The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-20

| it, and that some unknown man, then
| believed to bear the name Of Hamilton
Degraw, was her agent and co-worker
Your story betrays what the object OF
this plot was. To gain your millions
| for this base woman, other girls Of hel
name were to be suppressed, or in
some way robbed either Of their good
name or of the opportunity to win your
regard. You know, suppose, how we
| first became aware Of the existence OF
this plot?"
"No; I know nothing but what
have told you and what you yourself
| have already told me.'
every well, then, understand that q
short time previous to the string of un'
happy events which we have been con-
templating a young man of unques-
toned respectability overheard a short
| conversation uttered under his window
| late one night between two persons
who were passing by. A womans
| voice spoke first, and these were the
words be heard: But if some other
Jenny Rogers Mark you, some
other Jenny Rogers, which we take as
proving that her own name was Jenny
Rogers. The answer was in mans
| gruff tones: Never let that trouble
| you. In a month there will not be an.
other young girl by the name Of Jenny
Rogers remaining in town. 1 will see
| to them Does this not show the be-
ginning of conspiracy? And do not
the explanations you have given us
prove that the aim and object of this
conspiracy We're the millions which
have been left to you for the use and
benefit of some one by the name of
Jenny Rogers?"
"It does; it does; but"
"And this threat, thus overheard, had
proved to be no vain one," proceeded
the detective, with an apologize wave
of his hand. These girls have been
seen to- Mr.. Degraw. AS soon-as you
showed the slightest interest in any
one of them danger or dishonor has at
| tackled her and taken her out Of your
reach. This I see now; an hour ago l
saw differently. Then I thought you
the author of the threats I have quoted
as well as the occasion of whatever
| mischief has followed. But, with
your explanations to aid US I am now
ready to transfer all my suspicious
| from yourself to the man you have en-
| ployed as valet. He it is who has
worked in this woman's favor; he it is
who poisoned the bonbons, wrote the
letters"
Pardon me, but what reason have
you for ascribing these iniquities to
him? I am not the man to take any
| one, much less a low and unknown
body servant, into my confidence"
II know; / know But this low and
unknown body servant may have opor-
tunities for surprising your confidence,
for all that. Tell me any one else who
has been near enough to you to have
| access to these documents of yours and
I may consent to transfer my suspi-
cions into some new quarter"
"He has not seen my papers, but
even if he has the plot you speak of
was started before he entered my en-
rloy."
"Are you sure"
II did not see him till after those
threats you have spoken Of were ut
| tered"
Then am wrong, or he has learned,
in some way other than through these
documents, the conditions under which
Mr.. Delancy's money was left you"
"There is no other way"
"You are wrong, there must be-" !
"Why, how?"
Don't ask me to answer why's and
'hows.' Just remember that a conspir-
acy has been found and carried out
which proves that man and woman
| living in New York knew almostas soon
as you did that there was great for
tune to be angled for by girl owning
the name of Jenny Rogers Now, if
this occurred before this man applied
to you for the position of valet then it
is among the possibilities that he made
that application on account Of the
knowledge he possessed Of your affairs.
Has not the plot prospered better since
he has been in your employ"
Undoubtedly"
| "Was it not by his hand you sent the
box of bonbons to their proper destina-
tion?"
Good heaven! Yes"
And has he not had ample opportu-
mites for using your paper and steal
| ing your cards, and thus leading the
silly girl at Miss Hadden's school to
think that this letter he wrote came
from you?"
'Yes, if he has wit enough to concoct
such letter, and knowledge sufficient
to know that it would produce the ef-
feet he desired"
| "Oh, he has wit and he has knowl-
edge, if he is the man who is acting for
the intrigante have mentioned
Though you have been too absorbed
in your own affairs to be suspicious
| you have doubtless not taken step
without his knowledge and surveil.
lance"
Mr.. Degraw looked disgusted, but he
simply remarked:
You speak Of the intrigante who is
at the bottom Of this mischief. think
remember her, a despicable woman
whom I would not think Of looking at
twice. I saw her during the time OF
my first inquiries. Can it be possible
that she thought me capable Of being
| attracted by such as she?"