Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-28
CHAPTER XVTI.-(Continued.)

JUNE gave MI. hdlIett tHe oppoIl uuIl
he had been longing for, and he turned
upon him almost savagely.
BE good enough to remember tina
this is business interview" he said
frigidly, "and reserve your humor for 6
more fitting occasion" The small, shah
by creature shriveed up at once, an(
Mr.. Mallett. with show of surface
courtesy, turned to Babette. And nov
madame, l think the rest of this inter
view can be carried on between us two
the presence of third person is unnec
essary, as l conclude the proofs spoken
OF by you are in your possession"
Il must speak this once; and won
interrupt again." jerked in DAVIS. 80
am partner in this AFFAIR." would no
have taken it but on that understanding
and. being a partner, 1 submit tha
you have no right to shut me out; there
fore l stay"
Mr.. Malett shrugged his shoulders
with an expression of utter Indifference
Babette produced an envelope and tool
from it the small photograph of a grave
which she had found in her mistress
desk. She drew out small magnifyine
glass from her pocket and crossed the
room to the dirty window.
Come and look she said.
Mr.. Mallett did as requested, and then
looked at her inquiringly.
DO you not see the name on the
tomb?' she asked, impatiently, for she
was so impressed with the truth of her
own belief that she was annoyed when
others did not jump so readily to the
same conclusion as herself.
Mr.. Mallett bent down again In the
doubtful light that found its way through
the dus,- -grimed panes, and looked care
fully at the photograph. DAVIS and Ba-
bette stood by, anxiously awaiting his
answer.
Il see the name Pauline plainly and
the last letters of the second name
Il-in-g.' What then?"
DO you not remember that your
niece's name is Pauline, and can you
not see that those letters which are blot
ted out by that mark must be the first
two letters of your own name? If it
were not for that blot, the name would
stand Pauline Mailing Can you not
understand that you hold in your hand
photograph of your real niece's grave,
and that this woman at Mallingford is
nothing but an adventures?
Great heaven"
He stood staring. first at one, then at
the other, and then, in breathless amaze
ment, he looked at the card in his hand.
Babette felt satisfied as to the success
of her coup.
And if that Is not enough mean
the mere name-there is the date, May,
IS This woman who has been
quietly accepted as the late baronet's
heiress first come to light in July of the
same year. 1t is all quite plain"
In a dazed fashion Mr.. Mallett passed
bis hand across his forehead. He could
not yet realize the position in which he
stood; he could not grasp what it meant
for hm-comfort, position, riches, splen-
dor, after twenty years of comparative
privation. His head was in a whirl.
"Will you not sit? You look over
come, Sir Godfrey"
He started on hearing himself ad-
dressed by his proper name. Yes, that
was just what it meant to him-that he
was, or would soon be, Sir Geoffrey NAL
lingford of Mallingford Park, instead
of hard-working drawing master. doing
his daily round of instruction at SO many
shillings a quarter, and thinking himself
fortunate If, after settling his bills, he
was able to put away a few pounds at
the end Of each term. He dropped into
the chair placed for him by Babette,
wondering if he should wake up to find
1t all a dream. He listened. without,
however, gathering much of her mean
ing, TO the French woman's voluble ex-
planation.
1--WE advertised for you day after day
In the Times, but could get no answer; /;
and l was in despair, when Providence
sent you down to Malingford. Mrs.
Perkins saw you and recognized you as
you went out, and told me who you
were. How l prayed that she was not
mistaken l telegraphed to Mr.. DAVIS,
and he telegraphed to you this morning.
l made an absolute necessity of coming
to town for some wedding fnery; and 80
here we are.
And now what is to be done? And
en- | to go down to the park and turn
this woman out with a policeman, or
how do you propose to proceed!'
"She must not be interfered with until
our proofs are all prepared" replied Mr.
DAVIS. my suggestion is that Ma selle
Lestrange should give you the address
of the man who took that Photograph
which. with a rare foresight, she with
held from me; that you cross over to
Paris By to-night's boat, and from there
make your way as quickly as you can to
this place in Spain; that, when there, you
get afIdavits, or whatever their Spanish
equivalent may be, from eye-witnesses OF
your niece's death, also the certificate OF
her death, and any other evidence that
may crop up. and that on your return
you place said proofs in my hands; and
before a month has passed you will be in
possession of Mallingford, and ma m 'selle
and / will be lingering that FIVE thou
sand"
II have no money to meet the ex
penses of such journey"
al thought Of that the minute / re
ceived MAINS selle's telegram, and rails
ed fifty pounds at a big sacrifice this
morning Sign this bill for seventy-fv'
at three months. and the fifty is yours"
Mr.. Mallett's lip curled with contemp
at the shameless extOrtion.
"You must feel very sure Of thii
game" he remarked, ito be so-generous
shall we call itr'
DAVIS listened to the innuendo will
placid unconcern.
"well, do feel sure Of it, and II
tell you why. Miss Mailing called upor
-o< 10 odr rtca an