service Meantime l
perceived that Lady Meredith was. from
4 her point of vantage behind the periodi-
| cal. scanning my features with sharp.
| hurried glances Evidently she had never
set eyes 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 beauti-
4 No aad fRa
| ticed eye of a reader of character such
as fiatter myself am to recognize that
| the predominant characteristic of this
lady was overwhelming vanity. Noting
this obvious fact. sudden and iilumiiI-
| ing theory sprang up in my brain, which
j resolved to act upon when the time
came.
Now Mr. Harvey" began Sir George.
leaning back in his chair and speaking
very slowly. Il fear that much OF the
blame In this unfortunate affair is due to
ing my checkboOk exposed in all places
and at all seasons. 1 need hardly point
out that the majurity of the servants are
well acquainted with my Signature and II
is more than possible that the exposure OF
the checkbook led one of them to seize the
opportunity of forging my name.
/ smiled coldly.
From the rough idea ! have formed OF
the case" ! said slowly, II do not believe
that this forgery is the work Of a SER
want.
W as II fallcA, or WIS II redntN but II
seemed TO me that Lady Meredith paled
somewhat when l spoke these words |
Processing. however. to take no notice
whatever of the silent woman who still
sat with her journal in her closely
clenched hands. l listened attentively to |
the further statement made by the bar |
onet, which. ! confess. did not help to |
eiucidate matters in the smallest degree. |
When he had completed all that he de- |
sired 10 tell me thought for few min |
utes and then exclaimed:
Having heard your statement Sir |
George II is now my duty TO tell you what /
| have discovered from a journey to the |
bank this morning previous to my corning |
down here.
Once again 1t seemed to me that her |
ladyship lovely face bianched as ] spoke. |
and now there was a strained. hunted |
look in her eyes which had not been |
there when | first entered the room Ny /
suspicious were being fast confirmed: but !
so far. of course, nothing was proved for |
certain.
They told me at the bank. said.
speaking in a measured tone, so that ev- !
cry word reached my hearers; they told |
me at the bank that the check was pre-
scented by a slight. boyish individual. Very
slight, and very nicely dressed. so the |
clerk stated. If ] remember rightly
Lady Ierediths countenaBce grew |
brighter at this point-it seemed 10 me. |
indeed. tina, the ghost of a smile played |
about her red lips.
THE clerk further pointed out | con-
timed. that the youth In question was
possessed of small. wel-shaped hands-al-
most ladylike in their appearance
] thought that / saw Lady Meredith
glance invoiuntarily at her own hands as
! spoke. but perchance my superstition |
WAS merely fancy. ] paused, and Sir |
George put In his word.
''All that you have said. Air. Harvey"
he remarked. somewhat iriitably. lis ex-
ceedngly interesting. doubt, but for
the life of me / cannot see that it will aid
you In finding a reasonable clew."
Indeed said, with smile; You
think not?"
Il am sure of it"
Wait a moment" / exclaimed. prepar-
ing for my big ..coup,'-a coup. indeed
which / was founding all my hopes
There was one peculiarity about the per-
son who presented the check which lin
Eered In the clerks memory most distinct
That peculiarity-or infirmity / should
say-was an atrocious and undeniable |
sauint!
"A liei' 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 wonderfully beautiful |
as she stood there, her hands clenched !
with rage, her bosom heaving with resent
ment.
ment, swayed up from his chair and con-
fronted her with daZed expression
''Helen. he gasped What do you
mean? What do you know"
The willy woman saw that she had be-
trayed herself. and sought to extricate
herself from the morass into which her
vanity had led her.
"Nothing-I know nothing" she mOaned
helplessly. looking at me with a glance
that spelled hate In every lineament. II
spoke at rando min jest"
Il cannot and will not believe it," thun-
liz al eli IL. Ia