The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-01-11
CHAPTER xvII.-(Continued.,

The lawyers lll-tlmed attempt at q
Joke gave Mr.. Mallett the opportunity
ne bad 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
oy creature shriveled up at once, and
Mr.. Mallett, with 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
OF by You are in your possession
must speak this once; and l 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, l submit that
you have no right TO shut me out: there
fore / stay"
MIR. 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.
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 50 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
l-l-i-n-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 il
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 adventuress?'
Great heavenv'
He stood stasbg. first at one. then at
the other, and than. 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 ir July of the
same year. Ii 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 il meant
for him-comfOrt, position, riches. splen-
dor. after twenty years of comparative
priyatioE. 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 be
was. or would soon he. Sir Godfrey 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 a,
the end of each term. He dropped into
the chair placed for him by Babette
wondering if he should wake up to find
II all dream. He listened. without
however. gathering much of her mean.
ing. To the French womans voluble ex
PLANTATION.
1--WE advertised for you day after day
In the Times. but could get nc 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 ! prayed that she was not
mistaken. | telegraphed to Mr.. DAVIS
and he telegraphed TO you this morning
] made an absolute necessity of comins
to town for some wedding Gnery: and &C
here We arev'
And now what is TO be done? And
am l to go down to the park and turn
this woman out with a policeman, OF
how do you propose to proceedY
'She must not be interfered with unit
our proofs are ell prepared" replied Mr.
DAVIS My suggestion is that Ma m sellt
Lestrange should give you the address:
of the man who took that photograph
which. with a rare foresight. she with
hell from me: that you cross over tc
Paris By to-night's boat, and from there
make your way as quickly as you can Il
this place in Spain; that, when there, yor
get afiIavits, or whatever their Spanish
equivalent may be. from eye-witnesses O,
your nece's death. also the certificate OF
her death. and any other evidence tina,
may crop mp. and that on your returr
you place said proofs in my hands: and
before q month has passed you will be- ir
possession of Mailingford, and ma'm'seIIs
aud / will be lingering that Eve thou
sand"
II have no money to meet the ex
penses of such a journey"
81 thought of that the minute I re
ceived ma m 'selle's telegram. and I rails
ed fifty pounds at big sacrifice thi,
morning. Sign this bill for seventy-fiy,
at three months. and the fifty is yours"
Mr.. MalIett's lip curled with contemp
at the shameless extortion.
"You must feel very sure of thi.
game" he remarked, Ito be so-geuerous
shall we call it:"
DAVIS listened to the innuendo witt
placid GncOncern.
well. | do feel sure of II, and IL
tell you why. Miss Mailing called upor
me the very first day our advertisement
of your address appeared. and she wa.
In such an awful state OF fright about i
that | saw in n minute she was afrait
Of you for some reason or other. Put
ting what 1 observed and ma 'selle'.
theory about that photo together. l con
Guided that we were the right tract
that your niece is dead-died six year.
ago-and this woman Is nothing but Al
fmpostor-"