Middletown transcript., 1904-05-21
Ard Is AN old friasI !,

thorough paced scoundrels habituall
!, frequent places Of this description, hav
Iadvised herf QaEoid him for tile future
s Exactly, agreed her ladysIip. On
cannot be too careful or exclusive at
hotel where one encounters theSsame pei
son day after day. But who is this mai
that spoke to you, Eve?
Oh, ask Mr.. Falkland | answered Eve
lyn in deprecating tone. He evidentl'
knows more about him than / do, ii h
had the benefit OF his society in tn
billiard room last evening and perhaps
who knews ? Joined him in some of hi
high play.
Falkland accepted the little taunt will
an air OF praiseworthy complacency, ant
turned calmly to Lady Howard.
Well, believe he goes by the elegan
name of Brown That is vague
enough. you will think but his addres
of London only-Brnwn, o. London-i
wagner still.
Yes, indeed; anybody would have (
difficulty in tracing him. But that re
minds me. As you came in, i was jus
reading in the paper that Do si
down, though, Mr.. Falkland. and have
some breakfast.
Oh, no, thank you'll / have just TOLD
Z
Henry to have some ready for me in the
coffee-room SO | will not keep you from
yours. But you were saying
Only that they fancy they have at last
found clue to the whereabouts of that
man who committed those fearful forger'
les about twelve months ago, added Lady
Howard, porting out the coffee and pass
ing cup to Evelyn. You remember the
Beauchamp case which made such com.
motion at the time?
Oh, dear, yes assented Falkland read.
lily. 1t was the talk of London. Well,
what have they discovered?
Why, that ainan who answers to the
description Of a suspicious-looking person
who disappeared faom England in rather
peculiar circumstances at the time Of all
those forgeries is supposed to have left
New York on the steamer "Chicago" on
the twelfth of this month and, should
this really be SO, he ought to have ar
rived in Liverpool at the beginning OF
the week. Just as you were speaking of
this Brown Of London, it struck me-
That he might be the forger himself
All, perhaps he Is !! exclaimed Evelyn,
with CLEAN of amusement in her eyes.
Let US all keep careful watch upon him,
and do our best to gain the-feward which
somebody has offered for him.
Very well, Miss Eve; you may depend
upon ME to help you in your investiga-
tions. My services are at your disposal
whenever you may require them, was
Falkland's reply; but, though the words
were uttered lightly, there was sort of
resolution lying latent beneath his appar-
ent carelessness. Only do not forget to
take care of your own cheque books, or
in the meanwhile you may find he has
been dipped pretty heavily into your
exchequers as well. But goodbye for
the present shall be coming again to
see for which night you will like tickets
for the theatre, and then l will telephone
down.
As the door closed behind the tall,
rather gaunt, but at the same time, pre-
form of Gilbert Falkland, Lady
Howard sank back in her chair with a
sigh Of supreme satisfaction
Dear me, what should He do without
that man He is really too good in
troubling himself SO much about us and
Dur concerns.
Lady Howard spoke feelingly. Nobody
could ever have taken the reins OF govern
nent more unwillingly into her own
hands than her ladyship had done upon
,he death Of her husband three years be-
ore, when she had been left rich but |
helpless widow, with large
state and three growing children. In
he years OF her married life everything
lad devolyed upon Sir Nilired and,
hough, as time wore on, she became
more accustomed to her sense OF perfect
and actually consented to
Al additional care in the shape of tie
OF her niece, her brothers.
hid, she was still only too thankful If
nyone would relieve her little of the
geight or the responsibilities which hung
. heavily upon her shoulders.
Consequently Gilbert Falkland, whom
hey had chanced to meet upon the Con-
nent for the first time only month be-
ore, but who had introduced himself as
ne of the late Sir Wilfred's oldest friends,
ad found his attentions thoroughly ac-
aptable to the widow and, as it hap
ened that he had been going by the
ane route as Lady Howard and her
iece, he had constituted himself courier
nd guide. and had taken upon his own
loulders all the troubles and worries fn-
.parable from Continental travelling.
At home in England once more, for
Inc had thrown Mr.. Falkland across
leir path again, and Lady Howard was
My too pleased il lie would still do any
ling for her, even if it were merely to
range drive or decide v hich OF the
ieces at the theatres Was really worth
icing.
But Evelyn scarcely heard the sigh Of
which had followed Mr..
alkland's departure. Her thoughts
ere running in quite another directian
", in spite Of the nonchalance with
Iich she had laughed away Gilbert
observations upon herrencoatre
itli the man in the hall, his words had
lrried more weight than he had had ii g
Itisfaction Of imagining. +
At the time it had never struck her as
sculiar that man who was an absolute
ranger to lIer should have been able to
nge out from the number OF letters one
- 4 A.