Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-10-27
CHAPTER XvII.-(Contirued.,

Lib - q business interview, ne SalQ,
trigidly, land reserve your humor for a
more lifting occasion" The small, shah
by creature shriveed up at once, and
MT Mallett. with a show of surface
courtesy, turned to Babette. "And now
madame, l 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"
must speak this once; and [ won't
interrupt again." jerked in DAVIS. II
am partner in this AFFAIR." would not
nave taken 1t but on that understanding
and, being a partner, | submit that
you have no right TO shut me out; there
fore l 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 inquirngly.
DO you not see the name on the
tombF' 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 tn found it's way through
the dust-grimed panes, and looked care
fully at the photograph. DAVIS and Ba-
bette stood by, anxiously awaiting his
answer.
i see the name Pauline plainly and
the last letters of the second name
'Il-i-n-g. What thenY'
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 a
photograph of your real niece's grave,
and that this woman at Mallingford is
nothing but an adventures"
Great heavenw
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 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, 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 Godfrey Nal
lingford, of Mallingford Park, instead
of a Woodworking dra wing master, doing
his daily round of instruction at so many
shllings a quarter, and thinking himself
fortunate if, after settling his bills, he
was able to put away a few pounds al
the end of each term. He dropped into
the chair placed for him by Babette
wondering if he should wake up to fine
il all a dream. He listened, without
however, gathering much of her mean
Ing. TO lue EpIlcu woman NOluDIe eX
PLANTATION.
1--WE advertised for you day after day
III the Times, but could get no answer
and was in despair, when Providence
sent you down to MallingfOrd. Mrs
Perkins saw you and recognized you as
you went out, and told me who yor
were How l prayed that she was not
mistaken l telegraphed to Mr.. DAVIS
4 L.. Il l,.>yl = 4 I, =.
/ made an absolute necessity of coming
to town for some wedding finery; and sc
here we areI'
And now what is to be done? AnG
am l to go down to the park and turr
this woman out with a policeman, OF
how do you propose to proceed?'
''She must not be interfered with unit
our proofs are all prepared" replied Mr.
DAVIS. My suggestion is that Ma m sell,
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 t.
Paris by to-night's boat, and from Their,
make your way rs quickly as you can t
this place i'll Spain; that, when there. vol
get affidavits, or whatever their Spanish
equivalent may be, from eye-witnesses o.
Your niece's death, also the certificate o.
her death, and any other evidence tina
may crop up, and that on your return
you place said proofs in my bands; anc
before a month has passed you will be il
possession of Mallingford, and ma m sellt
and | will be lingering that five thou
sand"
I have no money to meet the ex
peuscs of such journey"
Il thought of that the minute I re
ceived ma'm'selle's telegram, and l 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 Thu
game" he remarked, ito be so-generous
shall we call it,"
DAVIS listened to the innuendo will
placid UncOncern.
well, I do feel sure OF it. and II
tell you why. Miss Mailing called upo1
me the very first day our advertisement
of your address appeared, and she wa
in such an awful state of fright about i
that l saw in a minute she was afrai,
of you for some reason or other. Put
ting what | observed and ma m'selle'
theory about that photo together. l con
Guided that we were on the right tract
that your niece is dead-died six year
ago-and this woman is nothing but al
impostor."
''Oh, yes, it is sure enough" inter