Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-10-19

By Anna Katharine Green Author fa. IF "Ers Etc. S''''4'"
sorva,eHr. 1880. ~ nosrnr sonnrs's SONS.

anything to him? 1 cannot think you
are speaking seriously"
listen, Mr.. Degraw. In the course
of our inquiries into this matter we
have lately come upon woman living
in a certain doubtful quarter Of New
York, whom, If you have not seen. l
will characterize as possessing deviltry
enough to make her waning beauty
dangerously piQuant. She Is called
Jenny Rogers also-Mme. Jenny Rog.
ers-and long before we knew what
was the aim of the conspiracy against
the other girls bearing her name we
were convinced that such conspiracy
existed, and that she was the centre of
1t, 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 her
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, 1 suppose, how we
first became aware Of the existence of
this nlot?"
mo; l know nothing but what !
have told you and what you yourself
have already told me-"
every well. then, understand that n
short time previous to the string of I'M
happy events which we have been con-
templating young man Of unques-
toned responsibility overheard short
conversation uttered under his window
late one night between two persons
who were passing by. A woman's
voice spoke first. and these were the
words he 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 month there will not be an
other young girl by the name Of Jenny
Rogers remaining in town. l 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 were the millions which
have been left to you for the use and
benefit Of some one by the name of
Jenny Rogers"
at does; it does; but"
"And this threat thus overheard, had
proved to be no vain one" proceeded
the detective, with an apologetic 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 | see now; an hour ago
saw differently. Then | thought you
the author of the threats have quoted
as well as the occasion of whatever
mischief has followed. But, with
your explanations to aid us | 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 1t 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 low and unknown
body servant, into my confidence"
81 know; l know. But this low and
unknown body servant may have opor-
tuntes 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
l 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-
ploy."
care you sure?
81 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
tboxUc, Juct rom onhor 4bot a ooncn;r
acy has been found and carried out
which proves that man and woman
living in New York knew almosta as soon
as you did that there was a 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?"
eyes, If he has wit enough to concoct
such a 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