The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-12-06
CHAPTER xvII.-continued.,

1hG iaWyri bt-ttuitu dLtEuIpt Ut a
joke gave Mr.. Mallett the opportunity
he had been longing for, and he turned
upon him almost savagely.
BE good enough to remember that
this is a business interview he said,
frigidly, land reserve your humor for a
more fitting occasion" The small, shah
by creature shriveled up at once, and
MIR. Mallett, with n show of surface
courtesy, turned to Babette. "And now
madame, ! think the rest of this inter
view can be carried on between us two;
the presence Of a third person Is unnec-
essary, as | conclude the proofs spoken
or by you are in your possession"
Il must speak this once; and I won't
interrupt again." jerked in DAVIS. 81
am a partner in this AFFAIR." would not
have taken it but on that understanding
and, being a partner, / submit that
you have no right to shut me out; there
fore | stay"
Mr.. Mallett shrugged his shoulders
with an expression Of utter Indifference.
Babette produced an envelope and took
from it the small photograph Of a grave,
which she had found In her mistress
desk. She drew out a small magnifying
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.
dc you not see the name on the
tomby' 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 it's way through
the dust-grimed panes, and looked care
fully Mt the photograph. DAVIS and ga-
bette stood by, anxiously awaiting his
answer.
II see the name Pauline plainly and
the last letters of the second name
Thing What them
ID 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
W 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 a
photograph of your real ~niece's grave,
and that his woman at Maiiingford Is
nothing but an adventuressr
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, il 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
his hand across his forehead. He could
not yet realize the position In which he
stood: he could not grasp what it meant
for him-comfort, position, riches, SPLEEN
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 adj
dressed by his proper name. Yes, that
was just what 1t meant to him-that he
was, or would soon be, Sir Godfrey NAL
lingford, of M~allingford Park, instead
of a Woodworking drawing master, doing
his daily round of instruction at 80 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 IL 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.
I'VE 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 Mallingford. Mrs.
Perkins saw you and recognized you
you went out, and told me who you
were. How / prayed that she was not
mistaken! / telegraphed to Mr.. DAVIS,
and he telegraphed TO you this morning.
/ made I'M absolute necessity of coming
to town for some wedding inery: and SO
here we are!!"
''And now what is to be done? And
am ! to go down to the park and turn
this woman out with a policeman, or
how do you propose to proceedY"
'.She mus: not be interfered With until
our proofs are all prepared" replied Mr..
DAVIS. My suggestion il that Ma'm'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 Malllngford, and ma'm'selle
and I will be lingering that five thou