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

coming hurriedly forward. II have
feared 1t for weeks, and that Is why l
have kept such jealous watch over
her"
How did you know Of Miss Rogers
existence" queried the detective.
"Her name was not in the directory,
nor could you have heard Of her in the
schools"
mo, I heard of her in another way"
declared the stranger; II was standing
one day on the steps of my hotel when
two young fellows of fashionable ap-
pearance came out and passed near me,
talking. The one was saying: well,
II you want to see pretty girl, get an
invitation to visit Miss Aspinwall in
Great Darlington. She has a friend
with her who is beauty, assure
you.' 'Bahv was the others peevish
reply, some stupid blue-stocEing or de-
mure Vassar miss. Excuse me- But
the other answered in these to me most
startling words: No, unless you call
the Signorina Valdi blue-stocking.
That Is the name. or rather, that IS
not the name of this young beauty |
mention. Her real name is Jenny Rog-
ers. but she is lovely I heard no
more. The coincidence was startling
but the impetus 1t gave me came IN
good time. l made inquiries concern
ing the prima donna, learned her touch
ing history, and, satisfied that ihe pos
sessed the necessary qualifications of
being a New York girl telegraphed at
once to Cleveland for the introduc-
tions I needed. and as soon as re-
ceived them came here"
"A strange coincidence, as you say"
repeated Mr.. Gryce, "but it gives me
no clue to the puzzle We are studying"
Then with more earnestness he in
quired: "Where did you get the valet
whom you now employ?"
A look of surprise passed over Mr..
Degraw's face, but he responded
promptly:
"In New York. He answered an ad-
vertisement which put in the Tribune
and as his letters were excellent l
hired him.
"Do you like him?"
"Why, yes, as valet. He Is useful
and exact in his duties, and | have no
reason to find fault with him. But the
man himself Is not very agreeable.
May l inquire"
'In moment" Interrupted Mr..
Gryce. 81 would first like to ask
whether you consider him honest?"
"Honest? O, yes; have never found
pin lacking
"That is not an absolute proof OF
honesty. A man who will not steal will
sometimes abuse his masters conf
dence in other ways. Are you sure of
this fellows discretion? Have you
never seen him tampering with your
papers or pcering into places where
he had no business to look!'
While Mr.. Degraw was considering
his reply the artist drew near to Mr..
Gryce and eXcitedly inquired If these
questions referred to his fellow detec-
tive.
Mr.. Gryce smiled.
1.-The name of your fellow-detective
is Byrd, and you say this valet is not
Byrd"
But you insisted"
"Oh, never mind what I insisted"
was the quick reply. II talk some
times to veil my thoughts. knew
that the valet was no officer of ours"
The artist stared in amazement, con-
fused by revelation whose full conse-
quences he could not in that one mo-
ment measure. Turning anxiously to-
ward his namesake he waited for his
answer to the question which Mr..
Gryce had put to him, and did not
know whether to be relieved or not
when the gentleman finally remarked:
II do not know to what you refer, Mr..
Gryce, but have only good to say of
Barton. Never to my knowledge has
he gone a step beyond his duty in re-
gard to any of my effects. AS for my
papers they are always kept about my
person. By day carry them in an In
ner pocket, and at night place them
under my pillow. He can have had
no opportunity Of handling them"
"And yet I most decidedly believe
that he has not only handled them but
consulted them; that, in short, he
knows their contents as well as you
do, and that it is solely on account of
this knowledge that he occupies his
present position near your person.
impossible! What makes you think
this? You alarm me, Mr.. Gryce."
And mingled with this exclamation
came that Of the artist, who, If not so
greatly astonished as the other, real
lzed, perhaps, with even greater force,
the complications and conjectures to
which this suspicion pointed.
"You do not know the man." resumed
Mr.. Degraw, with some energy.
when We came up here there was q
moment on the train when it looked as
If we were on the verge Of collision
The cars shook and trembled with
frightful suddenness, and while men
started up and women shrieked this
valet of mine threw himself in front of
me with an instructive movement of
protection that shall never forget.
may not like him. but l refuse to con.
slider him a blackguard without very
good cause"
'He felt your life to be valuable. II
was worth three million dollars to him
and his accomplices," observed Mr.
Gryce, quietly.
"What do you mean? My life worth