Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-01-08
CHAPTER NVli.-(Continued.)


he had been longing for. and he turned
upon him almost savagely.
BE good enough to remember that
this is business interview" he said,
frigidly, "and reserve your humor for a
more fitting occasion" The small, shah
by creature shrvelcd up at once, and
Mr. 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 third person is unnec
essary. as l conclude the proofs spoken
Of by you are in your possession"
Il must speak this once: and I won't
interrupt again." jerked in DAVIS. II
am partner in this AFFAIR." would not
Eave taken it but on that understanding
and. being Il partner. l submit that
you have no right to shut me out; there
fore | stay"
Mr.. Malleft 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.
Tome ana look, Sne Salu.
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 50 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 dust-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
'll-i-n-g.' What them"
DO you not remember that your
nieces name is Pauline. and can you
not see that those letters which are blot
ted ont 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
ana that this woman at Mallingford is
nothing but an adventuress:'
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 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
prvaton. His head was in whir.
"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 a Woodworking 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 womans voluble ex-
PLANTATION.
I'VE advertised for you day after day
In the Times hut 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 you
were. How l prayed that she was not
mistaken! | telegraphed to Mr.. DAVIS.
and he telegraphed to you this morning.
l made an absolute necessity of coming
to town for some wedding tncry; and so
here we are
And now what is to he done? And
am to go down to the park and turn
this woman out with n policeman, or
how do you propose to proceed|'
She must not he nterfered with until
our proofs are all prepared" replied Mr..
DAVIS. My suggestion is that Ma m sellc
Lestrangc 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 afii lavits, or whatever their Spanish
equivalent may be, from cyc-witnesses of
your nicces death. also the certificate of
her death, and any other evidence that
you place said proofs in my hands; and
,p,utH has n SOD l.. :.